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3.56 AVERAGE
3.56 AVERAGE
“Only for a brief moment every day in the warmth and renewed life of a first high-ball did his mind turn to those opalescent dreams of future pleasure- the mutual heritage of the happy and the damned.”
I enjoyed [b:The Beautiful and the Damned|6316645|The Beautiful and the Damned|F. Scott Fitzgerald|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328307635l/6316645._SY75_.jpg|2432116] a lot more than [b:The Great Gatsby|4671|The Great Gatsby|F. Scott Fitzgerald|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1490528560l/4671._SY75_.jpg|245494]. [a:F. Scott Fitzgerald|3190|F. Scott Fitzgerald|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1517864008p2/3190.jpg] wrote [b:The Beautiful and the Damned|6316645|The Beautiful and the Damned|F. Scott Fitzgerald|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328307635l/6316645._SY75_.jpg|2432116] with such a sense of urgency - the writing was just so sharp and cutting throughout. I felt as a reader that Fitzgerald must have put a lot of energy and into writing this story. He really left his heart and soul on the page.
The protagonist, Anthony Patch, is really an anti-hero and he and his wife, Gloria are the epitome of what I’d call “beautiful people”. They are socialites who party all the time, and try to “keep up with the Jones’s”. Alcoholism and its effect on marriage was a big theme, and ended up being a big issue for Fitzgerald in his own life. Also, the lack of a meaningful pursuit and common goals in their lives was the couple’s ultimate downfall.
The novel is probably overly dramatic at times and so that is why I can’t get to 5 stars with my rating, but I enjoyed this immensely. 4 stars.
I enjoyed [b:The Beautiful and the Damned|6316645|The Beautiful and the Damned|F. Scott Fitzgerald|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328307635l/6316645._SY75_.jpg|2432116] a lot more than [b:The Great Gatsby|4671|The Great Gatsby|F. Scott Fitzgerald|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1490528560l/4671._SY75_.jpg|245494]. [a:F. Scott Fitzgerald|3190|F. Scott Fitzgerald|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1517864008p2/3190.jpg] wrote [b:The Beautiful and the Damned|6316645|The Beautiful and the Damned|F. Scott Fitzgerald|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328307635l/6316645._SY75_.jpg|2432116] with such a sense of urgency - the writing was just so sharp and cutting throughout. I felt as a reader that Fitzgerald must have put a lot of energy and into writing this story. He really left his heart and soul on the page.
The protagonist, Anthony Patch, is really an anti-hero and he and his wife, Gloria are the epitome of what I’d call “beautiful people”. They are socialites who party all the time, and try to “keep up with the Jones’s”. Alcoholism and its effect on marriage was a big theme, and ended up being a big issue for Fitzgerald in his own life. Also, the lack of a meaningful pursuit and common goals in their lives was the couple’s ultimate downfall.
The novel is probably overly dramatic at times and so that is why I can’t get to 5 stars with my rating, but I enjoyed this immensely. 4 stars.
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Perfectly captures the 20-something arrogance and self-centeredness of fairly intelligent and educated beautiful people, then explores what happens if there seems no need to grow up (until it's too late) and the party people get stale. It's interesting that, although the characters seem to enjoy them at first, at least, the parties are never described in any positive way to the reader.
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
- Fitzgerald is such a talented writer but the story itself seemed a little aimless (perhaps on purpose because Anthony is aimless, but that’s not an excuse for a book to feel like there’s not purpose). I wish Anthony’s descent into alcoholism was more subtle. It wasn’t unbelievable, but it could have been better. The ending was interesting but all happened at about the 96% mark when it should have occurred earlier, in my opinion.
- As intended by the author, I don’t feel sorry for them, and I do think they could have been slightly more 3D. It was almost cartoonish how unsympathetic they were, which is a statement. With all of their connections, surely Anthony, at the very least, could have gotten some sort of normal job but he’s doesn’t think anything in the world matters because he has so much money. Even when the grandpa tells him to get a job and be a war correspondent, he refuses because he doesn’t want to work. He’s so plain and he cheats.
- Gloria was extra and ironic, which is what Anthony likes about her, but it’s clear that Gloria is vapid. Fitzgerald is critiquing “new women” or flappers like Gloria, not celebrating their decisions. When she gets the abortion, it’s meant to show that she’s morally corrupt for not wanting kids. (Side note: The off screen abortion was fascinating in the context of the story kind of being about censorship, so many things had to be implied in order to be published.)
- It didn’t really make sense to me because Anthony doesn’t seem curious about anything or have much to say. Borderline insane that Fitzgerald referenced his own book This Side of Paradise via the characters talking about new realistic novels. I feel like Fitzgerald wrote himself in the Caramel character more so than Anthony, but why try to make Anthony a writer?
- I was left jaw dropped at the ending when Dot showed up, he attacked her, went crazy, and then gained his fortune back. Like, that was bananas. I think he’s meant to be crazy for killing (?) Dot but his thoughts in the end that he was supposedly right all along and he deserved his wealthy lifestyle was so crazy because that’s how he felt before. Sad how we don’t really know what happened to Dot or Gloria, but it just further shows how selfish Anthony was. The ending did save the book for me, which dragged in the middle.
- I’m seeing parallels with today and censorship, the lost faith in institutions, the rise of white nationalism, etc. The way that Fitzgerald is trying to grapple with these things, with the limited view and privilege that he has, is actually a little hopeful and makes me see why he was so popular during his time.
This novel is an excellent example of the writing of F. Scott Fitzgerald and his “Lost Generation”. The story line is not all that complicated and the two protagonists of the story, Anthony and Gloria are both living fast and doing everything to excess. The synopsis of the story is more in depth so just a glance at what the story covers is a bit lacking. The ending was a surprise for me since the majority of the story read more like a train wreck. I suppose I thought they should both end up in the gutter or begging on some street corner or possibly freeing up some space in the human life forms on earth. I do have to admit that I was entertained reading this novel.
I debated about this rating all day. It's worth more than four stars but just a bit shy of five. Nonetheless, I'm going with five because I thought it was absolutely amazing! It was so unexpected. I thought it would be decent, but not great. Three stars maybe. Fitzgerald's descriptions are beautiful and evocative and absolutely perfect. I never did like either of the characters - or any of them actually - but I still felt deeply for what Anthony and Gloria were going through. I felt so much despair over their plight and I wanted everything to be better for them. The depths that Anthony in particular sank to were truly appalling, and I think a fairly accurate portrayal of a level of alcoholism that I have thankfully never witnessed. This is a book that sparkles and shines while everyone tries to hide the ugliness.
I'm really glad I read this and I've already ordered another of his.
I'm really glad I read this and I've already ordered another of his.
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
F. Scott Fitzgerald is something else. His books get better and better. Literally feels like I’m being wrapped in a soft blanket when I read his books. TBAD is no different.
This is the story of an unhappy marriage. F. Scott Fitzgerald is a masterful writer, and he brings to life the misery of discontent and idle habits. An interesting but thoroughly miserable read. 3.5 stars.