Review of Tender is the Night by Jesse Fortson

Review of Tender is the Night by Jesse FortsonTender is the Night is a new novel by Jesse Fortson. This is the first in a trilogy of novels following the experiences of James, a black man in Memphis. Of course, not only will James struggle with racism, he will also deal with his father's death.This book was a lot of fun to read. I was excited to see where Fortson would take James, but the rest of the book made the events in this book so much more intense. This was very similar to my experience reading A Confederacy of Dunces, but this book is more full of action.The plot of this book follows James and some friends through his first semester of college and the essay topics that each of them chooses. Each essay has a personal meaning for James and the readers, so it's a lot of fun to read.I especially enjoyed the essay topics, which were not based on a stereotype. There are several essays on things like race, family and friends. The more 'out there' essay topics really add a bit of exc itement to the book, especially when the essay topics are actually things that have happened to the characters.The essay topics, while not life changing, have a great impact on James' life. In one essay, James describes his mother's struggles with breast cancer. It brings him to tears as he describes how her illness has affected her daughter and her relationship with her granddaughter.In another essay, James speaks about the importance of being different and the injustices that society has done to other people. He also describes the effect that people have had on his mother's life and explains why he has chosen to work with women when he goes to college. The essay topics are extremely important to the plot of the book.I really enjoyed the final essay because it discussed how something as simple as getting up early to be early to work with a program that teaches people how to learn how to be self-sufficient. By this point, James has already dealt with the racism that his parents taug ht him, but he hadn't really dealt with the disadvantage that black people have faced in society. This essay was the perfect ending to this fantastic book.Overall, Tender is the Night is a fun book to read and one that gives a unique perspective on black life in America. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys good literature.