A review by anabradley
The Beautiful and Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald

reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I really enjoyed TBD. The concept of the young, beautiful, and wealthy couple who could have had everything but instead squandered it in drink and laziness is beautifully tragic. 

The prose is beautiful, although it doesn't quite reach the heights of Gatsby. In this, I agree with introducer Geoff Dyer that TBD isn't fully realised. The random switch in the narrative to the format of a play at various moments seemed odd, as did the interjection of a 'bilphist' higher power that is never again mentioned. I'm intrigued to read 'Tender is the Night', for which TBD is said to be a precursor. 

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