Mambo Hips and Make Believe [Paperback]

Wanda Coleman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1999

Fiction. Wanda Coleman's powerful new novel chronicles the friendship between two women -- one from the black ghetto of Los Angeles, one from its white middle-class suburbs. Both are aspiring writers, both scramble to pay their bills by pickup jobs like waitressing and editing pulp magazines. For two decades they share each others' troubles and triumphs in and out of work and love. Coleman focuses primarily on the white protagonist's point of view; as the story unfolds and the characters' roots are unearthed, however, we learn that there's no such thing as "pure" white -- only a mix of bloods concealed over time.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A close friendship between two women is the basis of this ambitious but overlong and discursive novel. Tamala Fortenot, a woman of mixed racial heritage and lofty dreams, seeks to overcome the sometimes comedic but often tragic follies of her alcoholic parents and other eccentric family members, as well as her own emotional conflicts, while maintaining a nourishing relationship with a black woman, Erlene. Between 1976 and 1991, their deep bond survives numerous calamities; the one thing that remains constant is their devotion to pursuing a shared dream of becoming writers. Inspired by the TV mini-series Roots, Tamala, who passes for white on occasion, is trying to write a book about her family, including her rarely discussed Mexican-American heritage. While her career suffers its ups and downs, it is her emotional life that causes Tamala pain. She's been diagnosed with a genetic birth defect that prevented her sexual organs from developing, so she can never have children. This condition, which also prevents the sexual consummation of any relationship, leaves her lonely and suicidal. Only her friendship with Erlene, chronicled by letters closing each chapter, provides some solace, and even that bond is occasionally strained by her restlessness and self-doubt. When Tamala describes herself as a writer, she also reveals her view of herself as a woman: "I am a Morgan horse who wishes she were a thoroughbred." Much of Tamala's poignant story is buried under the weight of excessive family history and awkward plot devices. Erlene rarely emerges as an autonomous character in her own right. While Coleman (Bathwater Wine) exhibits a colorful imagination, the characters and events evolve in a dizzying blur that leaves the reader impressed at the scope of the tale but disappointed with its cumulative effect. (Dec.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 250 pages
• Publisher: Black Sparrow Pr (August 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1574230948
• ISBN-13: 978-1574230949
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,847,423 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An emotional tour de force, September 17, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Mambo Hips and Make Believe (Paperback)

A grabber that never lets go--I've read this powerful and moving novel a couple of times, and can't understand why everyone wasn't talking about it when it came out four years ago, and why they aren't still talking about it now. As a reality check, it transcends all PC and race issues. Reading it is a demanding but rewarding experience. Tamala, the unforgettable heroine, leaps off the page and into your heart. It certainly doesn't have a happy ending, but it is still an exhilarating one. I sat around for hours after reading it, absorbing the impact. Anyone who loves Coleman's short stories and poems will enjoy this action-jammed urban adventure. It's a must.