A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald

Z by Theresa Anne Fowler
Published: March 4, 2014 by St. Martin's Griffin
First Published: March 26, 2013
Going into this novel I knew nothing really about Zelda Fitzgerald. Only that she lived in the 1920s and was married to F. Scott. Actually while I have read The Great Gatsby, I knew little about the author himself, so I was really looking forward to this.

The book starts off quite promising and I loved meeting Zelda and hearing how her and Scott met and were married. It was a lot of fun reading about the early high-jinks in their marriage. If I was rating this book based the first half this would definitely be a 5.

Except, unfortunately, as their marriage fell apart so did the book. In the second half of the book we only hear again and again how miserable Zelda is. Nothing actually seems to happen. Scott tires to write and drinks instead...Zelda tries to do things but is held back by Scott. It's a vicious circle that repeats itself and quickly becomes monotonous.

I did appreciate Hemingway's cameos in here. I had no idea Hemingway and Fitzgerald were such good friends, but it does make sense. There's actually been several books recently written about Hemingway's wives and after this I'd love to read them as well to see how they compare.

Obviously I have mixed emotions about this, sad as I am to say it. I did love the insight to the lives of the Fitzgeralds. It makes me want to go back and reread The Great Gatsby as well as others by him. But unfortunately, I can't see myself taking the time to read this one again.

3.5/5

Today I'm linking up with Blonde Undercover Blonde for Book Club Friday!