Betrayed by F Scott Fitzgerald

by Ron Carlson

In this tender, comic novel, Larry Boosinger--graduate student, writer, garage attendant, escaped convict (and perhaps a person)--has one foot in late adolescence while he searches frantically for a place to put the other. Beset by illusions, attracted by paradoxes, Larry carries on his allegorical fistfight with life. He operates in a movie-created world where attempts are made at perfection. Enamored of the romantic ideals of old movies, popular songs, and his own personal hero, F. Scott Fitzgerald, he seeks experience that will match his expectations.

Genres: Novels

219 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1977

About the author

Ron Carlson is an American novelist and writer of short stories.

Carlson was born in Logan, Utah, but grew up in Salt Lake City. He earned a masters degree in English from the University of Utah. He then taught at The Hotchkiss School in Connecticut where he started his first novel.

He became a professor of English at Arizona State University in 1985, teaching creative writing to undergraduates and graduates, and ultimately becoming director of its Creative Writing Program.

Carlson also taught at the University of California, Irvine.

For more information, please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Carlson

Reviews

[Richard Jespers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Obviously, one of Carlson’s earliest books. He may still be twenty-nine at the time, his protagonist Larry Boosinger closer to twenty, at least emotionally. It takes a lot of balls to hitch your literary wagon to one of the masters, making Fitzgerald Larry’s hero. He refers to Fitzgerald and milieu in strategic spots but I never quite feel it. How has he come to know F. Scott this well? Yes, well, he is in graduate school, at least until he isn’t, and he is no longer engaged to be married, oh, and he’s under arrest for something he did not do—but Larry’s romanization of a romantic never quite comes off. Carlson’s authority with language is obvious and fine, but the novel is somehow unsatisfying.

[Brad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Coming-of-age that I wanted to like more as the narrator can't stop connecting life to media he has consumed. But it is kind of a slog

[Aaron James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Starting off slow - very big wordy - not at all like his other work.

Okay - so he's one of my favorite authors - but... the first 150 pages of this guy were kinda bleh.. The last 60 pages were brilliant - the Carlson I've grown to love.

I'd recommend it.

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

An absolutely hilarious and crafty look at friendship, fishing, academia, writing, and their roles in negotiating with the numb rebellion of one's early 20s.

[Elaine]

Has anyone read this? Has anyone read anything by Carlson that's not The Signal? I loved that book so I'm curious to see how his earlier work is....also, the title is baller.