le beau et condamné

The time is upon us for a review of classical literature.  I've been quite busy reading so that I may begin the new year afresh with all sorts of literary adventures.  I'm taking a break from my normal way of reviewing a book because I was getting rather bored (it is even more difficult remembering how to spell at 4am) with my former format. 

Moments ago, I finished reading The Beautiful and Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald.  It is, of course, one of the many books on my very long list of books to read in my lifetime.  I bought this particular copy at a used bookstore this summer; I chose this specific copy to match the copy of The Great Gatsby that was either my mother's or father's copy from high school (I'm assuming). 

The Beautiful and Damned was very much in the style of The Great Gatsby, which I found quite refreshing.  When I read Tender Is the Night, I was frightfully confused and had to refer to wikipedia quite often for help.

The Beautiful and Damned is about a young couple, Anthony and Gloria, who are looking for happiness in their lives of leisure.  The book is about their friends and non-friends, their materialistic exploits, their relationship and lack of relationship, their beautiful surroundings, their pursuit of success and a little bit of work.  The book is mostly about their continual moving from one object to the next knowing surely it will be the thing that brings everlasting happiness.  During each chapter, Anthony or Gloria (and sometimes both at once) received what they desired most, I was eagerly anticipating their fall knowing that nothing in this world truely satisfies what we desire most.  I couldn't believe that the anticipation continued to build.  I thought I would get tired of their pursuit and wonder when they had had enough.  Fitzgerald's book was a success because he held me to the end.  Such a great reminder of how fleeting life is.

While The Beautiful and the Damned wasn't exactly an easy read all the way through, I found the putting together of words quite palatable.  Sometimes I would go back and read sentences just to read how wonderfully put together and painted were the the words and phrases.  I haven't read a book like that since Les Miserables.  I didn't know an American had it in him. [And that is why this post's title is in French.]

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p.s. I recommend reading the last 20 pages on two hours sleep because it makes the drunken dialog contained somewhere within those pages that much better.