Wild Women and the Blues…striking title, isn’t it? And what a cover!
This is one of those books that screams “winter read!” To me, at least. I read this one over the course of a weekend (Youtube fire place video, blankets, tea–the trifecta of stuck-inside-ness, thank you very much.) I’ve been reading some lighter reads during my free time, but I knew it was time for a historical fiction novel. I’m happy I picked this one up. While the novel isn’t perfect, it’s full of beautiful prose, compelling characters, and an immersive setting that transports you back to Jazz Age Chicago. I’ve visited Chicago only once, and it was for work so I couldn’t explore the way I wanted to. Even with my short time there, I could sense its rich culture and history; I saw the the beautiful Chicago River and felt the pride of its residents. (A cab driver took it upon himself to drive my friend and I around for an impromptu tour of historical sites!) But even as I floated on the veneer of the pretty, I could still sense the very ugly undercurrent of brutality present in the city, something that could only exist from a violent past and a violent present. After reading this book, however, I would love to return one day to Chicago. It’s an interesting city, gritty and gorgeous and full of old, untold stories.
But until then, I’ll be content to travel by way of the pages of books as good as this one.
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She Happily Reads 