Villa America was, perhaps, my most anticipated read of the summer. I loved Liza Klaussmann‘s last novel, Tigers In Red Weather (review), so much. That plus the fact that Villa America recounts the life and times of Sara and Gerald Murphy and their famous friends, including Hemingway, Fitzgerald and Picasso, and I felt certain that this book was going to steal the summer.
And Villa America is very good. It is everything you’d expect – a boozy summer read about writers behaving badly. It’s just that I think I’ve reached peak “Lost Generation being self-indulgent and drunk in Europe”, for lack of a better phrase. That is, Villa America goes over much the territory covered by:
- The Paris Wife by Paula McLain
- Mrs. Hemingway by Naomi Wood
- Z by Therese Anne Fowler
- Everybody Was So Young by Amanda Vaill
- That Summer in Paris by Morley Callahan
Who would like this book? I that at one time or another all of us literary buffs have been at least a little bit intrigued by the writers and painters cavorting in France in the 1920s and 1930s. Villa America certainly scratches that itch. And Klaussmann adds to the story by including a made up story line involving forbidden love. The book captures one of the dreams I hold close to my heart – having a villa on the Riviera where friends come to relax, drink and bask in the sun – perfectly. She also shows how the best laid plans can go awry. But in the end, Tigers in Red Weather captures much of the same mood, and gives a more compelling story.
52 books or bust 
Sometimes there can be too much of a good thing, even in books. It still sounds good, though, especially since I haven’t already read all the others you mentioned. I own Tigers in Red Weather, though, so I think I’ll read that one first.
Tigers is great. A little slow starting for me, but great once i got into it.
I was really excited about this one too for the same reasons you mentioned…and I loved The Paris Wife and Z. But, as it got closer to pub date, my excitement kind of dissipated. Like you, I think I’ve read a lot of those types of books and there isn’t much story left in them for me.
Yeah, that’s how i feel. But Klaussmann does add in an additional character to mix things up a little. It works but still wasn’t enough for me.
I found Tigers disappointing (after a very promising beginning!) so wonder if this one wouldn’t be more my speed…
Interesting. I found the start of Tigers slow, but liked it in the end.
Starting this one today…haven’t read any of the books you listed above so hopefully I will enjoy it!
Should be a winner for you then.
I’m in the middle of this right now. As you know, this has never been my favourite era and I think I still feel that way. It’s well written but I’m not connecting to it really. I really like Sara, I think. Mostly I feel sad for them all.
Your cover is SO DIFFERENT from the one I’m reading!
UK cover rocks the socks off the North American edition.
Sara is great, but overall I felt everyone was a little pathetic.
I totally get hitting that peak, even though the only one of these I’ve read is Mrs. Hemingway. I think we can probably move on from all that now for a bit and look for other things to write about.
Truth.
I did not in any way enjoy Mrs. Hemingway, Z, Studio Saint Ex, etc, etc etc. But I’m truly enjoying Villa America. Well, I have only a 1/4 left of it but I really like the way Klaussmann handled the subject matter, and far more over than those other authors did. But like you, I am weary of and tend not to reach for at all anything to do with the Fitzgeralds (I think Klaussman, in her portrayal of the Fitzgeralds feels the same) and certainly nothing to do with Hemingway (again I really think she feels the same as I do). God Hemingway is such an ass. 🙂
I’m glad you’re enjoying it. I didn’t think it was bad, but I just had such high hopes because it was Klaussmann. And Hemingway truly was an ass. At least that’s one thing we can all agree on.
Can I edit that comment? Lots of weirdness there…
🙂
Really looking forward to this as well (for same reasons as you).
I really enjoyed this book, although I had trouble keeping track of some of the side characters. I thought Gerald and Sara had a beautiful relationship. I also liked fantasizing I was living on the French Riviera and going to the beach everyday.
I love Gerald and Sara as well and highly recommend WeWere All So Young.
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