Have you read other novels about the lives of writers or artists? If so, how does Z compare? If not, which writers would you like to read about in novel form?
Created: 03/27/13
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Join Date: 01/12/12
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I've also read a biography of Zelda Fitzgerald by Nancy Milford who is an author I very much enjoy. I felt that it told more of Zelda's story than did Z, which focused more on Scott and his relationships (especially with Hemingway). Another excellent book written by Nancy Milford about a woman writer is Savage Beauty, about Edna St Vincent Millay. I enjoyed it more than I did Z. Regardless, Z is not to be discounted as it has a distinct point of view into the lives of the Fitzgeralds.
Join Date: 10/26/12
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Recently, I have read LOVING FRANK, THE PARIS WIFE, and THE AVIATOR'S WIFE. I found all three to be page turners. LOVING FRANK and THE AVIATOR'S WIFE, compelled me to find our more about the characters portrayed in the novels. THE PARIS WIFE reintroduced me to Hemingway's first wife, the love of his life. Although, I think Fowler did a good job with Z, I did not find it a page turner--perhaps it was because of my familiarity with the lives of Zelda and F Scott.
Join Date: 01/31/13
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Yes, I read McLain's "The Paris Wife," as several discussion participants have mentioned. Woody Allen's movie "Midnight in Paris" also fits, as do other movies such as "Tom and Viv," a story of T.S. Eliot and Vivienne Haight-Wood. I would say that "Z" is comparable as historical fiction and fact.
Join Date: 04/01/13
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I agree with the previous post, "The Paris Wife" and "Midnight in Paris" offer a glimpse into the same world as "Z." The insights of the artist's wife, both Hadley and Zelda, shines a light on the personal stories of some of the authors that were part of a revolutionary period in American letters. It is much harder to engage in hero worship of some of these iconic writers and artists when viewed through the eyes of the wife or friend.
Join Date: 10/06/11
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I have read many other books by and about women writers, including the diaries of Sophia Tolstoy and Virginia Woolf and works by Sappho, Susan Sontag, Sylvia Plath, Flannery O'Connor, George Eliot, Simone de Beauvoir, and Gertrude Stein. Amazing women, all of them! Fowler's book is quite different from those I list here because, most obviously, the authors wrote for different reasons (e.g., diaries, poetry, fiction) and with different audiences in mind. Moreover, they were penned by the women themselves. I prefer to read original works by writers rather than books about them, although do read biographies, and I liked Fowler's "Z" a great deal.
Join Date: 04/02/13
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As most others have said, Z was an enjoyable book and one that inspires more investigations into the Fitzgeralds or other interesting authors of the time. I found myself compelled to pick up a book about Coco Chanel as I kept "running into her" in these books about Fitzgerald, Hemingway, etc. I like the fictional spin on the people, but then find myself doing a bit of research or more reading into their actual histories.
Join Date: 04/15/11
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I have recently read "The Paris Wife" and "Hemingway's Girl" which both dealt with women in the life of Ernest Hemingway and touched on Scott Fitzgerald too. I felt that "Z" did an excellent job of portraying the personal side of Scott & Zelda. It made me want to know even more about them and to read more of their work. In the past I have read many historical novels and this one ranks well. I read all of Irving Stone's various historical biographies and felt that I had at least a small piece of understanding for artists such as Michaelangelo and Van Gogh from his writings. I think "Z" will be able to withstand the test of time.
Join Date: 03/13/12
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I liked ashleyb's comment towards the top of this list that perhaps "Z' should have been titled [i]Loving Scott[i] . Years ago I really enjoyed a biography about Vivien Leigh, the actress who played Scarlet O'Hara in Gone with The Wind. Not that there are strong parallels in the two women, but their insecurities and enjoyment of fame are similar.
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