I knew this was gonna be a 5 star book around page 2. Zelda’s prose may be divisive at best, but I thought it was evocative and inspired. I was impressed with her raw depiction of womanhood in an era that feels so remote to us, which she makes so relatable by rejecting all filters of decency. The protagonist’s struggles feel real and natural to me, her need to do something for herself and her discomfort with her husband’s popularity, in spite of the fact that she appreciates his success.
I was sucked into Zelda’s style immediately, her dialogues are so brainy and sophisticated, so many classical references and so much philosophy! It feels as though she’s pouring out everything she’s learned in life in her pages, reflecting on the meaning of it all and leaving it as her testament. It’s a shame she didn’t get the chance to write more, although her contribution in her husband’s work makes up for it a little. You can just tell from their combined body of work that they used to have the most wonderful conversations.