I learned about the existence of the book “Coffee Shop Chronicles of New Orleans” by seeing it on a side table in a co-worker’s office. Then, before I could register it in the frontal lobe of my brain, I attended the Jefferson Parish Library’s king cake party whereby several local authors were there signing books. [...]
I picked up George Washington Cable’s “Old Creole Days” at the last book sale of the Friends of Jefferson Parish Library. I paid $12 for a hardcover-missing-its-dust-jacket 1943 printing by the Limited Editions Club, Inc. of Cable’s late-1800s stories. This is quite the gem. It was worth the $12 just for the two introductions, one [...]
I’ve just finished reading “New Orleans Noir.” It’s a collection of short stories set in New Orleans, pre-Katrina, post-Katrina and even in between. I tend not to like short stories; I prefer long, epic tales with lots of character development. Notwithstanding, I am addicted to all books NOLA-related and had to give this one a fair shake. [...]
I spoke with Laura Lippman last Friday. She was engaging and articulate and has that special gift some people have that they willingly offer to others, if they’ll but pay attention. Luckily for me, I was paying very close attention. We were brought together to discuss Lippman’s new book, “I’d Know You Anywhere,” which I [...]
Laura Lippman’s “I’d Know You Anywhere,” opens on the tranquil domesticity of the Benedict family, Eliza and Peter, and their two children, Iso (short for Isobel, aged 13) and Albie (8). But by the end of Chapter One, the first fissure of that sense of utter calm and peace is revealed: Eliza receives a handwritten [...]
Every so often, I get an email via this blog to receive a free copy of a book if I am interested in reading it and would consider writing a review of it. I’ve always turned these offers down, mainly because each book’s description, for one reason or another, did not, well, blow my skirt [...]
A lot of reading has been going on over here this summer. The latest selection, however, warrants comment. “The Story of Edgar Sawtelle,” by David Wroblewski came recommend via an odd route. I have a friend in Colorado that sends me two books every year—one for my birthday, one for Christmas. On the whole, I [...]
I wrote a post in early 2008 listing my top ten favorite NOLA reads. Since that time, I’ve read more NOLA books, some excellent, some forgettable. So I thought I’d update my list. But wait. There’s more. We want YOUR list too. What NOLA books inspire you? To make the playing field even, Yat Pundit divided [...]
I’m done complaining about the oil spill. It’s safe to read again and not roll your eyes. Really, I mean it. I’ve switched off of reading NOLA books and am now reading James Salter’s “A Sport and a Pastime.” I’ve read Salter’s “Light Years,” and it is still one of my favorite books. His writing [...]
Bob Dylan once sang that “[W]hen you got nothing, you got nothing to lose.” Years later, he sang, “When you think you lost everything you find out you can always lose a little more.” Since they are both Dylan lyrics, the incongruity of these two lines has continued to have me scratching my head. Dylan [...]