Wild Women and the Blues
Books | Fiction / African American & Black / Historical
3.7
(73)
Denny S. Bryce
"Perfect for fans of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo...a dazzling depiction of passion, prohibition, and murder.“ —Shelf Awareness “Ambitious and stunning.” —Stephanie Dray, New York Times bestselling author "Vibrant…A highly entertaining read!” —Ellen Marie Wiseman New York Times Bestselling author of THE ORPHAN COLLECTOR “The music practically pours out of the pages of Denny S. Bryce's historical novel, set among the artists and dreamers of the 1920s.”—OprahMag.com Goodreads Debut Novel to Discover & Biggest Upcoming Historical Fiction BooksOprah Magazine, Parade, Ms. Magazine, SheReads, Bustle, BookBub, Frolic, & BiblioLifestyle Most Anticipated Books Marie Claire & Black Business Guide’s Books By Black Writers to Read TODAY & Buzzfeed Books for Bridgerton FansSheReads Most Anticipated BIPOC Winter Releases 2021Palm Beach Post Books for Your 2021 Reading ListIn a stirring and impeccably researched novel of Jazz-age Chicago in all its vibrant life, two stories intertwine nearly a hundred years apart, as a chorus girl and a film student deal with loss, forgiveness, and love…in all its joy, sadness, and imperfections. “Why would I talk to you about my life? I don't know you, and even if I did, I don't tell my story to just any boy with long hair, who probably smokes weed.You wanna hear about me. You gotta tell me something about you. To make this worth my while.” 1925: Chicago is the jazz capital of the world, and the Dreamland Café is the ritziest black-and-tan club in town. Honoree Dalcour is a sharecropper’s daughter, willing to work hard and dance every night on her way to the top. Dreamland offers a path to the good life, socializing with celebrities like Louis Armstrong and filmmaker Oscar Micheaux. But Chicago is also awash in bootleg whiskey, gambling, and gangsters. And a young woman driven by ambition might risk more than she can stand to lose. 2015: Film student Sawyer Hayes arrives at the bedside of 110-year-old Honoree Dalcour, still reeling from a devastating loss that has taken him right to the brink. Sawyer has rested all his hope on this frail but formidable woman, the only living link to the legendary Oscar Micheaux. If he’s right—if she can fill in the blanks in his research, perhaps he can complete his thesis and begin a new chapter in his life. But the links Honoree makes are not ones he’s expecting . . . Piece by piece, Honoree reveals her past and her secrets, while Sawyer fights tooth and nail to keep his. It’s a story of courage and ambition, hot jazz and illicit passions. And as past meets present, for Honoree, it’s a final chance to be truly heard and seen before it’s too late. No matter the cost . . .“Immersive, mysterious and evocative; factual in its history and nuanced in its creativity.” —Ms. Magazine“Perfect…Denny S. Bryce is a superstar!”—Julia Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of the Bridgerton series “Evocative and entertaining!”—Laura Kamoie, New York Times bestselling author “Wild Women and the Bluesdeftly delivers what historical fiction has been missing.”—Farrah Rochon USA Today bestselling author
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More Details:
Author
Denny S. Bryce
Pages
352
Publisher
Kensington Books
Published Date
2021-03-30
ISBN
1496730097 9781496730091
Community ReviewsSee all
"What a fun wild ride of a read that has punch and weight! Honoree is a character that has stayed with me and whose narrative I wish didn't come to an end. 1920s Chicago, adventure, mystery, thrillers, and romance. My favorite read of 2021, so far."
DaRo reads
"5 out of 5"
Tisha Terrion
"Start stretching your legs, because you will be dancing along with this jazzy romp through Chicago in the 1920s! But rest assured, despite the gorgeously lush cover, this is no lighthearted jaunt. This novel addresses the very worst of historical big city living, most prominently the insidious example of everyday racism, and perhaps most obviously the inclusion of the mobs that ran Chicago during prohibition. <br/><br/>The story switches perspectives between our two protagonists: Sawyer, a 20-something film maker in 2015 who is doing research for his latest documentary, and Honoree, a young dancer working in the black and tan speakeasies during the Prohibition Era. Both are battling their own histories, and their paths cross during Sawyer’s investigation into a famous filmmaker of the 1920s, who Honoree had a connection within her time as a performer in one of the premier “Cafés” of Chicago. <br/><br/>Despite the phenomenally well-researched history presented throughout the novel, the most compelling element was the character development. Honoree in particular was beautifully rendered as a strong, independent woman who was willing to defy the conventions of the day to achieve her goals. That thread of fierce independence carried through to her present-day conversations with Sawyer, and it made her the heart of the story as her life was uncovered through her retellings and her storyline as a young dancer. <br/><br/>I would highly recommend this novel, not just for historical fiction fans, but for anyone who has wondered about the lives of either family or neighbors and wishes to explore the connections that may exist. Of course, you can always get more than you bargained for, but to understand the motivations and lives of those who came before is a powerful reminder to live our lives to the fullest."
A P
Allie Peduto
"Family secrets and the path to healing <br/><br/>I had no idea what to expect from this book. I found it while trying to do a book challenge and because it had to do with the blues and the 20s I was intrigued. And I'm so happy I chose it.<br/>The book focuses on the past and present of Honoree Dalcour and a series of events that would affect her life and the lives of her associates forever.<br/>A young man trying to interview Honoree for his doctoral thesis project finds healing through his time with Honoree but he also opens a for to a great secret that is truly unexpected <br/>A great read.. and an insightful look into the lives of blacks in Chicago in the 20s"
Kimyan Gage
"I will never forget her as well. She was a great character. I loved her sass! I will look up The Nickle Boys as well!"
K J
Kenndrea James
"i read this in about 4 hours. the writing was easy to follow and the timeline was incredibly well done. the perspective switches were always interesting and carried an air of mystery throughout. one of the best historical fictions i’ve read in a while. "
Lia Lou