I’ve been a big fan of Stewart O’Nan’s fiction for years. His new novel, West of Sunset is a fictional account of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s last three years. Fitzgerald’s wife, Zelda, is institutionalized. Fitzgerald, loaded down with crushing debt, goes to Hollywood in hopes of making enough money to pay his bills and finish the novel he’s been working on (The Last Tycoon). Fitzgerald’s relationship with gossip columnist Sheilah Graham, his dealings with Humphrey Bogart, Dorothy Parker, and Ernest Hemingway, and the shenanigans on the MGM lot make for entertaining reading. If you’re a F. Scott Fitzgerald fan, you’ll love this book. If you like Hollywood stories, ditto. GRADE: A-
Adding it to my TBR list right now! Love the subject and subject matter. It’s hard to believe Fitzgerald was only in his early forties and a hopeless alcoholic by this time. When I was young, I remember my mom reading Sheilah Graham’s Beloved Infidel. I had never heard of F. Scott Fitzgerald before. A few years later, we were reading “Bernice Bobs Her Hair” in English class and I said, “Hey, it was written by that guy Sheilah Graham was in love with!” I don’t think the teacher was very impressed with my display of acquired knowledge.
Deb, F. Scott Fitzgerald struggled with his debts, his wife, and his poor health. But, despite all those problems, he was a gifted writer. Stewart O’Nan manages to capture the complexity of his life. Well worth reading!
George, I think the more complex a writer’s life the more he is likely to be the subject of fictionalised works on his life, and the same holds true for actors and painters.
Prashant, I think you’re absolutely correct. And F. Scott Fitzgerald had a very, very complex life especially the last three years.
Hey, trashy writers can teach us lessons too, Deb. One of Jackie’s favorite moments was when she was the only one if her 7th grade class who knew what a proxy was, having learned it from THE CARPETBAGGERS!
As a fan of O’Nan and Fitzgerald (and Hemingway) this one is definitely on my list as soon as we get home.
Jeff, readers learned a lot of things from THE CARPETBAGGERS!
I am reading it too. He will be at the bookstore here on Thursday night and we had to buy two books to both get in. I doubt it will be up to LAST NIGHT AT THE LOBSTER or A PRAYER FOR THE DYING but it seems good so far. Very surprised there has been no review in the NYT.
Patti, it’s obvious Stewart O’Nan was attracted to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s story as his life unwound. I’m sure the NY TIMES will have a review of WEST OF SUNSET this week.
Sounds sort of interesting, but not (for me) compelling. As for Patti’s remark, that book store should be ashamed. That’s blackmail, making you buy even one book, but TWO? Bad, bad.
Rick, many authors won’t sign their older books unless you buy their new book. Very annoying.
I rarely go to signings, so I don’t know if this is a new thing, but a friend recently went to an author signing where you had to bring the book and the receipt to the table so they knew you didn’t get the book from Amazon.
I meant so they knew you bought the book in that store and did not get it from another source, such as Amazon.
Deb, sadly I’ve heard of this “receipt” practice, too. Talk about a buzz-kill. I remember when going to an author signing was fun.
That has happened to me at signings too. At least when you go to a Dave Barry signing, for example, he will sign anything, including body parts. It is the bookstore rather than the author who usually pulls that receipt thing.
Jeff, Donald WEstlake gave a speech in Buffalo and I brought about 20 books for him to sign. Westlake was gracious and kind. Very classy.