I gave up reading after 140 pages. This book really isn't my cup of tea. I am surprised and disappointed as I love both [b:The Great Gatsby|4671|The Great Gatsby|F. Scott Fitzgerald|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1361191055s/4671.jpg|245494] and [b:Tender Is the Night|46164|Tender Is the Night|F. Scott Fitzgerald|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347573947s/46164.jpg|8272], and so was looking forward to reading [a:Zelda Fitzgerald|28243|Zelda Fitzgerald|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1255270820p2/28243.jpg]'s perspective on some of the events that inspired [b:Tender Is the Night|46164|Tender Is the Night|F. Scott Fitzgerald|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347573947s/46164.jpg|8272]. Quite a few reviews I glanced at, before starting the book, suggested that this was more than a literary footnote, and was a good book in its own right. I disagree. It's overwritten, confused and vainly strives for profundity. I find it hard to imagine this book would have been published were it not for the [a:F. Scott Fitzgerald|3190|F. Scott Fitzgerald|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1360740460p2/3190.jpg] connection.
The book is probably of greatest interest to people who have the time and the inclination to compare and contrast this book and "Tender Is The Night", and in particular the Riviera scenes. Although, that said, there are plenty of people who seem to find something more in this book.
Here's a couple of examples of the writing style:
"The swing creaks on Austin's porch, a luminous beetle swings ferociously over the clematis, insects swarm to the golden holocaust of the hall light. Shadows brush the Southern night like heavy, impregnated mops soaking its oblivion back to the black heat whence it evolved. Melancholic moon-vines trail dark, absorbent pads over the string trellises." p. 3
"A growing feeling of alarm in Alabama for their relationship had tightened itself to a set determination to get on with her work. Pulling the skeleton of herself over a loom of attitude and arabesque she tried to weave the strength of her father and the young beauty of her first love with David." p. 133
If that style is to your taste then perhaps you might enjoy this book. I found it hard going and tedious.