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megan_fowle's review against another edition
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
toniclark's review against another edition
5.0
I listened to the audiobook and it was just wonderful. O'Nan's writing is superb and the voices of the characters will stay with me for a long time. What a heartbreaking story, though!!
Only one small glitch in the audio: There were numerous times at which it almost sounded like another narrator was cutting in. I think that it was the same narrator, but splicing in a corrected sentence, perhaps, under different recording conditions. It was always a little startling.
I also just finished O'Nan's Last Night at the Lobster, which was another very sad book. And yet, his writing is stellar and I'm sure I'll be reading more of O'Nan's oeuvre.
Only one small glitch in the audio: There were numerous times at which it almost sounded like another narrator was cutting in. I think that it was the same narrator, but splicing in a corrected sentence, perhaps, under different recording conditions. It was always a little startling.
I also just finished O'Nan's Last Night at the Lobster, which was another very sad book. And yet, his writing is stellar and I'm sure I'll be reading more of O'Nan's oeuvre.
judithdcollins's review against another edition
5.0
A special thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Viking, NetGalley, and Penguin First to Read for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
As WEST OF SUNSET opens, Stewart O’Nan takes readers to the mountains of North Carolina, as Scott Fitzgerald is visiting his wife, Zelda for their anniversary, a day trip to Chimney Rock, where Zelda is a patient of Highland Mental Hospital in Asheville, North Carolina, due to her depression and mental illness.
At age forty, Scott and Zelda have experienced numerous setbacks, and now with Scottie, their daughter off at boarding school, he no longer has a home and has become a transient. A relief, somewhat, as this is one less expenditure; however, it saddens him, as they have no home to go back to, with their cherished possessions now housed in a dusty storage.
Scott is financially struggling, as has cut back on his expenses in order to pay for both the high cost of the hospital and Zelda’s care, as well as Scottie’s tuition, but somehow he has refused to skimp on his responsibilities, as this would be too easy. Every month Zelda’s mother urges him to allow her daughter to come to Montgomery; however, she is not ready, if she ever would be. His hope is that Dr. Carroll would help her get well so he could go to Hollywood and make enough to cover his debts and maybe buy himself time to write the novel he owed Max.
With Zelda everything is a test and presently, here in NC, Zelda, thirty-seven, is no longer the woman he met seventeen years ago—the dancer, flirty, and the irresistible woman she once was, even though she is exercising and eating healthy and following the doctor’s orders for the moment (until her next outburst).
Scott begins questioning himself--if she indeed had been mad all along; as possibly he was attracted to this side of her; however, despite all they squandered, he would never dispute that they were made for each other. He continues to put off telling Zelda about his upcoming trip to Hollywood and finally puts his intentions in a letter as he makes his way to Hollywood.
At one point there was always a promise of at least a thousand a week, which he so desperately needs to pay off their debts. But Ober couldn’t get them to commit—as the studios had concerns about his drinking as he continues to tell them he has not touched a drop, as his drawers are still full of empty bottles.
In Hollywood, he meets Sheilah Graham, an L.A. gossip columnist and they become lovers. This is of course, a stage name as she grew up an orphan and did not come from money. Over time Scott knows in her eyes, he is old, weak, and unreliable and sure she is tired of playing nursemaid until the end. Their relationship appears not to be a highly romantic one; however, more of a convenience and friendship.
Most of Scott's income came from short stories, he also started to get involved in the film industry, and once again in dire financial straits, and spent the second half of the 1930s in Hollywood, working on commercial short stories, and scripts including Gone with the Wind, and his fifth and final novel,The Love of the Last Tycoon and screenwriter.
A huge fan of Scott and Zelda, I devour and am totally captivated by anything written about this intriguing couple and era. We all know and have read about the glitz and glamour of the Jazz Age; however, feel Stewart O’Nan delivers a compelling intimate portrayal of one man’s struggle with compassion and clarity—as Fitzgerald strives for success in his writing, his work, and some sort of order for his own personal life, as a husband and father—even through the temptations and desperate need for fame, fortune, money and alcohol.
As you read WEST OF SUNSET, you feel Scott’s inward blame for Zelda’s condition, as he had loved her, but possibly not enough—as much as he loved himself or his need for success as a writer.
It is so sad to realize the hurt and struggles of this highly talented man, who really does not become a true literary legend until after his death. Of course the account is not all doom and gloom, as readers get to experience the Hollywood glamour, celebrities and old friends and acquaintances such as Dottie Parker and her husband Alan Campbell, Humphrey Bogart, Ernest Hemingway, Joan Crawford, and stars such as Gary Cooper and yes, he still felt the need to pretend upon his arrival—stating his wife is still in New York, to keep up the pretension.
Highly recommend to any reader intrigued with Scott Fitzgerald--regarded as one of the greatest American writers of the 20th century. Stewart O’Nan skillfully captures the tragedy, the details, mood and feelings of one man’s last attempt at fame in the final years of his life with grace, impeccable research, and engaging prose. Well Done!
Judith D. Collins Must Read Books
As WEST OF SUNSET opens, Stewart O’Nan takes readers to the mountains of North Carolina, as Scott Fitzgerald is visiting his wife, Zelda for their anniversary, a day trip to Chimney Rock, where Zelda is a patient of Highland Mental Hospital in Asheville, North Carolina, due to her depression and mental illness.
At age forty, Scott and Zelda have experienced numerous setbacks, and now with Scottie, their daughter off at boarding school, he no longer has a home and has become a transient. A relief, somewhat, as this is one less expenditure; however, it saddens him, as they have no home to go back to, with their cherished possessions now housed in a dusty storage.
Scott is financially struggling, as has cut back on his expenses in order to pay for both the high cost of the hospital and Zelda’s care, as well as Scottie’s tuition, but somehow he has refused to skimp on his responsibilities, as this would be too easy. Every month Zelda’s mother urges him to allow her daughter to come to Montgomery; however, she is not ready, if she ever would be. His hope is that Dr. Carroll would help her get well so he could go to Hollywood and make enough to cover his debts and maybe buy himself time to write the novel he owed Max.
With Zelda everything is a test and presently, here in NC, Zelda, thirty-seven, is no longer the woman he met seventeen years ago—the dancer, flirty, and the irresistible woman she once was, even though she is exercising and eating healthy and following the doctor’s orders for the moment (until her next outburst).
Scott begins questioning himself--if she indeed had been mad all along; as possibly he was attracted to this side of her; however, despite all they squandered, he would never dispute that they were made for each other. He continues to put off telling Zelda about his upcoming trip to Hollywood and finally puts his intentions in a letter as he makes his way to Hollywood.
At one point there was always a promise of at least a thousand a week, which he so desperately needs to pay off their debts. But Ober couldn’t get them to commit—as the studios had concerns about his drinking as he continues to tell them he has not touched a drop, as his drawers are still full of empty bottles.
In Hollywood, he meets Sheilah Graham, an L.A. gossip columnist and they become lovers. This is of course, a stage name as she grew up an orphan and did not come from money. Over time Scott knows in her eyes, he is old, weak, and unreliable and sure she is tired of playing nursemaid until the end. Their relationship appears not to be a highly romantic one; however, more of a convenience and friendship.
Most of Scott's income came from short stories, he also started to get involved in the film industry, and once again in dire financial straits, and spent the second half of the 1930s in Hollywood, working on commercial short stories, and scripts including Gone with the Wind, and his fifth and final novel,The Love of the Last Tycoon and screenwriter.
A huge fan of Scott and Zelda, I devour and am totally captivated by anything written about this intriguing couple and era. We all know and have read about the glitz and glamour of the Jazz Age; however, feel Stewart O’Nan delivers a compelling intimate portrayal of one man’s struggle with compassion and clarity—as Fitzgerald strives for success in his writing, his work, and some sort of order for his own personal life, as a husband and father—even through the temptations and desperate need for fame, fortune, money and alcohol.
As you read WEST OF SUNSET, you feel Scott’s inward blame for Zelda’s condition, as he had loved her, but possibly not enough—as much as he loved himself or his need for success as a writer.
As quoted, “Between the tragedy in Europe and Zelda´ struggles, he had the debilitating sense that his life was governed by sources beyond this control.“
“In Scarlett he saw Zelda wildness and pride, in Rhett his own rage and dissipation. They weren’t innocents like Romeo Juliet. Their love was undeniable for the same reasons it couldn’t survive.”
It is so sad to realize the hurt and struggles of this highly talented man, who really does not become a true literary legend until after his death. Of course the account is not all doom and gloom, as readers get to experience the Hollywood glamour, celebrities and old friends and acquaintances such as Dottie Parker and her husband Alan Campbell, Humphrey Bogart, Ernest Hemingway, Joan Crawford, and stars such as Gary Cooper and yes, he still felt the need to pretend upon his arrival—stating his wife is still in New York, to keep up the pretension.
Highly recommend to any reader intrigued with Scott Fitzgerald--regarded as one of the greatest American writers of the 20th century. Stewart O’Nan skillfully captures the tragedy, the details, mood and feelings of one man’s last attempt at fame in the final years of his life with grace, impeccable research, and engaging prose. Well Done!
Judith D. Collins Must Read Books
johndiconsiglio's review against another edition
3.0
Fitzgerald in Hollywood. These are the final tortured years, a guilt-wracked affair with Sheila Graham, a battle with the booze & the ghost of Zelda locked away in a mental asylum. The novel takes its time, lolling in its sadness. If you’re not a Lost Gen buff (I am), you may find it depressing & slow. Or it'll feel like a poignant second act, the master craftsman past his prime still struggling to hammer out worthwhile work in the studio mill. It perks up with shameless cameos from Bogie & Hemingway (of course) to Dorothy Parker & Joan Crawford.
kategci's review against another edition
3.0
I received this ARC through Goodreads FirstReads, so thank you. I really enjoyed Stewart O'Nan's previous novel Last Night at the Lobster. I really enjoy his writing style. This new novel is about F. Scott Fitzgerald's final years as he was working as a scriptwriter in Hollywood. I have read The Great Gatsby many times and Fitzgerald's seemingly tragic life has always interested me. I have read several historical novels which have mentioned him and in the case of Zelda: a Novel by Therese Ann Fowler, a novel where he was the secondary character. Stewart O'Nan writes very descriptively about the end of his life. At that time, Zelda was in a sanitarium and his daughter Scottie was in boarding school and then college. Scott had been an alcoholic for many years and was trying to stay sober. He meets Sheilah Graham, a gossip columnist, and he falls deeply in love. He was very conflicted as he felt guilty about Zelda. He realized that he would never live with Zelda again, but he continued to visit and take her on brief vacations which almost always ended in disaster. Either Zelda acted out, or Scott drank and created a scene or got into a fight. At times, the book is repetitive, with Scott not drinking and then falling off the wagon. It made me feel how Sheilah Graham must have felt, loving Scott, but being unable to live with him and being unable to trust him. Hollywood was probably not the best atmosphere for Scott, although he seemed able to write screenplays under pressure. It was a party all day long and Scott was tempted to drink much of the time. He also had an incredible pill habit, taking stimulants in the morning and Seconal washed down with a gin and tonic in order to sleep. It is so hard to realize that he became much more famous after his death, when his books began to sell and almost every high school student started to read Gatsby. He was writing screenplays to pay for Zelda's hospital and Scottie's school and spent much of this time flat broke. Near the end of his life, he picked up a studio contract, published mor short stories and seemed a little happier. I really enjoyed this book and it is a solid 3 1/2 stars.
stmchester's review against another edition
2.0
I gave up on this halfway through and read the final chapters just to see if I was missing some big revelation. Not so much! Since I already knew the story of F. Scott Fitzgerald's decline and early death, it just wasn't necessary to read about the sad details. O'Nan's writing was excellent, as always, but he never made me care about Scott, Zelda and the other characters. Not recommended.
thekathrynmurray's review against another edition
2.0
Meh. Didn't even finish it. Felt indulgent and boring.
robynryle's review against another edition
4.0
Not nearly as creepy as most of O'Nan's books, that feeling that something disastrous is about to happen, but then doesn't. But reading this as a writer, the horror of being a writer is a kind of subtext. You know that eventually, Esquire won't take his stories anymore. He won't get credit for Gone with the Wind. He'll die too young without having written enough.
debi_g's review against another edition
4.0
I bought this book at O'Nan's visit to the St. Louis Library. I am a fan of Fitzgerald and of O'Nan, and had high hopes for this book.
Somehow, though O'Nan has over-tamed the liveliness of his ripe cast. The lackluster, grasping quality of these years is abundantly clear, but the story is too often told in a self-conscious and passionless manner. The timeline is covered, each detail carefully ticked by the author, without consistently breathing life into the saga.
Certainly, some portions are vividly authentic, including the clipped dialogue and sorrowful resignation mixed with yearning for what once was and could never be again, but it seemed to me that the author's investment was uneven. Regardless, the Fitzgeralds are always compelling, as are their coterie. The unresolved trouble with Hemingway, the companionship of Parker, the relationship with Graham, and the separate life of Scottie--any of these muses could be mined for a new piece of faction.
Who am I to judge this book? I only know that I enjoyed the novelization of Zelda's life more than this. I do respect Stuart O'Nan, so maybe I just want to love the image of Scott that I relish, untainted by the pitiful hack years and rubble of life.
3.75
Somehow, though O'Nan has over-tamed the liveliness of his ripe cast. The lackluster, grasping quality of these years is abundantly clear, but the story is too often told in a self-conscious and passionless manner. The timeline is covered, each detail carefully ticked by the author, without consistently breathing life into the saga.
Certainly, some portions are vividly authentic, including the clipped dialogue and sorrowful resignation mixed with yearning for what once was and could never be again, but it seemed to me that the author's investment was uneven. Regardless, the Fitzgeralds are always compelling, as are their coterie. The unresolved trouble with Hemingway, the companionship of Parker, the relationship with Graham, and the separate life of Scottie--any of these muses could be mined for a new piece of faction.
Who am I to judge this book? I only know that I enjoyed the novelization of Zelda's life more than this. I do respect Stuart O'Nan, so maybe I just want to love the image of Scott that I relish, untainted by the pitiful hack years and rubble of life.
3.75