Wildflowers: A Novel

by Delores Lowe Friedman

We assume that our closest friends will be around forever. Sometimes we let years pass without checking in, confident that our paths will cross eventually and that the connection we once had will still be there. However, life doesn’t always work like that. After learning of the death of her childhood friend Jewel, Camille is overwhelmed by memories. As young women, Camille, Jewel, and Saundra formed a close bond—however, careers, love lives, and other circumstances conspired to separate the once-devoted trio. Jewel founded a successful black entertainment agency, and Saundra fell into a troubled relationship. Camille drifted away after grad school and the birth of her son. She plans a reunion brunch which she hopes will reunite her friends--but time has changed everything. Set in twentieth-century New York City, Wildflowers is about the dynamic of friendship. Camille must face hard truths about her relationships—and herself. She wrote in college that she and her friends were like wildflowers unfolding, each one unique. In the end, Camille realizes that friendships are often complicated and fragile, and she must become her own distinct and firmly planted self.

412 pages, Paperback

Published November 10, 2017

About the author

Delores Lowe Friedman was born in Brooklyn, New York, and attended the New York City public schools. She gained both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Hunter College of the City University of New York. She holds a doctorate from Teachers College, Columbia University. She has taught in New York City public schools, and as a full professor at the City University of New York.

An advocate for literacy and parental involvement, she authored an education column for Essence magazine called “Education by Degrees” and a book titled Education Handbook for Black Families, published by Doubleday. During her twenty year academic career she was honored by the City University of New York several times as the recipient of major institutional grants. Her scholarly writings centered on her interest in equity in science education for girls and children of color, and early childhood education.

Now retired, Delores has returned to her first love: writing fiction. Wildflowers is her debut novel. In her spare time she enjoys figure drawing, going to the theater, and cooking. Her specialty is curried chicken. She and her husband of forty-four years live in New York City, and the two have a son who is a software engineer.

Reviews

[M.K. Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of three African Americans following their childhood friendship in the 60’s through to their middle age. Wonderfully written, poignant and educational (for a white woman from the UK) You invest your emotions in the characters, each struggling with their own issues and demons, right up to the last page.

[Maryann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful tale of friendships formed and fractured and formed again. Loved how the lives of Saundra, Camille, and Jewel intertwined and influenced each other through the years from childhood into their forties. The ways they helped each other in rough times and supported each other, except for Jewel who started to pull away big time after she became a successful talent manager, were true examples of what friendship really means. A true friend is one who sticks by you, no matter what.

The men who were in and out of the character's lives were not always the good guys, and each woman was incredibly wounded as young women. The wounds were carried for so long, it wasn't clear to any of them if they would ever fully recover and perhaps open their hearts again.

I really loved the characters. Well, maybe Jewell not so much. But like Camille and Saundra, she was deftly drawn. The narrative was written with a poet's eye, and I could imagine that much of the most beautiful wordage could have been in Camille's writings. Descriptions and character responses to what they were seeing were such a joy to read. I just want to say "thank you" to Ms. Friedman for giving me such pleasure in my reading.

Not going to say more so I don't give away any important parts of the story that readers shouldn't know before starting the book. I do, however, really encourage people to read this wonderful novel. BTW, the story does reflect the title in such a delightful way.