Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald
2 journalers for this copy...
Extremely well-written and plotted story. I know enough about the Fitzgerald's and their times to recognize the accuracy where fact is important. But this is a novel and Fowler strings together an interesting story that is sympathetic to Zelda.
Being released at Boston Bookcrossing Meetup, October 2014.
Recommended by a Bookcrosser friend at Oct. 2014 Boston meetup!
Looks so cool, thank you!
Looks so cool, thank you!
Interesting novel told from Zelda point of view's. Spoilers.
Author wrote an afterward detailing her research, mostly through letters. She admits, some of the research is difficult to confirm b/c there was so much about the Fitzgeralds it is lore at this point -- hard to separate truth from fiction.
That being said she did an admirable job. I had a couple of issues with her take on Hemingway v. Zelda though. Over time I think F. Scott and Papa had what's now called a bromance type relationship, and/or perhaps it was some sort of a homosexual relationship at one point -- but perhaps that is best left to the imagination. Obviously there was some sort of love/hate rivalry between Zelda and Hemingway -- which somehow fuels the speculation. Obviously the two had a bond and were rivals but both secured a place in the canon of American literature, etc.
The author states in more recent biographies that Zelda was misdiagnosed and was more likely bipolar/manic depressive which reflects in her novel. What she describes in her portrait of Zelda is not symptoms of Schizophrenia.
The other thing was the author's portrayal of F.Scott through Zelda's eyes was his marketing strategy. I had no idea he was such a visionary, it seemed with the culture of the time their misadventures were fuel for gossip which they tried to use to their advantage vs. an overall strategy. I found that a little unsettling that he would be that conniving to get press, plus it really wasn't consistent with the rest of his self (and also her) destructive behavior at times. Especially with their drinking it's hard to think they planned a lot of what was covered in the press and subsequently became part of their lore.
Finally, yes they had a great love/hate relationship. I think it was brave of the author to take it on from Zelda's point of view. One thing I very much appreciate is the revelation of how much Zelda contributed to F.Scott's short stories and I'm going to seek out the novels she was able to publish under her own name.
Holding for next Bookcrossing meet up.
Author wrote an afterward detailing her research, mostly through letters. She admits, some of the research is difficult to confirm b/c there was so much about the Fitzgeralds it is lore at this point -- hard to separate truth from fiction.
That being said she did an admirable job. I had a couple of issues with her take on Hemingway v. Zelda though. Over time I think F. Scott and Papa had what's now called a bromance type relationship, and/or perhaps it was some sort of a homosexual relationship at one point -- but perhaps that is best left to the imagination. Obviously there was some sort of love/hate rivalry between Zelda and Hemingway -- which somehow fuels the speculation. Obviously the two had a bond and were rivals but both secured a place in the canon of American literature, etc.
The author states in more recent biographies that Zelda was misdiagnosed and was more likely bipolar/manic depressive which reflects in her novel. What she describes in her portrait of Zelda is not symptoms of Schizophrenia.
The other thing was the author's portrayal of F.Scott through Zelda's eyes was his marketing strategy. I had no idea he was such a visionary, it seemed with the culture of the time their misadventures were fuel for gossip which they tried to use to their advantage vs. an overall strategy. I found that a little unsettling that he would be that conniving to get press, plus it really wasn't consistent with the rest of his self (and also her) destructive behavior at times. Especially with their drinking it's hard to think they planned a lot of what was covered in the press and subsequently became part of their lore.
Finally, yes they had a great love/hate relationship. I think it was brave of the author to take it on from Zelda's point of view. One thing I very much appreciate is the revelation of how much Zelda contributed to F.Scott's short stories and I'm going to seek out the novels she was able to publish under her own name.
Holding for next Bookcrossing meet up.
Released in our book share community shelf, cafeteria, One Ashburton Place, Boston, MA.
