In recognition of Black History Month, Larry Bowlden reviews Tia William’s historical novel, A Love Song For Ricki Wilde. Ricki Wilde comes from a wealthy southern family, the wealth due to her father’s owning a string of mortuaries. Her sisters, Rashida, Regina, and Rae, are doing as expected, each running one or more of the mortuaries. But Ricky is a rebel who wants instead to move to Harlem and open a flower shop. It’s a lovely story about Harlem in its heyday during the Harlem Renaissance and William knows her history. The novel takes on a fantastical element that can be off-putting for some readers, but the author pulls it off.
- KBOO