Jennifer's Reviews > Careless People: Murder, Mayhem, and the Invention of The Great Gatsby

This was a terrific book, which makes me want to follow up with a good Fitz binge. It is the story of Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, and all their clan, and the making of that Great American Novel: The Great Gatsby. There are a lot of meandering paths to travel in "Careless People," in order to get from Point A to Point Z (some of them are worth the trip, and some are not particularly relevant) but Churchwell did a good job of keeping me engaged from the first page to the last. It is a dense book, full of information, stories, snapshots, commentary, quotes, and names, but it was a fun ride. I learned a lot and came away feeling more inspired than sad, despite the inevitably tragic ending.

Scott Fitzgerald knew, like Nick Carraway, how to be both insider and outsider, observer and observed. He fascinates us, I think, because of his ability to see past the slick surfaces and still choose hope. Despite all of his observations that seemed to whisper to him the truth that "all that glitters is not gold," he still managed to keep faith with this American Dream (and even to a great degree, with his wife, Zelda... and that is a remarkable story in its own right). He was able to do something that only a true artist can do: see the facts clearly... and then find the beauty concealed under their apparent ugliness. Churchwell: "The art was in the discovery, and in shaping those facts into something more beautiful than their incongruous, natural chaos would suggest to others..." Years later, Zelda would put it this way: "Life seemed so promissory when he was around."

This ability was often overlooked by those of his own generation. They misinterpreted his books, frustratingly missing out on the meaning behind the stories... however, it is the very thing that gives weight, depth, and longevity to his work. Churchwell does a marvelous job of bringing this theme to light over and over again. It was part of who he was, as a person; it defined how he lived, and what made him an artist with his words.

Scott Fitzgerald was a dissipated man who eventually lost himself... and when he did, we all lost, too... But even in his Crack-Up years his intelligence remained a force to be reckoned with, and his determination to maintain (or regain) hope is inspiring. Even today, his life with Zelda is the definition of glamour. And after all they went through, this must be a testament to their spirit. No matter what your beliefs are, or how you keep faith, there is a latent beauty to be found beneath the facts of their story... and the desire to dig it up is so entirely, quintessentially American.