Review: Z (a novel) by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Title: Z (a novel)

Author: Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Publication Date: March 15, 2012

Synopsis: 

After years living of living in Los Angeles, novelist Nix Carter returns home to Connecticut to care for her ailing father. As she reconnects with childhood friends, she encounters a window washer who also happens to live in a mansion, throw lavish parties and go by the name of Zorro. Yes, Zorro. But is he really the caped man of legend? Or just an eccentric who drives a horse-drawn cart and wears a cape while washing windows? And what will happen when the townspeople who once flocked to his parties and drank his champagne become suspicious of him? 

A contemporary re-visioning of The Great Gatsby, Z is a smart, quirky novel that has it all: comedy, drama, romance, adventure, even swordplay. Lauren Baratz-Logsted at her best.

My Thoughts:

I know you can't be shocked that I am back once again with a new read by Lauren Baratz-Logsted. I told you I was working my way through her entire catalog. Thankfully, she has a very long list of books so I will have plenty of fun reads to last me a while. 

First things first, I have a secret to tell you. Actually, it isn't so much a secret that it is an embarrassment. I have never read The Great Gatsby. There, I said it. I remember having to read it for some class in high school but I don't think I made it more than a few pages, if at all. At least I don't remember a thing about it. I did, however, inherit a copy when my grandparents passed away a few years ago (I was blessed with their library) and have it sitting on my shelf waiting for that special day when I decide to finally dive into it. So I honestly wasn't sure how much I was going to be able to pick up on during Z. Turns out, it was nothing. But that's ok because even though I had no Gatsby to reference, I still enjoyed every bit of the story. 

Nix Carter is another fantastically written character. She has just returned home to Connecticut after a failed relationship in California and is waiting for inspiration to pop up for her next novel. She spends most of her time with her father, Carmine, her grandfather, Gramps, and friends Dahlia and Tim. She's funny, a little crazy and a lot of fun to read. She's also very warm, generous and accepting. Which is probably why she immediately becomes enamored with the mysterious window washer at the mall who dresses like Zorro. 

Zorro, as we know him, was an intriguing character. Where did he come from? Where did he get all of his money? Who are his friends really? Even though we aren't really sure who exactly he is, we do know that he seems like a gentle, genuinely kind man. He appears to have the best interest of others at heart, even if he doesn't exactly come clean about certain areas of his life.

The budding relationship between Nix and Z was only slightly shadowed by the absolute need to know who Z really is. I was anxious during the entire read to discover his secrets and was a little scared by them too. What if he really was Zorro, what would that mean for their relationship? And if not? Pure anxiety I tell you! Thankfully though, I was able to cast aside my desperate needs (for the most part) to enjoy not only the romance but the mounting turmoil between several of the characters. Tim and Dahlia were horrible people that I loved to hate and I enjoyed banter between Carmine and Gramps. 

Even though I still had a few questions after turning the last page, I still enjoyed this book. In fact, I think I'll give The Great Gatsby a try sometime soon and go back and read Z all over again. I can only imagine how much more I am going to enjoy this story after knowing what to look for. 

Overall, Z is another engaging read with lovable characters that suck you right in. I'm not sure where Baratz-Logsted gets some of her ideas, but whatever she is doing is working. I recommend Z to anyone and everyone, Gatsby readers or not. 

For more about Lauren Baratz-Logsted and Z, visit her website here.

Purchase:

Amazon

*I received this book for free in exchange of an honest review. This did not influence my opinion in any way and all views and opinions expressed are 100% my own.