Old Books, New Readers discussion

Hello everyone!

This week's reading is about, Book 1: Chapters 11-25

Feel free to post your thoughts here.

I was able to get much more involved in the second half of Book 1. I find.

I can't say that I'm very fond of the attraction that continues to grow between Rosemary and Dick. I find Rosemary to be selfish, although that's how she's been raised. She works for herself and will do whatever she can to get what she wants. She mentions how she loves Nicole and looks up to her and yet here she is betraying her. Dick seemed to have some sort of grip on reality, but let the "child" as he and Nicole continue to refer to her completely break down his defences.

I'm curious about the relationship between the Norths. I think that Mary knows all too well that Abe is in love with another woman and needs as much separation as possible between Nicole and Abe. I'm curious as to how she will feel when she finds out that he came back after getting on the train.

I have not read TENDER IS THE NIGHT in a long time. It is so nice to go back and visit his work. I must say he has had a major influence on my writing and was an impetus in deciding to write my first novel. I am glad we chose this particular work of F. Scott's.

Although the writing is much easier to follow than Woolf, I still have trouble at times. Fitzgerald definitely has a way with words. He can be very descriptive. Sometimes, though, I do have to read a section a few times to understand what he's trying to say. :) Sparknotes is helping m, too. ;) :)

I agree Samantha. I'm not fond of the attraction between Rosemary and Dick. Rosemary seems a little flighty to me. She tells her mom she loves someone else, even while still loving Dick. Maybe this has to do with how young she still is. She has been sheltered and doesn't know the ways of the world. Well, up until the final chapters of Book 1 where she is thrown for a loop. Not just with a dead body in her room, but Nicole's outburst in the bathroom.

This book was definitely written at a very different time than now. The terms used for blacks can be considered as offensive as well as how they are treated. Unfortunately this was the way things were when it was written. I wonder if we ever find out what happened to Peterson...

Kimberly, I agree, he has a way with words. His short stories are also jewels to treasure; Babylon Revisited, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Bernice Bobs Her Hair. You can almost touch the words in the air as you read some of his stuff!
He's also the one who said, "Show me a hero and I'll write you a tragedy."
So sad he died at 44 years of age....imagine what else he might have accomplished.

I've met people like the Divers.

I love how well Fitzgerald characterizes these sociopaths. Making them seem admirable, then drawing out all their immoral attitudes and deplorable character by having them react in kind to chaotic events.

Lauren wrote: "I haven't read a Fitzgerald novel in quite awhile, and I have to agree, Kimberly, sometimes I have to read certain passages twice because I couldn't really grasp what was going on.

I've just fini..."

That's what the intro in my edition said. That it was a sort of combo of him and another couple while he was sorting out the situation with Zelda.

This book is crazy though with the shooting at the railroad station and then the dead body. I thought it interesting when someone was going on about how the Americans were all going at it how it was a free for all.

Things like that make it seem that not much has actually changed.

What is going on with Abe? I feel bad for how addicted he is. He certainly needs rehab. In the intro to the book it mentioned how Fitzgerald said he had basically written Book 3 while drunk. I kind of wonder if Abe isn't just a little bit of him.

Also I found out the shooting was loosely based on something that actually happened: http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/201...

Thanks for the link Luella. :)

Kimberly wrote: "Thanks for the link Luella. :)"

No problem! :)

Luella, yes, F. Scott writes "from what you know." It was a complaint/criticism that Hemmingway threw at Fitzgerald quite often, that his works were too autobiographical. Funny though, because Hemmingway was similar in that regard.

I thought the scene in chapter 12 was funny when Dick notices how none of the Americans are "reposed" that come into the restaurant, and that is why they are all touching their faces. They're either stroking their mustaches or adjusting their spectacles or pulling on their ears or something. I've noticed that I rub my cheek unconsciously when I'm nervous, so that part stuck out to me. This book seems to point out a lot of strange social customs we all have (some of which are on a much bigger scale than the touching of one's face).

Interesting I hadn't noticed that. You know this book reminded me of The Sun Also Rises but probably only because its from a similar time period and partially set in France.

Luella wrote: "Interesting I hadn't noticed that. You know this book reminded me of The Sun Also Rises but probably only because its from a similar time period and partially set in France."

I read that Hemmingway and Fitzgerald were friends, but Zelda hated Hemmingway for some reason.

Daniel wrote: "Luella wrote: "Interesting I hadn't noticed that. You know this book reminded me of The Sun Also Rises but probably only because its from a similar time period and partially set in Fran..."

I didn't know that Zelda hated him but in my copy of the book,there was an intro that said Hemingway had criticized Fitzgerald for this particular book.