Half of Paradise [Mass Market Paperback]

James Lee Burke (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1900

In this intense, fascinating story, Burke follows the lives of three young Louisiana men, each of whom finds himself in desperate circumstances. There's Avery Broussard, the last survivor of a family of once prosperous land owners, who has a weakness for alcohol; J.P. Winfield, a poor singer and guitar player who rises to fame as a country music star, only to be destroyed by drug addiction; and Toussaint Boudreaux, a black longshoreman who moonlights as a heavyweight boxer. The destinies of these men are tragically intertwined in this debut novel that showcases Burke's masterful and now-familiar style.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

These titles, published throughout the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, represent Burke's early work before the creation of his now famous Cajun detective, Dave Robicheaux. Each features protagonists forced to make tough decisions that will forever change the paths of their lives (LJ 3/1/65, LJ 7/70, LJ 1/15/72).
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

James Lee Burke is the author of many previous novels, many featuring Detective Dave Robicheaux. He won the Edgar Award in 1998 for 'Cimarron Rose', while 'Black Cherry Blues' won the Edgar in 1990 and 'Sunset Limited' was awarded the CWA Gold Dagger in 1998. He lives with his wife, Pearl, in Missoula, Montana and New Iberia, Louisiana. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion (January 1, 1900)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786889462
• ISBN-13: 978-0786889464
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #459,503 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

James Lee Burke, a rare winner of two Edgar Awards, is the author of twenty-three previous novels, including such New York Times bestsellers as Bitterroot, Purple Cane Road, Cimarron Rose, Jolie Blon's Bounce, and Dixie City Jam. He lives in Missoula, Montana, and New Iberia, Louisiana.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Love Burke, but could have left this one on the shelf, March 27, 2000

By 

C. Cronk (Somewhere in New York) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Half of Paradise (Mass Market Paperback)

I've read just about every book James Lee Burke has written -- from his Dave Robicheaux series to Cimmaron Rose and others. I've loved them all and eagerly await new ones. This is the first time I've read one of his books that I didn't like it. I couldn't connect with the characters, didn't bond with them, didn't find their situation to be compelling to read about. It took all I could do to finish it. It certainly wouldn't dissuade me from reading anything else he writes (although there isn't much left that I haven't read...) but this is not a great book, not up to his usual exploration of characters or his colorful description of surroundings. There was not a likeable character in the book, nor was I able to get a good visual for the surroundings. Skip it if you love Burke, you'll only be disappointed.

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No One Captures the Human Condition Like Burke, October 21, 1998

By 

Chris - See all my reviews

This review is from: Half of Paradise (Mass Market Paperback)

James Lee Burke's first novel does not have the fast paced, action packed movement as does his Dave Robicheaux novels, but he is clearly setting his penchant for detail and human suffering early in his career. Three stories combine to form the core of this novel - life is not all wine and roses. The book centers on the success and failures of three south Louisiana men who have a great deal of promise but ending up on life's darker side. Burke doesn't have a hero nor does he need one. One man driven to alcoholism by his desire to escape his father's shadow is consumed and fate has led him to prison, let him out and returned him in one foul stroke. Another man is a promising boxer who is set up by greed and sentenced to life in prison can only escape one way. A third man, poor but very talented, falls to the pressures and luxuries of stardom. His excesses leads him to the palace. These three stories are linked by prison and intoxicating substances. They are linked by one man who succombs to temptation and goes to prison. This is a great book, but it is unlike any of Burke's more famous novels. He does remain constant in his ability to capture the surroundings and the human spirit. A must read for any fan of Dave Robicheaux to catch the young wild pen of a man destined for fame.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Burke's First Published Novel Shoots Sparks, May 26, 2007

By 

Stephanie DePue (Carolina Beach, NC USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Half of Paradise (Paperback)

"Half of Paradise,"published in 1965, was James Lee Burke's first published fictional effort. Not surprisingly, it shoots off many sparks that illuminate where he's later going to go as a writer. He gives us powerful descriptions of his home territory, around New Orleans, Louisiana; both the natural and manmade environments; for his first time out, he's pretty good on character development and dialogue, and he renders strong descriptions of people's everyday lives, jobs, and family histories.

The novel reads as, probably is, three discrete novellas packaged together. It tells the story of JP Winfield, a penniless, orphaned sharecropper who discovers a talent for playing a 12-string guitar; it leads him into some prosperity and public notice, but his weaknesses are always with him. It also gives us Toussant Boudreaux, a black New Orleans dockworker who moonlights as a prizefighter, seems to have a promising career in that direction, but then takes a crippling injury. Finally it introduces Avery Broussard, descended of the area's French-Spanish landowning families: but the land's long gone, he's working as a oil company roustabout, and he's got a crippling alcohol dependency. If you see a pattern here, there is one. All three men are overwhelmed by their weaknesses; you'd have to call the book a downer. And without giving away too much of the plot, readers may learn more about Louisiana jails than many might care to.

Burke's first novel introduces,in the Broussard segments, the character of black Ba'tiste, storied family servant, who will reappear in his later works. It further gives Broussard a wealthy high school girlfriend (a character that will also often reappear in his later works) the family name of Robichaux: that, of course, will later be the surname of his famous detective Dave Robichaux. It's pretty clear that Burke was going to write his way into an outstanding future once his world view got a little less depressing. How much you want to read this first effort probably depends on how much you like the later work.