Welcome to my stop on the Another Side of Paradise blog tour sponsored by Suzy Approved Book Tours! Thank you to Suzy for the invitation!
About the Book:
In 1937 Hollywood, gossip columnist Sheilah Graham’s star is on the rise, while literary wonder boy F. Scott Fitzgerald’s career is slowly drowning in booze. But the once-famous author, desperate to make money penning scripts for the silver screen, is charismatic enough to attract the gorgeous Miss Graham, a woman who exposes the secrets of others while carefully guarding her own. Like Fitzgerald’s hero Jay Gatsby, Graham has meticulously constructed a life far removed from the poverty of her childhood in London’s slums. And like Gatsby, the onetime guttersnipe learned early how to use her charms to become a hardworking success; she is feted and feared by both the movie studios and their luminaries.
A notorious drunk famously married to the doomed Zelda, Fitzgerald fell hard for his “Shielah” (he never learned to spell her name), a shrewd yet softhearted woman—both a fool for love and nobody’s fool—who would stay with him and help revive his career until his tragic death three years later. Working from Sheilah’s memoirs, interviews, and letters, Sally Koslow revisits their scandalous love affair and Graham’s dramatic transformation in London, bringing Graham and Fitzgerald gloriously to life with the color, glitter, magic, and passion of 1930s Hollywood.
My Thoughts:
When I was a child on a trip to the mountains of North Carolina, I remember being told that Zelda Fitzgerald was admitted to a sanitorium in the area, and there was some other mystery that surrounded her and her time there; and for whatever reason, because of that early experience, I have been interested in Zelda ever since. She is pretty darn intriguing after all.
In my 11th grade English class, taught by someone who ardently admired Fitzgerald, I read The Great Gatsby for the first time, and I was as enthralled as most everyone else with that novel, and still I thought of Zelda.
Another Side of Paradise is not Zelda’s story, however. It is Sheilah Graham’s story. Sheilah is the mistress of Fitzgerald while Zelda is institutionalized in Asheville, North Carolina.
Graham is born to Jewish Ukrainian parents. Her father dies when she’s an infant, and her mother is forced to give Sheilah to an orphanage. By the time Fitzgerald meets her, Graham could not be further removed from her challenging early life.
Sheilah enters Fitzgerald’s world when he is floundering work-wise and drinking more than ever. She inspires him to some success, as his muse, and the book covers their three years together.
Sally Koslow meticulously researched Sheilah Graham’s life. She brings the life and times of these high profile “characters” to life with all the glitz, glamour, and unfortunately for Fitzgerald, drinking one would expect of the time.
The story is smoothly written and completely absorbing. I thought Graham’s perspective was interesting, and I found her formidable in order to go head-to-head with Fitzgerald and work to get his life back on track in the short time she spent with him.
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
About the Author:
In ANOTHER SIDE OF PARADISE (Harper), Sally Koslow brings to life the tender, torrid tale of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Hollywood love affair with the Gatsby-esque Sheilah Graham, a gossip columnist and remarkable self-invention. After four books rooted in the present—including the international bestseller, THE LATE, LAMENTED MOLLY ARX and her debut, LITTLE PINK SLIPS, an insider’s view of the magazine industry (which she knows only too well, as the long-time editor of McCall’s Magazine)—this is Sally’s first historical novel. Her books have been translated into 14 languages and featured by Target. She lives in Manhattan but was born and raised in Fargo, North Dakota.
Have you read Another Side of Paradise, or is it on your TBR? Happy Reading! ~ Jennifer THR
This is the first I’ve heard of this book and it is interesting, especially since it’s from the mistress’s point of view. Thank you for sharing your personal history and interest in Zelda as your review made this story much more relevant💜
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Aww, thank YOU, Jonetta! It really is an interesting take, and the author researched from Graham’s letters, etc. I love reading about this time period! ♥️
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Wonderful review, blog tour, and picture, Jennifer! I cannot wait to read this amazing historical fiction. Happy Wednesday!
🌹🌹❤️📚💐😊😘
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Thank you so much, Virginia! I think you are going to love this story. I know you are fascinated by this time period, too. I hope your Wednesday was wonderful! ♥️
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Wonderful review, Jennifer! I love the personal details you added. After reading this book, I’ve become a little fascinated with Zelda too! ❤️
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Thanks so much, Kris! My heart aches for all that happened to her! I’m going to read some hist fic I have here that features her! ♥️
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Lovely review Jen but but but there is no kitty in your picture!😢😢🐈🐈💜
Happy Hump Day my friend! On a side note, What do you know about the New Bern area? Might be in our future?????😯💗
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Thanks so much, Sus! I know! Sometimes they just don’t want to work with me! 😂 I love New Bern! It is about an hour from the beach where I lived for a few years growing up. It is a small town (Nicholas Sparks is from there and still lives there!). It’s on the river and just beautiful. Tons of history, friendly people. The only downside is that it’s a tiny bit isolated from bigger cities. It’s a trip to the next biggest city and no major airports, though New Bern does have a decent regional airport. Let me know what else you want to know! ♥️ And moving again?????
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Well Brian’s contract job here has ended. He is expecting an offer from a company here in Concord and will be flying to Mohen Faucets in New Bern in a few days…….so????????😯😵 All I know is if he gets on a plane he always comes home with a job offer…….
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That’s a quick flight! I’ve done the one from CLT to New Bern a few times! Are either of these jobs possibly permanent? So you won’t have to move again I hope?! Or maybe you like moving?! 😬 ♥️
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They are both permanent and no we don’t like moving! Well at least I dont! We really thought once the contract job was over here he would have no problem finding permanent work since we are so close to Charlotte, but…..it’s been slim pickins!
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Maybe the Concord job will work out and you won’t have to move?! That’s definitely a better area for more opportunities overall, but if the other job is permanent then it would be fine to go to New Bern. I wish you would go visit it. I think you’d fall in love if you like smaller sized cities. ♥️
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I have to admit, I do not know much about Fitzgerald’s life, but this book does sound quite intriguing. Literally started doing some online investigating after reading this post lol.
I’ve added this to my list!! 🙂
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Such a fascinating life, LP! So much intrigue, mystery, highs and lows. Lots of lows. I wonder if he had any idea what a masterpiece The Great Gatsby is/was?
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Love your review! I really enjoyed this one as well!
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Thanks, Berit! It was so good!
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He was such a charmer, wasn’t he? Amazing that a drunken pig could write so beautifully! Have you ever read Tender is the Night? You probably have but if not, it’s his fictionalised account of his marriage to Zelda, sort of. I loved it in my teens and have it on my Classics Club list for a re-read…
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Exactly! Such a charmer! I have not read Tender is the Night. I’ve been waiting and I don’t know why. I had forgotten it was about his marriage to Zelda. Did you know she also wrote a fictional book about their marriage? I want to read that one, too! I’ll definitely have to make the time for them, and I really appreciate the reminder. ♥️
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This does sound like a really absorbing read. Wonderful review!
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Thanks so much, Chrissi! I enjoyed it!
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I read this last year and realized I’ve read more about the women in Fitzgerald’s life and still haven’t read any of his books!!
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Oh, that’s too funny, Shell! I hope you get a chance to read The Great Gatsby some time! Maybe in a pretty vintage copy! ♥️
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I have a copy of Gatsby on my shelf for a year or so, just need to read it!
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