BOOK RECOMMENDATION

Retrieving women's voices

“Save me the Waltz” by Zelda Fitzgerald

Reviewed by Begoña Rodríguez Varela

 

"Save me the Waltz"...beautiful title, isn´t it?. It conjures up pictures of glamorous high class couples dancing in spacious saloons with luminous chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. However, during the Roaring Twenties , it was Jazz music not classical music that was fashionable and was listened to in clubs. The novel is not concerned with parties although there are some of them in the novel and Alabama, the protagonist, appears at the end emptying ashtrays after the last party is over. Indeed, It all comes to an end. All ashes. Her father´s death, her broken dream to become a ballerina and her love for her husband are at the end of a long journey . Only the vivid image of Nature can be cathartic ...or not.

Alabama’s hard struggle to have her own identity ( there are mirrors everywhere) is also Zelda‘s struggle to find her own voice and style away from the shadow of her husband and escape patriarchal and patronizing behaviours.

That fight can be seen in the language. It ranges from the baroque and flamboyant language of the beginning of the novel to the more simple and plain style at the end , when she gets rid of the superflous in her life. In addition to that, the luxuriant colourful depictions of lanscape ( above all The South)the surrealist, oneiric images and symbols show that her voice was unique, although her husband, Scott, derided her talents.

In the same way , Alabama´s husband, David, is clearly defined in two sentences "David, David, David, Knight, Knight , Knight and Miss Alabama Nothing". Narcissistic. Equally, she gives her beloved daughter some advice. "Never be a back-seat driver". Controlling

Alabama ( the author’s alter ego ) is well aware of the reasons of why theirs was a broken marriage. She must have felt alone many times (Both). Part bildungsroman, part autobiographical. The novel is insightful and deeply moving. ...Only a bit rambling. I liked it a lot.