Customer Reviews

Zelda's Cut

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I kept wanting this book to improve upon itself. It has an interesting premise and a very catchy ending, but there are too many problems in the writing for me to give it a strong recommendation. The author is trying to make parallels between the life of her protagonist, Isabel Latimer, and Isabel's writing (she specializes in high-toned fiction about moral choices). Now, of course, Isabel has a moral choice to make. What will she do?

Unfortunately, she drags out the story and the point of view from which the story is told isn't consistant. The writing ranges from very good to downright trashy. When the story goes into somewhat deviant sex scenes it just gets silly. There are also holes in the story that a truck could be driven through (a man puts on woman's clothes and makeup in ten minutes, and fools an entire television studio. Yeah, right).

It was interesting enough to keep me reading, but was a lost opportunity for what could have been a boffo story.

The author of a large body of truly outstanding historical fiction, Philippa Gregory has also written several novels which are set in the modern day. The tone of these books vary a great deal. On one end of the spectrum, there are her cheery feminist fairy tales, Mrs. Hartley and the Growth Centre and Perfectly Correct - on the other, the dark domestic realism of her novel The Little House. Sitting rather uneasily between these two extremes sits Gregory's new novel, Zelda's Cut. Zelda's Cut starts promisingly, with an examination of the strains and stresses put on a loving marriage by the ravages of illness. Isobel Latimer deeply loves her ailing husband, Philip. But the pain he suffers daily has changed him so completely - from the light-footed, light-hearted man that she knew and loved and married into a man who is bitter, reproachful, and sad - that some days she finds it hard not to give into despair. This section of the novel is truly heart-breaking - a realistic, no-holds-barred look at the toll that chronic illness takes on both the patient, and the loved ones who care for them. And then - the mood changes; turns surreal. Within a few chapters, a slow, sad realistic story about the pressures put on people when one of their loved ones is in pain and facing the possibility of death turns into a tale of risk, deception, cross-dressing, literary impersonation, and sudden switches of identity. Zelda's Cut is, like all of Gregory's books, a real page-turner - filled with interesting characters, intriguing situations, and a (at least for me!) truly surprising ending. But unlike the finest of her previous works - the quiet, philosophical Earthly Joys, and the demented, impassioned Wideacre, Zelda's Cut cannot seem to decide what kind of book it wants to be. Is it a serious examination of what a marriage is like after love and hope are gone, or is it a more light-hearted piece about the redeeming virtues of adultery and a new hairstyle? Even after having read this interesting but uneven book, I'm not entirely sure.

This was the first book of Philippa Gregory's that I read that was not set during Elizabethan times... I have loved her books the Other Bolyen Girl and the Queen's Fool, despite some anachronisms, found them impossible to put down and utterly engaging.

well, Zelda's Cut is set in the 21st century, but is no less engaging. Isobel Latimer, the 52-year old frumpy writer of literary books, is a butterfly waiting to emerge, and when she writes a pulp novel for money and takes on the personality of Zelda Vere there's a delightful Cinderella story.
Her hypochondriac, whiny husband Philip and the inflated pool he spends all her money on is a great counter-balance.

Two things strain plausibility a little, and unfortunately, they are central to the plot. We're asked to believe that gorgeous, extravagant Zelda is such a type that anyone in the right clothes can play her, so that when Zelda's bisexual agent Troy puts on the wig and clothing, nobody notices that it's a different person. I tend to think people *would* notice if the person they were talking to suddenly grew four inches, their voice got deeper, etc. Unfortunately this is a crucial plot point, and I just didn't buy it. It's also crucially important that Isobel doesn't even know the numbers to her Swiss bank account, and I couldn't quite believe that either. Because of these two things, you can see the big "twist" coming from miles away, so I enjoyed the second half of the book much less and even flipped to the end. I did read it all anyway, but without so much the element of surprise.

That said, Isobel is a terrific, enjoyable, likable character, one you can definitely relate to, and Gregory knows how to spin a good yarn!

I am typically a fan of Phillipa Gregory, and while I realized that this was not an historical novel, I assumed it would exhibit the same wonderful writing style as do her other works. It doesn't. I agree with another reader-- this is just like a Zelda book. The plot is marginally interesting, the writing is passable but nowhere near insightful or great. Further, so much of this story is unbelievable, no real connections are made between Isobel and certain characters, and the end is thus a totally ridiculous surprise. I was very disappointed by this book.

There isn't much to this novel. I found myself skipping pages just so the story would advance. The plot was predictable from the first few chapters. I was hoping the story would take a turn for the better, perhaps turning into an Ethan Frome type novel, only to be disappointed. Not worth the time or effort.

This is a funny, insightful and ultimately truthful book, that is both a quick read and a provoker of deeper thoughts.

At the core of this book is a savage satire of the media and fame game. Against this background is played out a modern love affair that is morally perplexing.

Gregory's contemporary fiction is always witty and easily consumed with real moments to savour. The book has pace and panache with topical themes. A really good read.

I knew before starting this wasn't your typical Philippa Gregory that we have come to love. But, I needed a Z title for my alphabet challenge and lets face it, there's not a lot to choose from. This book was a little bizarre and little racy. You have the author/housewife and her alter ego having an affair with her agent while they are both dressed in the alter ego's clothes. Add that to the disabled husband who suddenly improves while hanging out with the pool man. Plus, you have the constant discussions of money. It seems like everybody needs some (and by some I really mean large quantaties). What you get in the end is a twist of events that leave you slightly disturbed and thinking WTF? I couldn't stop reading it though. You can see the end coming but you can't stop yourself from watching everybody fall in the process.

A silly story. But sometimes silly is fun. A charming, but predictable farce juxtaposing "serious" literature and "trash" that sells--all by the same author.

I have read about 10 of Ms. Gregory's novels since falling in love with the idea of the "Boleyn movie" (I didnt watch it thankfully but read it in a 2 day period) HOWEVER... a different genra for the author shows a bit of difficulty in ending the story without relying on history... dont sit up waiting for a great ending.. this one drops you cold. Sorry Philippa... I still love your other books!

The novel written by Philippa Gregory has you wanting to know more and having you try to guess what is going to happen next. She constantly surprises you. While reading I kept thinking, "I can't believe what I just read!". Her complex plots make this 400+ page novel a quick easy read. I highly recommend anyone who has an open mind to read this book.