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noirverse's review against another edition
2.0
1.5 stars, rounded up.
I'm not sure what to say about this one. This had so much potential, and I fully think that the Fitzgeralds are deserving of having stories told about their legendary lives, but this didn't work. Half the time, I had the sense that the author was merely listing off information that could be found in Zelda's Wikipedia page, complete with throwing a bunch of notable names into the story that had next to zero emotional meaning, and relied far too much on telling me what was happening. The pacing was all over the place, and the author would regularly describe what could've made for an exciting or touching emotional scene in the span of a paragraph at most, while lingering overly long on scenes that dragged the pacing down to the speed of a snail.
My biggest problem, in the end, for all that this was an attempt to breathe life into Zelda and her husband, was that they acted like false imitations at best throughout the bulk of the story. Both Zelda and Scott didn't come across as being characterized faithfully, with depth to their personalities. There were a couple of things that did convince me to round my rating up in the end, though. A couple of the scenes between Zelda and Scott rang true to me, and I did feel emotional at times reading about their feelings for each other and how Zelda was dealing with major events. I wish those good or even great parts hadn't been so rare to come by in the course of reading the story.
The choices to ignore historical record in favor of making things up for the sake of drama, or perhaps even more importantly, sidestep events in their lives that the author felt unable to confront were both questionable and vaguely frustrating. It leaned far too much on hoping you'd be too enchanted by the locations in the story and the fact that the Fitzgeralds were a famous couple to notice the lack of substance underneath, which is a real shame since I wanted more from this book.
I'm not sure what to say about this one. This had so much potential, and I fully think that the Fitzgeralds are deserving of having stories told about their legendary lives, but this didn't work. Half the time, I had the sense that the author was merely listing off information that could be found in Zelda's Wikipedia page, complete with throwing a bunch of notable names into the story that had next to zero emotional meaning, and relied far too much on telling me what was happening. The pacing was all over the place, and the author would regularly describe what could've made for an exciting or touching emotional scene in the span of a paragraph at most, while lingering overly long on scenes that dragged the pacing down to the speed of a snail.
My biggest problem, in the end, for all that this was an attempt to breathe life into Zelda and her husband, was that they acted like false imitations at best throughout the bulk of the story. Both Zelda and Scott didn't come across as being characterized faithfully, with depth to their personalities. There were a couple of things that did convince me to round my rating up in the end, though. A couple of the scenes between Zelda and Scott rang true to me, and I did feel emotional at times reading about their feelings for each other and how Zelda was dealing with major events. I wish those good or even great parts hadn't been so rare to come by in the course of reading the story.
The choices to ignore historical record in favor of making things up for the sake of drama, or perhaps even more importantly, sidestep events in their lives that the author felt unable to confront were both questionable and vaguely frustrating. It leaned far too much on hoping you'd be too enchanted by the locations in the story and the fact that the Fitzgeralds were a famous couple to notice the lack of substance underneath, which is a real shame since I wanted more from this book.
amyliz2008's review against another edition
informative
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
ckshaw13's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jansbookcorner's review against another edition
4.0
What an interesting indulgent life so many creative people lived in the 1920’s - 30’s. The golden couple through much of that time was the Fitzgeralds. There’s no secret of the turbulence they also lived in. A well written historical fiction story.
goobyworm23's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
cindytheskull's review against another edition
3.0
I stumbled upon Zelda Fitzgerald when "Z", the TV show, was still just a pilot.
I read "The Great Gatsby" at the age of 17, when I believed that reading "Classics" was part of giving oneself a good education. I cannot remember a single detail of Gatsby, so that I cannot confirm that the theory of the teenaged me has some fundament in truth.
After I saw the Pilot to the series "Z", I ran a brief research about Zelda Fitzgerald, and quickly realized that there is no Zelda without Scott, and no Scott or even Gatsby without Zelda.
I wish I had read some form of biography of the two before giving this book a try. I am pretty sure that some depictions were mostly for the sake of "keeping the tone" and representing Zelda in a very specific light. Those belonging to the "Scott's Club" (it seems to be common for literature enthusiasts to argue about who ruined who) will not enjoy this book, I am pretty sure of that.
Fortunately, the author herself wrote a brief explanation about her approach on writing the book (which, I must say, sounds almost apologetic), so that some of the obvious freedoms she took can be easily forgiven.
The narration, written in the first person, does switch between a poetic, deep register and a superficial, shallow one. It may be intentional considering that most of the things known about Zelda have been passed through the filter of myth, love and hate in the last 90 years.
The story written by Therese Anne Fowler did however kindle my interest in Francis Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald even further, so that I proceeded to order the most reknown biography of Zelda, the letters of Zelda and Scott, and I am currently reading "This Side of Paradise". I will definitely re-try "Gatsby" to see what the adult me has to say about that.
I read "The Great Gatsby" at the age of 17, when I believed that reading "Classics" was part of giving oneself a good education. I cannot remember a single detail of Gatsby, so that I cannot confirm that the theory of the teenaged me has some fundament in truth.
After I saw the Pilot to the series "Z", I ran a brief research about Zelda Fitzgerald, and quickly realized that there is no Zelda without Scott, and no Scott or even Gatsby without Zelda.
I wish I had read some form of biography of the two before giving this book a try. I am pretty sure that some depictions were mostly for the sake of "keeping the tone" and representing Zelda in a very specific light. Those belonging to the "Scott's Club" (it seems to be common for literature enthusiasts to argue about who ruined who) will not enjoy this book, I am pretty sure of that.
Fortunately, the author herself wrote a brief explanation about her approach on writing the book (which, I must say, sounds almost apologetic), so that some of the obvious freedoms she took can be easily forgiven.
The narration, written in the first person, does switch between a poetic, deep register and a superficial, shallow one. It may be intentional considering that most of the things known about Zelda have been passed through the filter of myth, love and hate in the last 90 years.
The story written by Therese Anne Fowler did however kindle my interest in Francis Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald even further, so that I proceeded to order the most reknown biography of Zelda, the letters of Zelda and Scott, and I am currently reading "This Side of Paradise". I will definitely re-try "Gatsby" to see what the adult me has to say about that.
victoriafrost1991's review against another edition
3.0
I will give it 3.5 stars. Fun to read the novel about how the Fitzgerald couple, especially that of Zelda. I enjoyed the protagonist perspective from Zeldas perspective. It seemed like an interesting take. Yet, it is a good book just to pass the time. Nothing fantastic or award worthy.
ericanh's review against another edition
5.0
This is personally one of the best novels that I have ever read. I thought that it was extremely well written, and Therese does an amazing job at presenting the events that occur. Obviously this is a fictional story, however, it is based on real people and events that allegedly took place. Regardless if you are a Scott fan or a Zelda fan (or if you just adore the Fitzgeralds and historical fiction in general) I think that you will love it as much as I did!
cat_book_lady's review against another edition
3.0
What I liked: Theresa Anne Fowler does a splendid job at capturing the tumultuous, dysfunctional, alcoholic, exuberant, and the absolute epitomy-of-a-Jazz Age couple that were the Fitzgeralds, and you truly feel immersed inside the glamour and glitz of fame and fortune during the Roaring Twenties. Told from Zelda's point of view, you see the codependent, rollercoaster relationship with her husband, the notoriously brilliant F. Scott Fitzgerald, and how they became each other's inspiration and raisin d'etre. But you also see them as bringing out the worst in each other, and yet Scott relied upon her heavily as his writing muse, even as he started drowning under the sea of alcohol that overcame his life. Zelda is a picture of a woman caught between clamoring for the independence of the rising women's liberation movement by producing her own writing, painting, and dancing - much to the chagrin of her husband - but also wanting to be the dutiful wife that stands by his side. She tries to step out on her own merits but is always overshadowed and minimized by her famous spouse, and she never fully gains her spot in the sun.
What I was just ok with: Zelda, being institutionalized for what we would consider bipolar (originally diagnosed with schizophrenia) was subjected to horrific treatments while in the multiple sanitariums. Thing is, I honestly did not see the mental illness evident at all throughout the book, so it quite surprised me that she had a nervous breakdown (though I had previously known this about Zelda). I wish that Fowler had developed this a bit more, especially because this likely contributed to a major part of their marriage issues, but it honestly felt like it came out of the blue.
What I disliked: Fowler does bring in the competitive love/hate friendship Fitzgerald had with Ernest Hemingway, where they would drink each other under the table, be jealous of the other's successes, yet were cut from the same writing cloth, essentially being frienemies that spurred each other on. Frankly, I am not terribly wild about the allegation of a rumor that Fowler expounds on between the two men, and I'm not sure if this was her own creative license or just buying into the rumor to spice up her novel. Either way, this disappointed me without actual evidence to back up a bombshell claim. Maybe it happened? Maybe it didn't? But, was this necessary? I don't think so, and Fitzgerald himself is likely rolling over in his grave.
In all, this gives a full-bodied picture of the semi-autobiographical lives behind The Great Gatsby and Tender is the Night, and the writing process behind these masterpieces of literature. The Fitzgeralds WERE the Roaring Twenties, and honestly, they sucked the marrow out of life and enjoyed themselves to the point of their own destruction. Go along for the ride and live vicariously through the uproarious parties, the flappers, and hobnob with the rich and famous without having to endure the hangovers in the morning. You will be entertained and educated at the same wonderful time.
What I was just ok with: Zelda, being institutionalized for what we would consider bipolar (originally diagnosed with schizophrenia) was subjected to horrific treatments while in the multiple sanitariums. Thing is, I honestly did not see the mental illness evident at all throughout the book, so it quite surprised me that she had a nervous breakdown (though I had previously known this about Zelda). I wish that Fowler had developed this a bit more, especially because this likely contributed to a major part of their marriage issues, but it honestly felt like it came out of the blue.
What I disliked: Fowler does bring in the competitive love/hate friendship Fitzgerald had with Ernest Hemingway, where they would drink each other under the table, be jealous of the other's successes, yet were cut from the same writing cloth, essentially being frienemies that spurred each other on. Frankly, I am not terribly wild about the allegation of a rumor that Fowler expounds on between the two men, and I'm not sure if this was her own creative license or just buying into the rumor to spice up her novel. Either way, this disappointed me without actual evidence to back up a bombshell claim. Maybe it happened? Maybe it didn't? But, was this necessary? I don't think so, and Fitzgerald himself is likely rolling over in his grave.
In all, this gives a full-bodied picture of the semi-autobiographical lives behind The Great Gatsby and Tender is the Night, and the writing process behind these masterpieces of literature. The Fitzgeralds WERE the Roaring Twenties, and honestly, they sucked the marrow out of life and enjoyed themselves to the point of their own destruction. Go along for the ride and live vicariously through the uproarious parties, the flappers, and hobnob with the rich and famous without having to endure the hangovers in the morning. You will be entertained and educated at the same wonderful time.
marieintheraw's review against another edition
2.0
This book was not as compelling as the actual subject of this story was.