I read A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams in April with members of my library book club; I listened to the audiobook narrated by Mela Lee and Preston Butler while following along in a print copy. This was my first book by Ms. Williams.
This story has many components and they mostly work well together:
- steamy romance
- magical realism
- Leap Year significance
- dual timeline
- following a dream rather than family expectations
- Harlem Renaissance, especially jazz music
I liked the magical realism aspect, but fellow readers who enjoyed the author's previous book Six Days in June were thrown off by it. I questioned the need for the past storyline until its connection to current time was crystal clear. The "Forrest Gump" type references to iconic jazz musicians were fun, and I loved Ms. Della as the 'fairy grandmother.'
As always, our group had a great discussion of the book which made me enjoy it even more.
This story has many components and they mostly work well together:
- steamy romance
- magical realism
- Leap Year significance
- dual timeline
- following a dream rather than family expectations
- Harlem Renaissance, especially jazz music
I liked the magical realism aspect, but fellow readers who enjoyed the author's previous book Six Days in June were thrown off by it. I questioned the need for the past storyline until its connection to current time was crystal clear. The "Forrest Gump" type references to iconic jazz musicians were fun, and I loved Ms. Della as the 'fairy grandmother.'
As always, our group had a great discussion of the book which made me enjoy it even more.
First, thank-you Grand Central Publishing (both hands up for Andy!) and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to review the book.
A Love Song For Ricki Wilde is a Harlem love story filled with magic realism and fashionista-inspired writing. Ricki Wilde, the flighty daughter of a wealthy conservative Southern family falls in love with Breeze Walker, a perennial (read: immortal) jazz musician from the 1920s, who -unbeknownst to 27 year-old Ricki- is eternally 28. Their chance meeting in a community garden sets in motion a series of events that could bind their destinies if they can fix themselves in time. Ricki has to prove to herself and the world that she is a strong independent woman without her family. Breeze has been searching for nearly a century for the elusive notes to an inspired love song that he needs to finish. Since Ricki and Breeze meet in a leap year, the veil between this world and the other is gossamer thin, which lets A Love Song For Ricki Wilde weave surreally through the Jazz Age and the present. Other delights that are sprinkled throughout the book include a cameo by Eva Mercy from Seven Days In June; the interesting true factoids of black history; and the wonderful use of little used words such as gossamer, psychopomp (Japanese Breakfast, anyone?), stan, etc. Have a dictionary close by...
Tia Williams uses her best storytelling methods to show how this love story is possible through timely use of flashbacks and quirky secondary characters. Unlike many authors who have been writing for a minute, Tia Williams' books get better with time. Like fine wine. The richness and texture of her prose is a far cry from her debut novel, The Accidental Diva. In Ricki Wilde, Tia Williams describes in detail the trendy fashions of the eras yet avoids the danger of trite beauty magazine writing and the we-don't-say-chicklit pitfall. The rich prose also forgives the Hallmark Channel-like simplicity of plot conveniences the author takes. Whenever a character is in a bind, voila the solution pops right up. For example, when Ricki needs to escape her family, the wealthy Ms. Della conveniently shows up right after Ricki's father gives her an ultimatum.
And yet, A Love Song For Ricki Wilde is a sultry romantic page-turner that keeps a quick pace and every chapter is a very engaging tidbit that builds Ricki's world without unnecessary details. All loose ends are neatly wrapped up at the very end of the story. With A Love Song For Ricki Wilde, Tia Williams is at the peak of her writing.
A Love Song For Ricki Wilde is a Harlem love story filled with magic realism and fashionista-inspired writing. Ricki Wilde, the flighty daughter of a wealthy conservative Southern family falls in love with Breeze Walker, a perennial (read: immortal) jazz musician from the 1920s, who -unbeknownst to 27 year-old Ricki- is eternally 28. Their chance meeting in a community garden sets in motion a series of events that could bind their destinies if they can fix themselves in time. Ricki has to prove to herself and the world that she is a strong independent woman without her family. Breeze has been searching for nearly a century for the elusive notes to an inspired love song that he needs to finish. Since Ricki and Breeze meet in a leap year, the veil between this world and the other is gossamer thin, which lets A Love Song For Ricki Wilde weave surreally through the Jazz Age and the present. Other delights that are sprinkled throughout the book include a cameo by Eva Mercy from Seven Days In June; the interesting true factoids of black history; and the wonderful use of little used words such as gossamer, psychopomp (Japanese Breakfast, anyone?), stan, etc. Have a dictionary close by...
Tia Williams uses her best storytelling methods to show how this love story is possible through timely use of flashbacks and quirky secondary characters. Unlike many authors who have been writing for a minute, Tia Williams' books get better with time. Like fine wine. The richness and texture of her prose is a far cry from her debut novel, The Accidental Diva. In Ricki Wilde, Tia Williams describes in detail the trendy fashions of the eras yet avoids the danger of trite beauty magazine writing and the we-don't-say-chicklit pitfall. The rich prose also forgives the Hallmark Channel-like simplicity of plot conveniences the author takes. Whenever a character is in a bind, voila the solution pops right up. For example, when Ricki needs to escape her family, the wealthy Ms. Della conveniently shows up right after Ricki's father gives her an ultimatum.
And yet, A Love Song For Ricki Wilde is a sultry romantic page-turner that keeps a quick pace and every chapter is a very engaging tidbit that builds Ricki's world without unnecessary details. All loose ends are neatly wrapped up at the very end of the story. With A Love Song For Ricki Wilde, Tia Williams is at the peak of her writing.
