Historical fiction was a genre that originally inspired my love of reading, so I was really excited to win a copy of this book, especially after learning how it was inspired by Denny S. Bryce’s family. Honoree is a dancer in Chicago during the Jazz Age. She’s independent and passionate, dreaming about dancing on Broadway. When a long-lost love returns to town, she, along with new friend Bessie, finds herself caught up in mob-related business, while mingling with the likes of Louis Armstrong and Oscar Mischeaux.
Sawyer is a film student who discovered film reels in his grandmother’s attic that may have been shot by Mischeaux. In his quest to learn more about the footage, he interviews Honoree, who is now over 100 years old, and learns how intertwined their stories are.
Overall, I really liked this. The writing was beautiful and I felt like I was right there with Bessie and Honoree. I liked the dual storyline because it gave more depth to the story, showing how the past impacted the present. That said, I also felt a little let down by the big “twist” because the reasoning behind it fell a little flat for me.
I’d recommend this to any fan of historical fiction, especially those with an interest in the Jazz Age!
Sawyer is a film student who discovered film reels in his grandmother’s attic that may have been shot by Mischeaux. In his quest to learn more about the footage, he interviews Honoree, who is now over 100 years old, and learns how intertwined their stories are.
Overall, I really liked this. The writing was beautiful and I felt like I was right there with Bessie and Honoree. I liked the dual storyline because it gave more depth to the story, showing how the past impacted the present. That said, I also felt a little let down by the big “twist” because the reasoning behind it fell a little flat for me.
I’d recommend this to any fan of historical fiction, especially those with an interest in the Jazz Age!