Mambo Hips and Make Believe

by Wanda Coleman

The story of a friendship from renowned poet, Wanda Coleman.

Wanda Coleman’s novel traces the friendship of two women, one white, one black, one from the suburbs, one from the ghetto, but both aspiring writers, who for two decades share each other’s troubles and triumphs in and out of work and love.

404 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 1999

About the author

Coleman was born Wanda Evans, and grew up in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles during the 1960s. She received fellowships from the John Simon Guggenheim Foundation, The NEA, and the California Arts Council (in fiction and in poetry). She was the first C.O.L.A. literary fellow (Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, 2003). Her numerous honors included an Emmy in Daytime Drama writing, The 1999 Lenore Marshall Prize (for "Bathwater Wine"), and a nomination for the 2001 National Book Awards (for "Mercurochrome"). She was a finalist for California poet laureate (2005).

Reviews

[Christina Barzdukas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cleverly written, and a beautiful exposure of the chronically gullible and young at heart.