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jesssalexander 's review for:
The Beautiful and Damned
by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Fitzgerald's word choice is very precise and gorgeous. But besides the beautiful prose I really struggled through this read. I haaated Gloria who is only adored by men in the book because she is beautiful and purposefully, unapologetically selfish. And there was a strange vibe all through the book that the narrative voice also hated her. Her actual actions were never as bad as what the narrator described her to be. What I mean is I think I might have liked her alright if it weren't for how she was described. Anthony is pathetic and weak. Not because of his raging alcoholism but because he has no force of will, no character, and no sense of movement, which compells him to his drinking problem. I found the whole middle chunk outrageously boring. NOTHING happens. And I am all for happy marriages but they make ridiculously dull literature. I appreciate Fitzgerald's ability to capture the slow deterioration of their contentment and his message that love is an illusion rather than a true sentiment. (Not that I agree, but its fun to read about). I had to ponder the ending a while and I'm still not clear on the author's intent. I think it was the right choice for them to end up getting the money, not because they deserve it but because they are still worthless and unhappy with it. It doesn't solve anything, so may as well give it to them. But what happened to Dot?? Did she really turn up or had anything already gone crazy?? Guess we'll never know!