Gatsby's Girl

Although I'd never heard of Caroline Preston or this book, I picked up "Gatsby's Girl" while browsing in a bookstore. What serendipity! In beautiful prose, Preston spins a tale about F. Scott Fitzgerald's great first love - a socialite named Ginevra. Preston weaves historical fact with fiction seamlessly and the result is one very satisfying read. The characters are fleshed out and three dimensional, and the conficts are completely believable. My only criticism: In this story, Preston makes several references to the book "The Wizard of Oz." But L. Frank Baum's novel was actually titled "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz." The movie "The Wizard of Oz" wasn't released until 1939 - well after the same title was referenced by Preston. Even so, "Gatsby's Girl" is a gem!

Once again, gifted writer Caroline Preston immerses the reader in her characters' world. Preston has an extraordinary ability to tell a story through dialogue. The reader gets to know the characters, their lives, their venues, effortlessly. Here, Preston takes us into the life of a not-so-wonderful heroine who wins F. Scott Fitzgerald's heart. It is to Ms. Preston's credit that she makes us care about both these self-absorbed characters, owing to her own winning portrayal of them. The story is riveting and the dialogue so realistic that you can "hear" the characters speak. Whether you are Fitzgerald's greatest fan, or have never heard of him makes no difference -- you will love this book.

I have to say right off that I am not a fan of F. Scott Fitzgerald's but I am a fan of Ms. Preston's so I thought I would give this book a try. I wasn't expecting to like it as much as I did. I got so wrapped up in the story, and the characters, and the setting...I could not put it down. I stopped right before I was finished because I didn't want it to end. I just wasn't ready to let go yet. Don't let your decision to read this book rest on your knowledge or appreciation of Mr. Fitzgerld's books, this is not his story. But it is a great story, and a great character. Ms.Preston is a wonderful story teller.

Gatsby's Girl is an intelligent and fun novel that encourages readers to read even more. By weaving together tidbits about The Great Gatsby, Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, and life in the early 20th century, Caroline Preston has created one literary gem. The character of Ginevra is likeable and well-developed, and the historical details are well-researched and insightful. Reading the novel is a bit like a puzzle if you are familiar with Fitzgerald's fiction, as Ginevra is his fictional muse. I have read all of Ms. Preston's books and have enjoyed every one of them. In fact, they keep getting better. Her style is unique and I enjoy her brand of historical fiction. Pick up Gatsby's Girl, and I guarantee you will be inspired to read The Great Gatsby again as well as other greats from the Jazz Age.

I am a huge Fitzgerald fan, and have read many biographies from Mizener to Matthew Bruccoli. I was very dubious about reading a historical novel on the subject of his romance with Ginevra King, but was, much to my surprise, won over. Gatsby's Girl follows Ginevra Perry evolution from an impossibly spoiled self-centered teenager to a mature woman who has gained wisdom through life's hardships-- a troubled son and a ruined marriage. The sixteen-year-old Ginevra spurns the attentions of F. Scott Fitzgerald, and then sees herself portrayed in his fiction again and again. The novel starts off as satire. The scene of Fitzgerald trying to make a good impression on Chicago high society is painfully funny. By the end, though, I found Ginevra's story moving. It reminded me of my own grandmother who decided against marrying an artist (in her case, an architect) and later felt stiffled by a "safe" marriage to a prominent lawyer. I was somewhat puzzled by the previous review which took Preston to task for factual mistakes, especially for moving the date of their romance from 1915 to 1916. Preston explains in the historical note at the end of the novel that she intentionally compressed their 2 1/2 year romance into a single six month period in 1916. Preston obviously based her description of the Westover school on Fitzgerald's description in "A Woman with a Past"-- fiction based on fiction. Preston herself suggests that anyone interested in a factual account of Ginevra King should read James West's The Perfect Hour. I really enjoyed this imaginative and original novel.