Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald by Therese Anne Fowler

"Zelda" is a selection this year for the library's book clubs.  We were interested to read it because we read "The Paris Wife" a fictionalized account of Hadley Richardson, Ernest Hemingway's first wife.

Zelda Fitzgerald was Mrs. F. Scott Fitzgerald, who famously wrote "The Great Gatsby" among many other things.  All I knew about Zelda prior to reading this book is that she died in an asylum.

I enjoyed the book and thought it was well written, but when reading even a fictionalized account of real person, I always hope that what I'm reading is based on truth.  Sadly, this book is truly a fictionalized account of Scott and Zelda's lives.

Crossing the Tracks by Barbara Stuber 258 Pages

Crossing the Tracks by Barbara Stuber interested me because it takes places during the 1920's in Kansas and Missouri.  Most of the story takes place in Wellsford, Missouri.  Iris is 15 years old and lives with her father in Kansas.  Her mother died when she was very young.  Her father recently became engaged and has plans of moving his bootery to Kansas City, Missouri with his new wife.  Iris assumed that she would be moving to Kansas City too.  She soon learns that her father has found her a job working for a small town doctor who needs help caring for his elderly mother.  Iris is sent off to live in Wellsford, Missouri, leaving the only home and friends she has ever known.  Iris struggles with feeling of abandonment and betrayal by her father.  What Iris learns while living with Dr. Nesbitt and his mother are invaluable.  Life is hard and unfair for Iris and when tragedy strikes again she soon experiences warmth and understanding like she has never known.