I was charmed by Miss Honoree Dalcour in Wild Women and the Blues - an ambitious Black woman in Chicago in the 1920s, aiming to take her dance career to Broadway or Paris.
That's one of the timelines in this debut historical fiction, focused on Honoree and new best friend Bessie (both chorus girls), the reappearance of Honoree's first love, and the dangers/excitement of the '20s (bootleg liquor, gambling, gangsters). While the main characters are fictional, the story was peppered with historical figures like Lil Hardin Armstrong and Oscar Micheaux.
The other timeline is set in 2015; film student Sawyer is interviewing 110-year-old Honoree, trying to fill in the blanks for his dissertation on Michaeux while grieving the loss of his sister. As is sometimes the case with dual timelines, each time the story would switch to Sawyer's perspective, I'd itch to get back to Honoree's.
This well-crafted novel made me feel like I'd been transported to 1920s Chicago. While it's historical fiction, I also think it might well appeal to readers of romance and mystery, as elements of both are weaved in. More than anything, I was a fan of this one because of Honoree (and Bessie). I look forward to reading more from this author.
That's one of the timelines in this debut historical fiction, focused on Honoree and new best friend Bessie (both chorus girls), the reappearance of Honoree's first love, and the dangers/excitement of the '20s (bootleg liquor, gambling, gangsters). While the main characters are fictional, the story was peppered with historical figures like Lil Hardin Armstrong and Oscar Micheaux.
The other timeline is set in 2015; film student Sawyer is interviewing 110-year-old Honoree, trying to fill in the blanks for his dissertation on Michaeux while grieving the loss of his sister. As is sometimes the case with dual timelines, each time the story would switch to Sawyer's perspective, I'd itch to get back to Honoree's.
This well-crafted novel made me feel like I'd been transported to 1920s Chicago. While it's historical fiction, I also think it might well appeal to readers of romance and mystery, as elements of both are weaved in. More than anything, I was a fan of this one because of Honoree (and Bessie). I look forward to reading more from this author.