Chapter 17 (of 20) Scott Fitzgerald
Chapter 1 (of 20), A Good Café on the Place St-Michael, will take you back in time to the story that began my French culinary experiences while reading A Moveable Feast, chapter by chapter. From there, each chapter will take you to the next chapter and culinary experience.
“If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast.” Ernest Hemingway.
Chapter 17 (of 20) Scott Fitzgerald accompanied by Cashel Blue Cheese, Plum Chutney & Oatcakes paired with a glass of Banyuls ’Tradition’ NV., at Vinoteca City, Bloomberg Arcade.
Notes From Chapter 17: Scott Fitzgerald
A WorkLife Book Club For One
Notes on Physical Description of Characters and Characteristics
Scott was a man then who looked like a boy with a face between handsome and pretty. He had very fair wavy hair, a high forehead, excited and friendly eyes and a delicate long-lipped Irish mouth that, on a girl, would have been the mouth of a beauty. His chin was well built and he had good ears and a handsome, almost beautiful, unmarked nose. This should have not added up to a pretty face, but that came from the coloring, the vary fair hair and the mouth. The mouth worried you until you knew him and then it worried you more.
This, for me, was yet another masterclass in writing. A masterclass in physical description that led into characteristic description in a way that piqued my curiosity about what Hemingway meant about Fitzgerald in the last sentence. I was hooked and wanted to know more.
Notes on Self-Criticism and Self-Championing
Words of Wisdom
He spoke slightingly, but without bitterness of everything he had written, and I knew his new book must be very good for him to speak without bitterness, of the faults of past books. He wanted me to read the new book, The Great Gatsby, as soon as he could get his last and only copy back from someone he had loaned it to. To hear him talk of it, you would never know how very good it was, except that it had the shyness about it that all non-conceited writers have when they have done something very fine, and I hoped he would get the book quickly so that I might read it.
I believe we need to be our own greatest critic and greatest champion. I believe this needs to be done in a way that demonstrates humility. Through Hemingway’s description of Fitzgerald, in this moment, he personified this. Because of my beliefs in how this needs to be, I liked learning this about Fitzgerald. I also liked learning about Hemingway’s thoughts and beliefs on this.
Notes on Success
Scott told me that he had heard from Maxwell Perkins that the book was not selling well but that it had very fine reviews.
Scott was puzzled and hurt that the book was not selling well, but, as I said, he was not at all bitter then and he was both shy and happy about the book’s quality.
It saddens me to read this. But it doesn’t surprise me. So many great works of so many great people throughout history weren’t recognised or appreciated for their greatness.
I read that for the rest of his life, The Great Gatsby experienced tepid sales and that it took decades for the novel to gain its present acclaim and popularity.
I also read that at the time of his death, Fitzgerald believed his life a failure and that his work was forgotten.
And I read that by the 21st century, The Great Gatsby had sold millions of copies, and the novel is required reading in many high schools and college classes. The work continues to be cited by scholars as relevant to understanding contemporary America.
Source Wikipedia.
This, indeed, is a worthy accolade. It saddens me that it took so long to come. And it saddens me that Fitzgerald didn’t experience the success he deserved in his lifetime.
Epilogue
I’m not sure when I’ll read the next chapter of A Moveable Feast over a glass and a plate.
It most likely will be another spontaneous happening. It may take a little planning to keep the French theme going, or as I walk and explore and discover, it may not. …
The Continuing Story …
I can now share where Chapter 18 (of 20)… Hawks Do Not Share took me …
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Today I enjoyed Cashel Blue Cheese, Plum Chutney & Oatcakes paired with a glass of Banyuls ’Tradition’ NV., at Vinoteca City, Bloomberg Arcade.
Se souvenir de toi, Norma.
#FunFact1 When Louis & Jane Grubb set out to make Cashel Blue in the early 1980’s, their ambition was to create a farmhouse cheese that “truly represents the outstanding quality of Tipperary grass-fed milk.” Today, 40 years later and in the hands of the 2nd generation, Cashel Blue is still made by hand on the same 200 acre farm; Beechmount, in Co. Tipperary, Ireland. Source Cashel Farmhouse Cheesemakers
#FunFact 2 Bloomberg Arcade is built on a site of rich Roman history, the true extent of which was revealed during the construction of Bloomberg’s European Headquarters on Queen Victoria Street. More than 14,000 Roman artefacts were uncovered during the excavation, some of which are now on display just metres away at London Mithraeum Bloomberg Space. Here, you can experience the restored Roman Temple of Mithras and enjoy contemporary art commissions responding to the site’s unique history. Source Bloomberg Arcade.
#FunFact3 Talking about Roman History … “The Roman Empire was fuelled by wine, enjoyed by soldiers and Caesars alike. You don’t need a refined palette, fast cars and fat pay-checks to enjoy it. Wine is for everyone.” Source Vinoteca. I concur and so did Hemingway. He wrote “In Europe then we thought of wine as something as healthy and normal as food and also as a great giver of happiness and well being and delight. Drinking wine was not a snobbism nor a sign of sophistication nor a cult; it was as natural as eating to me and as necessary, and I would not have thought of eating a meal without drinking either wine or cider or beer.”
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Self-Directed Learning is when an individual is motivated to take the initiative and responsibility on decisions related to their own learning. It is a series of independent actions and judgements free from external control and constraint.
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How To Recover From Rejection and Build Strong Resilience
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Founder of School of WorkLife, Carmel O’ Reilly is a learning practitioner and writer. She creates resources to help people self-direct their WorkLife learning. These include a Collection of Books which originated from her first book, Your WorkLife Your Way and a Learn Through Reading Series of Case Studies. which originated from her latest book WorkLife Book Club.
That’s the power of writing (and reading, which is an integral part of the craft for writers), it helps you find, develop and tell the right story at the right time in all WorkLife situations – in day-to-day communication: WorkLife and feedback conversations, presentations, talks, and negotiations, at interviews, and when socialising and networking in building and maintaining good relationships. The practice of writing helps you to tell the stories that express who you are in an interesting and engaging way. The Art of WorkLife Storytelling originated from this thinking. In these lessons, you will learn to craft your unique stories.
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