The Cruise of the Rolling Junk

I couldn't help notice the familiarity of images that seem to lay the groundwork for The Great Gatsby. Each mention of "Dr. Jones's Guide Book" and I couldn't shake the image of the "eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg" on the billboard opposite the Wilson's garage. Elements of the character of Daisy Buchanan can be glimpsed in Fitzgerald's portrayal of Zelda driving and skiving. It is a fascinating account of the beginnings of the golden age of the automobile. Regrettable that it sold for a pittance yet that it did reflects Fitzgerald's own sense of self that provides a constant foil to Hemingway's boastfulness. I cannot see how these two author's can truly exist without each other. In many ways they present two different outcomes for the same show more tortured soul. The Cruise of the Rolling Junk" is frivolity at its finest, yet one catches a glimpse of the pending tragic outcome. It may be years in the making, but it is there nonetheless, like a self-fulfilling prophecy. This novella is difficult to put down and you will read it with the same energy that propels them toward Alabama. show less

This is a wondeful little book brought out by Hesperus and certainly lives up to their ethos of bringing back into print short/lost works. As usual it's beautifully produced and the contents are wonderful. The tale could the subtitled "The Adventures of Scott and Zelda in a Rubbish Car" and the writing is humourous but also very moving in places. The descriptions of driving through American to the South are lovely and the pictures of Scott and Zelda used to illustrate are wonderful (though a little dark in the printing which is my only quibble).

There is a very informative introduction (as with all Hesperus books) though I could do with a little less of the apologising for politically non-correct elements. I've noticed this also in show more forewords to Virginia Woolf volumes they publish and surely they over-labour the point. We know these people were writing when attitudes were wrong and their views reflect the culture they come from. But surely as readers we are intelligent enough to allow for this and simply enjoy the works without all the carping?

But enough of that - this is a wonderful read by a wonderful author and highly recommended. show less

A very nice novelette based on the Fitzgeralds' 1920 honeymoon trip. I gotta say, it was great reading some mature and restrained Scott Fitzgerald again, after mucking through The Beautiful and the Damned for a year and still mucking through it. There are (four) things that I'd like to mention about this work. (1) Fitzgerald was at his best when he wasn't trying to dazzle his readers with everything and kitchen sink, but with a restrained observing eye, and some hilarious interruptions in narrative. Some of his passages were just like precious jewels that I wanted pluck out and make my own, but no, it cannot be. (2) I can't stand the character/non-character of F. Scott Fitzgerald. He's such a dandy. He's such a weakling!

He's like Niles show more Crane from (Frasier)!

True, Zelda Fitzgerald is no Maris Crane—rare photos of this most exotic and most-in-demand flightless Alabamian bird have been included in the book, she remains an elusive character despite Fitzgerald's numerous attempts to capture her in the text. (3) There is absolutely no way to predict from this text how badly we (in the grand year of two-aught-twelve) will know how they wind up. (4) Finally, this book was on the whole, funny and satisfying.

T'was a treat to read
For those in the know
Of these
Those damned
Fitzgeralds. © ;)

[One thumb up!] show less