Zelda the Flapper

"Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald" by Therese Anne Fowler is the fictionalized biography of Mrs. Fitzgerald.  Though Fowler sticks with the truth for the most part, where the holes in the story lie, she fills them and where the views differ, she picks one.  I have read two other books where Zelda was a major player and she varies from book to book.  In one she was openly a bitch, in another she was out of her mind, and in this one she is a rather pleasant party girl.  So the only people who would know the real Zelda would be the ones who were there.  In this novel, Zelda loves a good time and F. Scott Fitzgerald is the perfect partner.  The two took the literary world and party scene by storm.  However, as time goes on and the partying doesn't stop, the literary world takes notice.  The end result becomes sad.  The label 'artist' becomes just as excuse for an unemployed alcoholic.  This book is the brilliant look at the rise and fall of a literary giant.  When Zelda  becomes mentally ill, rather than actually treat her, the men around her, doctors and husband, instead use her illness against her to their benefit, be it financially or for authoritive control.    The poor woman didn't have a chance.  Though sad, this is a well written book and reading about Zelda's wilder days is greatly entertaining.  BTW, Amazon is making a series based this book, if you are interested.  I received this book in exchange for an honest review from www.netgalley.com.