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Ragtime Dudes Meet a Paris Flapper
Ragtime is old hat, World War I is over, and the Roaring Twenties are underway.
Cherie, an American flapper living it up in Paris, never intends to go back to her tiny hometown, Taos, New Mexico. But while visiting her sister in New York, a telegram brings word that an old friend, Morgan, is dying. Ragtime dudes Morgan and Jack, and wife Abigail, helped the sisters when their mother died. Now it’s time to repay the favor.
They arrive in Taos to find Abigail overwhelmed, Jack’s in denial about Morgan’s fate, and Abigail’s son, Cyrus, is suffering from shell-shock—just like veterans Cherie’s seen in Paris. Touched by his plight, Cherie nurtures him. It’s not long before they fall in love. Abigail fears that once Cherie returns to Paris, Cyrus will be worse off than before. Cherie misunderstands and thinks mother hen wants her out of the picture.
When Bryce, another friend from the days of ragtime, arrives, Morgan experiences a brief rally and asks to be driven to a place in the Taos Mountains he’s always found spiritual. On the mountaintop, the Parisian flapper, the ragtime dudes, and their strange, extended family find themselves at the threshold of a thin place in this charming sequel.
Winner Royal Palm Literary Award
“This is a remarkable historical novel... The story is riveting. The language is absolutely delightfully reminiscent of the flapper era. Everything these people say and think is worth the reader’s attention. I did not want to stop reading.” —Royal Palm Literary Award Judges’ comments
Cherie, an American flapper living it up in Paris, never intends to go back to her tiny hometown, Taos, New Mexico. But while visiting her sister in New York, a telegram brings word that an old friend, Morgan, is dying. Ragtime dudes Morgan and Jack, and wife Abigail, helped the sisters when their mother died. Now it’s time to repay the favor.
They arrive in Taos to find Abigail overwhelmed, Jack’s in denial about Morgan’s fate, and Abigail’s son, Cyrus, is suffering from shell-shock—just like veterans Cherie’s seen in Paris. Touched by his plight, Cherie nurtures him. It’s not long before they fall in love. Abigail fears that once Cherie returns to Paris, Cyrus will be worse off than before. Cherie misunderstands and thinks mother hen wants her out of the picture.
When Bryce, another friend from the days of ragtime, arrives, Morgan experiences a brief rally and asks to be driven to a place in the Taos Mountains he’s always found spiritual. On the mountaintop, the Parisian flapper, the ragtime dudes, and their strange, extended family find themselves at the threshold of a thin place in this charming sequel.
Winner Royal Palm Literary Award
“This is a remarkable historical novel... The story is riveting. The language is absolutely delightfully reminiscent of the flapper era. Everything these people say and think is worth the reader’s attention. I did not want to stop reading.” —Royal Palm Literary Award Judges’ comments
- GenresFiction
358 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 7, 2020
373 people want to read
About the author
Richard Gartee
56 books42 followersRichard Gartee is a poet, author and award-winning novelist. Since his first novel, Lancelot’s Grail was published, he has published seven more novels. He is a full-time author. In addition to his eight novels, he has had six collections of poetry published, a biography, seven college textbooks, and a history of the Hippodrome Theatre.
His novel Ragtime Dudes In a Thin Place won the Royal Palm Literary Award. It's sequel Ragtime Dudes Meet a Paris Flapper won him another Royal Palm Literary Award.
He studied eastern philosophy and meditation for 50 years and is a member of Writers Alliance of Gainesville and Florida Writers Association.
He says:
“I started out in creative writing and then spent 22 years in computer software. During that period of my life I helped design two of the preeminent medical systems and became an expert in the field. Along the way I wrote a college textbook which became a national standard. I left the software company, wrote more textbooks, and became a full time author. Between textbooks I turned my attention back to my creative writing origins. I began working on plays and a novel. For me balancing the left brain – right brain is not that difficult. I enjoy writing and find all of it creative, just in different ways. For me the secret is ‘do the work.’ I make it a point to work on some writing project every day.”
His novel Ragtime Dudes In a Thin Place won the Royal Palm Literary Award. It's sequel Ragtime Dudes Meet a Paris Flapper won him another Royal Palm Literary Award.
He studied eastern philosophy and meditation for 50 years and is a member of Writers Alliance of Gainesville and Florida Writers Association.
He says:
“I started out in creative writing and then spent 22 years in computer software. During that period of my life I helped design two of the preeminent medical systems and became an expert in the field. Along the way I wrote a college textbook which became a national standard. I left the software company, wrote more textbooks, and became a full time author. Between textbooks I turned my attention back to my creative writing origins. I began working on plays and a novel. For me balancing the left brain – right brain is not that difficult. I enjoy writing and find all of it creative, just in different ways. For me the secret is ‘do the work.’ I make it a point to work on some writing project every day.”
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 30, 2020
A wonderful historical blast to the past.
If you enjoy the 1920's era in all it's glory, then this is the book is for you.
Fun, interesting characters, with a solidly written plot. A nice change from the usual and ordinary.
It's the "Berries", "Bees Knees" and worth every single "clam"!
If you enjoy the 1920's era in all it's glory, then this is the book is for you.
Fun, interesting characters, with a solidly written plot. A nice change from the usual and ordinary.
It's the "Berries", "Bees Knees" and worth every single "clam"!
June 3, 2020
When my father finished reading Ragtime Dudes in a Thin Place last year, he so enjoyed it that he asked me to write a sequel.
The Ragtime Dudes are three New York dandies with a zest for life who move to Taos, New Mexico, in 1904, when Ragtime is in, Victorians are out, and free love is on the rise.
In considering a sequel, I thought, what is the next period that people instantly identify as wild and free? The Roaring Twenties, obviously—the name says it all.
The early 1900s were bursting with inventions like automobiles and electric lights, and everything seemed possible. The twenties were roaring, but were born out of darker elements. The world had experienced huge losses in World War I, followed almost immediately by a pandemic which infected a third of the population worldwide. Large numbers of soldiers returned from the war suffering from shell shock. Then there was prohibition, too, which turned out to have the opposite effect on society than its proponents expected.
In 1922 characters from Ragtime Dudes in a Thin Place, Morgan, Jack and Abigail are pushing forty. Precocious teens, Peaches and Cherry, are in their early thirties, and Abigail’s son Cyrus in his twenties. How will they represent the fun of the Roaring Twenties yet also the recent dark times?
It was a fun book to write. Then it won the Royal Palm Literary Award for Historical Fiction. The judges loved it. A few of the judges' comments:
“This is a remarkable historical novel... The story is riveting. The language is absolutely delightfully reminiscent of the flapper era. Everything these people say and think is worth the reader’s attention. I did not want to stop reading.”
The Ragtime Dudes are three New York dandies with a zest for life who move to Taos, New Mexico, in 1904, when Ragtime is in, Victorians are out, and free love is on the rise.
In considering a sequel, I thought, what is the next period that people instantly identify as wild and free? The Roaring Twenties, obviously—the name says it all.
The early 1900s were bursting with inventions like automobiles and electric lights, and everything seemed possible. The twenties were roaring, but were born out of darker elements. The world had experienced huge losses in World War I, followed almost immediately by a pandemic which infected a third of the population worldwide. Large numbers of soldiers returned from the war suffering from shell shock. Then there was prohibition, too, which turned out to have the opposite effect on society than its proponents expected.
In 1922 characters from Ragtime Dudes in a Thin Place, Morgan, Jack and Abigail are pushing forty. Precocious teens, Peaches and Cherry, are in their early thirties, and Abigail’s son Cyrus in his twenties. How will they represent the fun of the Roaring Twenties yet also the recent dark times?
It was a fun book to write. Then it won the Royal Palm Literary Award for Historical Fiction. The judges loved it. A few of the judges' comments:
“This is a remarkable historical novel... The story is riveting. The language is absolutely delightfully reminiscent of the flapper era. Everything these people say and think is worth the reader’s attention. I did not want to stop reading.”
July 3, 2020
I enjoyed this read.
It wasn't mind shattering or anything. I found it interesting. The story flowed through the Flapper years - early 1900's and did a great job portraying real life at that time without getting preachy or "educational" (horrors). I really needed a read like this right now. Even though it referenced the horrors of war we didn't have to wade through WWI. I am a painter and loved reading about New York art galleries and their artists. It relaxed me with its positive tone.
What did I really like? I liked being reminded of the lake cottage my grandparents had in Minnesota, how we got water. In Taos, New Mexico I read about people depending on a similar water source, it warmed my heart and I felt grateful to have experienced that as a child. I remembered the hand water pump at the sink, the pump house at the farm, and the references to keeping things cold without modern refrigeration.
Medical methods and norms for the time, and details about early car use were interesting.
The positive generational interactions so reminded me of visiting my Midwestern family in the 1950's. The family dynamic in this book is not the "norm" in relationships for that period of time. It was happily not vindictive or damning.
The story line is good. It moves along and the characters are well defined by their words, deeds and some editorial work. There is good visual imagery.
Go back in time and meet some reasonable people. They don't always follow the rules but their hearts are golden.
It wasn't mind shattering or anything. I found it interesting. The story flowed through the Flapper years - early 1900's and did a great job portraying real life at that time without getting preachy or "educational" (horrors). I really needed a read like this right now. Even though it referenced the horrors of war we didn't have to wade through WWI. I am a painter and loved reading about New York art galleries and their artists. It relaxed me with its positive tone.
What did I really like? I liked being reminded of the lake cottage my grandparents had in Minnesota, how we got water. In Taos, New Mexico I read about people depending on a similar water source, it warmed my heart and I felt grateful to have experienced that as a child. I remembered the hand water pump at the sink, the pump house at the farm, and the references to keeping things cold without modern refrigeration.
Medical methods and norms for the time, and details about early car use were interesting.
The positive generational interactions so reminded me of visiting my Midwestern family in the 1950's. The family dynamic in this book is not the "norm" in relationships for that period of time. It was happily not vindictive or damning.
The story line is good. It moves along and the characters are well defined by their words, deeds and some editorial work. There is good visual imagery.
Go back in time and meet some reasonable people. They don't always follow the rules but their hearts are golden.
July 5, 2020
Ragtime Dudes Meet A Paris Flapper, by Richard Gartee, is a fun read set iin the 1920s flapper era in New Mexico. The main characters are interesting free spirits, and I loved the setting. Historical fiction is my favorite genre, so this book was right up my alley. I will be following the author for future releases.
I am very grateful to the author and publisher for the Kindle book I received through Goodreads Giveaways.
I am very grateful to the author and publisher for the Kindle book I received through Goodreads Giveaways.
January 21, 2021
If you read Ragtime Dudes in a Thin Place, you'll find your favorite characters here, embarking on new adventures, only now they are older and more mature. If you haven't read the first book, read this one anyway, as it stands on its own. (Warning: you'll want to go back and read the other one!) This book is funny, as was Thin Place, but it is also more somber. World War I, the Spanish Flu, and other tragedies have intervened, leaving both generations scarred. On the surface still frivolous, our friends have developed a depth of character only hinted at in the previous story. They show their strength as they face their sorrows. Love, romantic and otherwise, overcomes adversity, and carries them through to a satisfying ending.
June 11, 2020
This book gave a good picture of life in the Southwest in the 1920's. From the Taos Artist's Group to how to make beer, there are lots of details to paint the picture. The characters are well formed and likable and this is an all around good read. I will pursue the book about the ragtime dudes coming to Taos.
I received this book from goodreads in exchange for an honest review. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good story.
I received this book from goodreads in exchange for an honest review. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good story.
July 6, 2020
I enjoyed reading this book and travelling to the time with the characters.
July 11, 2020
Titled appropriately, the character development was thorough and the journey inspiring. Not my typical reading material, but definitely enjoyable.
May 2, 2021
A really nice visit to our past. Nice read, lots of fun.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews