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catwolfswritings's review against another edition
2.0
„Оттатък рая“ на Сали Кослоу привлече вниманието ми още с излизането си, но както обикновено се случва, трябваше да се нареди на опашка и да си изчака кротко реда (изпреварвайки все пак някое и друго заглавие). Интересът ми се засили допълнително, след като открих колко приятни могат да са биографичните романи, а и освен това… без срам заявявам, че не знаех почти нищо за самия Фицджералд, така че реших, че този роман е удачен избор, за да се запозная поне косвено с живота му.
Самият роман разглежда живота на Шийла Греъм, последната любов на Фицджералд, както и гръмко е обявено на корицата. Двамата се запознават през 1937 година – тя е сгодена, а той все още се грижи за Зелда, неговата съпруга, към този момент в санаториум. И любовта между тях пламва на момента. Докато Шийла обаче е склонна да се откаже от набезите си към богати мъже и многобройните флиртове заради Фицджералд, пленена от обаянието му и обожанието, което показва към нея, той не е склонен да се разведе със съпругата си и се налага двамата да живеят като любовници. В Холивуд, където всички се преструват, а моралът е фалшив, все пак се налага и те да показват доза лицемерие. Не е тайна, че са заедно, но и не престъпват границите на този, иначе доста освободен и разкрепостен свят.
Изглежда, очаквах повече от самата Шийла като личност. Тя е все пак последната любов на Фицджералд, вдъхновението и музата за последния му успешен роман. Но романът сравнително бегло проследява животът й в ранна възраст и преди да срещне голямата си любов, съвсем накратко е представено с какво се занимава. Всъщност фокусът на този роман е изцяло любовта им със Скот, което дори да е любопитно, на моменти ми дотягаше заради тази обсебеност, за която се създаваше впечатление от романа. Шийла израства в сиропиталище, успява със собствени сили и амбицията си да се измъкне от гетата на Лондон, да си спечели място в обществото, да бъде желана от най-богатите и успешни мъже. Но всичко това е оставено на заден план, за сметка на любовната й афера с Фицджералд. Тя дори в Холивуд успява да се издигне, работи за едни от най-популярните вестници и вписва колонки в тях, разкривайки тайните на известните личности. И това остава някак пренебрегнато, за сметка на проблемите й със Скот.
Впрочем, мнението ми за Фицджералд е доста негативно след прочитането на този роман и, докато към Шийла останах сравнително безразлична заради липсата на фокус върху самата нея, то имах доста причини да се настроя негативно към него. Да, той може да бъде галантен джентълмен, както е описан поне. И да, някога е имал голяма слава заради романите си. Бил е уважаван и обичан. Но Шийла го хваща в момент, в който никой вече не се интересува от романите му. Той пише сценарии за филми, повечето от които не довършва, защото бива уволнен. Има огромен проблем с алкохола и това го превръща в коренно различен човек, когато пие. И освен това е достатъчно безхарактерен, че да се поддава на всичките си пороци и достатъчно безгръбначен, че да унижава жената, която обича, за сметка на тези пороци и заради жена, с която отдавна няма нищо общо.
Въпреки че ми беше интересно да разбера повече за самата история и за случилото се между Шийла и Фицджералд, не останах с особено добри впечатления от романа. Стилът на авторката е доста плосък, неинтересен, липсва му задълбоченост, заради което и персонажите, в случая действителни личности, изглеждаха някак повърхностни, представени бегло и посредствено, а самата епоха по никакъв начин не се открояваше със своите характерни черти. Липсваше ми връзката на двамата с други хора, защото дори любов като тяхната не е единственото нещо, съществуващо на света, особено предвид, че и двамата са били светски личности. Споменати бяха много известни и неизвестни хора от онези времена, но просто като имена, случайни минувачи. Определено ми липсваше дълбочина на романа и героите, което повлия върху цялостното ми впечатление.
Самият роман разглежда живота на Шийла Греъм, последната любов на Фицджералд, както и гръмко е обявено на корицата. Двамата се запознават през 1937 година – тя е сгодена, а той все още се грижи за Зелда, неговата съпруга, към този момент в санаториум. И любовта между тях пламва на момента. Докато Шийла обаче е склонна да се откаже от набезите си към богати мъже и многобройните флиртове заради Фицджералд, пленена от обаянието му и обожанието, което показва към нея, той не е склонен да се разведе със съпругата си и се налага двамата да живеят като любовници. В Холивуд, където всички се преструват, а моралът е фалшив, все пак се налага и те да показват доза лицемерие. Не е тайна, че са заедно, но и не престъпват границите на този, иначе доста освободен и разкрепостен свят.
Изглежда, очаквах повече от самата Шийла като личност. Тя е все пак последната любов на Фицджералд, вдъхновението и музата за последния му успешен роман. Но романът сравнително бегло проследява животът й в ранна възраст и преди да срещне голямата си любов, съвсем накратко е представено с какво се занимава. Всъщност фокусът на този роман е изцяло любовта им със Скот, което дори да е любопитно, на моменти ми дотягаше заради тази обсебеност, за която се създаваше впечатление от романа. Шийла израства в сиропиталище, успява със собствени сили и амбицията си да се измъкне от гетата на Лондон, да си спечели място в обществото, да бъде желана от най-богатите и успешни мъже. Но всичко това е оставено на заден план, за сметка на любовната й афера с Фицджералд. Тя дори в Холивуд успява да се издигне, работи за едни от най-популярните вестници и вписва колонки в тях, разкривайки тайните на известните личности. И това остава някак пренебрегнато, за сметка на проблемите й със Скот.
Впрочем, мнението ми за Фицджералд е доста негативно след прочитането на този роман и, докато към Шийла останах сравнително безразлична заради липсата на фокус върху самата нея, то имах доста причини да се настроя негативно към него. Да, той може да бъде галантен джентълмен, както е описан поне. И да, някога е имал голяма слава заради романите си. Бил е уважаван и обичан. Но Шийла го хваща в момент, в който никой вече не се интересува от романите му. Той пише сценарии за филми, повечето от които не довършва, защото бива уволнен. Има огромен проблем с алкохола и това го превръща в коренно различен човек, когато пие. И освен това е достатъчно безхарактерен, че да се поддава на всичките си пороци и достатъчно безгръбначен, че да унижава жената, която обича, за сметка на тези пороци и заради жена, с която отдавна няма нищо общо.
Въпреки че ми беше интересно да разбера повече за самата история и за случилото се между Шийла и Фицджералд, не останах с особено добри впечатления от романа. Стилът на авторката е доста плосък, неинтересен, липсва му задълбоченост, заради което и персонажите, в случая действителни личности, изглеждаха някак повърхностни, представени бегло и посредствено, а самата епоха по никакъв начин не се открояваше със своите характерни черти. Липсваше ми връзката на двамата с други хора, защото дори любов като тяхната не е единственото нещо, съществуващо на света, особено предвид, че и двамата са били светски личности. Споменати бяха много известни и неизвестни хора от онези времена, но просто като имена, случайни минувачи. Определено ми липсваше дълбочина на романа и героите, което повлия върху цялостното ми впечатление.
rochelleweinstein's review against another edition
5.0
This is my first Koslow read, and her writing is spectacular. I found myself immediately engrossed in Scott's world and rooting for him and his "Presh" on their precious and passionate journey. I was sad to say goodbye to the colorful world of Hollywood and these memorable characters.
gilmoreguide's review against another edition
2.0
(2.5 stars)
In case you’ve forgotten the details of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s life, here’s a quick recap: after his early, stunning literary successes he dumped his wife Zelda in an institution and headed to Hollywood to try and earn a living as a screenwriter, because he was deep in debt and his literary gifts have disappeared in an ocean of booze. Unfortunately, that job entails being sober and working hard, neither of which he was capable of by 1937. Enter Sheilah Graham, a young woman making a name for herself as a gossip columnist. She sees Fitzgerald at a party and decides the middle-aged, shabby author is the man for her and they embark on a tempestuous affair that lasts for the final years of Fitzgerald’s life. This is the setup for Sally Koslow’s new novel, Another Side of Paradise, a novel that captures both the glamour of 1930s Hollywood and the tragedy of a doomed love affair.
Koslow used letters, diaries, and other first-hand resources to piece together the three years when Graham and Fitzgerald were a couple. Three years that were turbulent in the extreme as Fitzgerald was an alcoholic and still married to Zelda. Much of the book consists of his being drunk, humiliating Graham in public, and then wooing her back. After the third such occasion it becomes almost impossible to care about this couple and their toxic relationship. The novel reads like historical chick-lit, because Fitzgerald is affixed firmly front and center throughout, despite his having no redeeming characteristics left. He is a creature to be pitied, yes, but in the same vein as Nicholas Cage in the movie Leaving Las Vegas—he didn’t want to be and couldn’t be saved.
The rest of this review is at The Gilmore Guide to Books: http://gilmoreguidetobooks.com/2018/06/another-side-of-paradise/
In case you’ve forgotten the details of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s life, here’s a quick recap: after his early, stunning literary successes he dumped his wife Zelda in an institution and headed to Hollywood to try and earn a living as a screenwriter, because he was deep in debt and his literary gifts have disappeared in an ocean of booze. Unfortunately, that job entails being sober and working hard, neither of which he was capable of by 1937. Enter Sheilah Graham, a young woman making a name for herself as a gossip columnist. She sees Fitzgerald at a party and decides the middle-aged, shabby author is the man for her and they embark on a tempestuous affair that lasts for the final years of Fitzgerald’s life. This is the setup for Sally Koslow’s new novel, Another Side of Paradise, a novel that captures both the glamour of 1930s Hollywood and the tragedy of a doomed love affair.
Koslow used letters, diaries, and other first-hand resources to piece together the three years when Graham and Fitzgerald were a couple. Three years that were turbulent in the extreme as Fitzgerald was an alcoholic and still married to Zelda. Much of the book consists of his being drunk, humiliating Graham in public, and then wooing her back. After the third such occasion it becomes almost impossible to care about this couple and their toxic relationship. The novel reads like historical chick-lit, because Fitzgerald is affixed firmly front and center throughout, despite his having no redeeming characteristics left. He is a creature to be pitied, yes, but in the same vein as Nicholas Cage in the movie Leaving Las Vegas—he didn’t want to be and couldn’t be saved.
The rest of this review is at The Gilmore Guide to Books: http://gilmoreguidetobooks.com/2018/06/another-side-of-paradise/
bookapotamus's review against another edition
4.0
I've definitely been on a historical fiction kick these days and I am LOVING it.
This one is all Hollywood romance, scandal, glitz and glamour, and if you know anything about The Great Gatsby - you need to read this!
We all know the infamous F. Scott Fitzgerald of Gatsby fame. But what I did not know, was the scandal and rumors that swirled around this creative force! Rumors of a possible relationship with his rival, Ernest Hemingway, drunken escapades and severe alcoholism, and his wife Zelda, committed to a psychiatric hospital as her husband carries on a torrid affair with beautiful gossip columnist, Sheilah Graham.
This is that story. Sally Koslow has taken Sheliah's memoirs, interviews, and letters and constructed the story of her childhood of poverty and sadness, to her eventual rise (so similar to Jay Gatsby's!) to fame and recognition, and the imagined story of her scandalous love affair with Fitzgerald.
You want to dislike Sheliah - after all, she's shacking up with a married man! But you just can't help but admire her and see her strength, determination to stand out and on her own, and the love she has for Fitzgerald. He is lost and drunk, and on the verge of a ruined career - so bad, that people begin to think he had died! Sheliah is hardworking and passionate, and helps him reignite his career just before his painful and eventual death.
I love the glitz and glitter that comes along with the stories of this time period. The 20's and 30's seemed so magical, and you can't help but fall in love with the affairs, the gossip, and the celebrity of it all. The story is glamorous and exciting, as Sheliah rubs elbows with icons such as Humphrey Bogart, Charlie Chaplin, and James Cagney. You are transported back to this golden era through Sally's writing - you can feel the excitement and change in the air and hear the jazz music and the flappers dancing, as you are dropped right into the midst of this tumultuous and passionate love story.
This one is all Hollywood romance, scandal, glitz and glamour, and if you know anything about The Great Gatsby - you need to read this!
We all know the infamous F. Scott Fitzgerald of Gatsby fame. But what I did not know, was the scandal and rumors that swirled around this creative force! Rumors of a possible relationship with his rival, Ernest Hemingway, drunken escapades and severe alcoholism, and his wife Zelda, committed to a psychiatric hospital as her husband carries on a torrid affair with beautiful gossip columnist, Sheilah Graham.
This is that story. Sally Koslow has taken Sheliah's memoirs, interviews, and letters and constructed the story of her childhood of poverty and sadness, to her eventual rise (so similar to Jay Gatsby's!) to fame and recognition, and the imagined story of her scandalous love affair with Fitzgerald.
You want to dislike Sheliah - after all, she's shacking up with a married man! But you just can't help but admire her and see her strength, determination to stand out and on her own, and the love she has for Fitzgerald. He is lost and drunk, and on the verge of a ruined career - so bad, that people begin to think he had died! Sheliah is hardworking and passionate, and helps him reignite his career just before his painful and eventual death.
I love the glitz and glitter that comes along with the stories of this time period. The 20's and 30's seemed so magical, and you can't help but fall in love with the affairs, the gossip, and the celebrity of it all. The story is glamorous and exciting, as Sheliah rubs elbows with icons such as Humphrey Bogart, Charlie Chaplin, and James Cagney. You are transported back to this golden era through Sally's writing - you can feel the excitement and change in the air and hear the jazz music and the flappers dancing, as you are dropped right into the midst of this tumultuous and passionate love story.
bibliopage's review against another edition
4.0
A fascinating tale of the love affair between F. Scott Fitzgerald and Sheilah Graham in the last year's of his life! I thought Sally Kroslow's writing style was really adroit in capturing the complexities of Sheilah Graham's persona! Great book!
kristinasshelves's review against another edition
4.0
"How do you get over F. Scott Fitzgerald? You don't. The moment we met my life began to snap into focus, revealing a gate to which only he had a key." (p. 336)
This story begins with an interlude of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s death, from the point of view of Sheilah Graham, his mistress for 4 years once Zelda was institutionalized. The narrative then jumps to 1937, when Sheilah first glimpses Scott at a party, describing him as “the sad man with the blonde hair" and is instantly intrigued by his handsomeness. They meet again by chance at dinner and are taken with one another, quickly beginning a relationship.
The first portion of the book is then a flashback to Sheilah's life from 1910 until the 1930s, when she meets Scott. Born Lily Shiel, her family were poor Ukrainian Jews who emigrated to England. After the death of her father, she was put into an orphanage due to her mother’s inability to care for her. She tells her story of this rather depressing upbringing, including how she distanced herself from her family and began to make an almost entirely fictional life for herself. When she meets Scott, she is Sheila Graham, a celebrity gossip columnist who is engaged to the Marquess of Donnegall. She quickly ends this betrothal in favor of Scott.
Scott's wife, Zelda, is now in a sanitarium in North Carolina. He describes their marriage as being only legal, but refuses to even consider divorcing her. Throughout their relatively short relationship, Sheila gets a first hand seat to Scott’s battle with and descent in to alcoholism, which he couples with pills to both sleep and wake up. It’s hard to watch, but provides more insight into the author's life. The romance between these two very lost people in desperate need of true love and acceptance was hard to put down. I've already wanted to read [b:Tender Is the Night|46164|Tender Is the Night|F. Scott Fitzgerald|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1559763775l/46164._SY75_.jpg|8272], but am now looking to it even more as the romance and the character of Kathleen are said to be modeled after Graham.
From the brief research I did on Graham, majority of this novel seems to be accurate, aside from what is hinted at in the epilogue. I also enjoyed the abundant references to pop culture of the 1930s, mentioning everything from The Wizard of Oz to Snow White to Fitzgerald's feud with Hemingway.
This story begins with an interlude of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s death, from the point of view of Sheilah Graham, his mistress for 4 years once Zelda was institutionalized. The narrative then jumps to 1937, when Sheilah first glimpses Scott at a party, describing him as “the sad man with the blonde hair" and is instantly intrigued by his handsomeness. They meet again by chance at dinner and are taken with one another, quickly beginning a relationship.
The first portion of the book is then a flashback to Sheilah's life from 1910 until the 1930s, when she meets Scott. Born Lily Shiel, her family were poor Ukrainian Jews who emigrated to England. After the death of her father, she was put into an orphanage due to her mother’s inability to care for her. She tells her story of this rather depressing upbringing, including how she distanced herself from her family and began to make an almost entirely fictional life for herself. When she meets Scott, she is Sheila Graham, a celebrity gossip columnist who is engaged to the Marquess of Donnegall. She quickly ends this betrothal in favor of Scott.
Scott's wife, Zelda, is now in a sanitarium in North Carolina. He describes their marriage as being only legal, but refuses to even consider divorcing her. Throughout their relatively short relationship, Sheila gets a first hand seat to Scott’s battle with and descent in to alcoholism, which he couples with pills to both sleep and wake up. It’s hard to watch, but provides more insight into the author's life. The romance between these two very lost people in desperate need of true love and acceptance was hard to put down. I've already wanted to read [b:Tender Is the Night|46164|Tender Is the Night|F. Scott Fitzgerald|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1559763775l/46164._SY75_.jpg|8272], but am now looking to it even more as the romance and the character of Kathleen are said to be modeled after Graham.
From the brief research I did on Graham, majority of this novel seems to be accurate, aside from what is hinted at in the epilogue. I also enjoyed the abundant references to pop culture of the 1930s, mentioning everything from The Wizard of Oz to Snow White to Fitzgerald's feud with Hemingway.
spillie's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This novel reads like a memoir so I had difficulty remembering it is a fictional account of the relationship between F. Scott Fitzgerald and Sheilah Graham. I couldn’t help bur feel sad for them both as they each had their own demons. A great read for Fitzgerald fans.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism
Descriptions of alcohol use/abuse could trigger some readers.lauralovestoread's review against another edition
4.0
Being a long time fan of the 1920’s and 30’s, as well as to F. Scott Fitzgerald and Zelda, I’ve read my share of stories on this infamous couple. However it was my first getting a glimpse into the life and relationship of Sheila Graham. I wanted to not like her, as I was feeling for Zelda while she was away at an asylum, but Sheila was the kind, strong woman that Fitzgerald needed at that time and I could see why he fell for her.
This novel swept me away to the glitz and glamor of the Golden Age of Hollywood, and I really loved the writing of Sally Koslow. We get to see such a complex character as Sheila, through her story of poverty, riches, and scandal.
A perfect summer read, and fans of this era!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars!!
This novel swept me away to the glitz and glamor of the Golden Age of Hollywood, and I really loved the writing of Sally Koslow. We get to see such a complex character as Sheila, through her story of poverty, riches, and scandal.
A perfect summer read, and fans of this era!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars!!
cassies_books_reviews's review against another edition
4.0
I absolutely loved this book by Sally Koslow! You could tell right when you start reading she had done her research! I felt like I was immediately transferred back in time! I went into this not know much about F. Scott Fitzgerald. This book was told in Sheilah Graham point of view and it just captivated me. Sheilah Graham came from a very poor Jewish family and even placed in an orphanage when her mother couldn’t care for her , wanting to make a name for herself in California she changes her name so she doesn’t have any connection to her past and becomes a popular gossip columnists who covers Hollywood In the 1930’s . While at a party she meets Scott Fitzgerald whose in California working on movie scripts and from there they begin an affair. Knowing he’s fighting alcoholism and that his wife is in a psychiatric hospital and he has no plant to leave her, she accepts their relationship the way it is. Scott helps her career and they stay a couple through some very difficult and even dark times. I loved how the story progressed and it just had me eagerly turning the page to find out more about the couple and where their story was going to lead. Sheilah s relationship was not an easy one and when Scott would drink he could turn nasty but when he wasn’t he was the sweetest my heart broke for her at times. I loved the golden age of hollywood and all the characters were well developed. It was a breath of fresh air and I learned so much of Fitzgerald’s final years. Thank you Sally Koslow for writing an amazing books I give this four stars!