Customer Reviews

Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans?

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

There are few books that can make you laugh out loud and cry on the same page. In the words of Louis Armstrong, the title simply asks you, "Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans?" I've never been there, but having read this book I dearly wish I had - it has brought home to me the immeasurable sense of loss felt by its residents in a way that the mainstream media never did, no matter how many panoramic shots of the disaster zone it showed.

The book feels rather like a diary, full of reminiscences on life in New Orleans before, during and after Katrina. Just after the preface, there is a list of census data from 1900 and 2000, along with a map of the city showing where the events in each chapter took place. The publishers have been unafraid to take a different approach to the book's content and diversify the style of its presentation: throughout there are 19th century engravings of the city, recipes for local dishes and the words to turn of the century Creole songs. As well as adding the excitement of never letting you know what you will find on the next page, these lyrical vignettes remind you of the city's history and cultural heritage at a crucial time when what hasn't already been swept away by the storm threatens to be destroyed by the corporate greed of `reconstruction' that will come in its wake.

Above all, this book is about hearing a wide variety of voices telling different stories. It is an incredible feeling to read all their outlandish tales and know they are actually true. On the other hand, in among these recollections there are other true stories that fill you with rage: Barbara Bush praises the fact that all these poor people are suddenly finding a better life as refugees and FEMA's Michael Brown receives an email from his press secretary telling him to roll up the sleeves of his shirt like the President so as to look more hard working.

It is a beautifully made book and a joy to hold, something I truly appreciated when the often shoddy mass production of books has taken away any sense of personal touch. The disaster that brought these writers together for this volume should never have been allowed to happen, and yet I am very happy that this book was published and I strongly recommend it. Having suffered such catastrophic negligence, New Orleans needs this kind of attention to detail.

Do You Know What it Means to Miss New Orleans? is a collection of heartfelt true stories told by survivors, evacuees, and natives of New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and the lethal city flooding. A handful of black-and-white illustrations grace this collection of brief reminiscences of New Orleans as it once was, the hardship of survival, attempts to return to the city, the hope of rebuilding despite the overwhelming challenges, and much more. A dollop of humor here and there intersperse the at times harsh true stories, in this highly recommended tribute. "The crime and poverty were always there. My garage was invaded three times so I quit locking it. You could not live in the city and avoid the dreary performance of democracy; yet the town was held together by a spiritual essence few cities in this country possess. We were like many families in having those we loved most within a short drive. That infrastructure of the heart is severely fractured now."

This book brings tears to my native New Orleanian wife every time she picks it up. It is meant for anyone and everyone who has lived in New Orleans for any length of time. For old or young it brings back poignant memories and fond stories about the city by the river where time has stood still.

THANK YOU, Professor Rutledge for writing this book. As Anderson Cooper implored folks to do at speech of his I attended, "Never ever let people forget Katrina". Thank you for your wonderful book that personalizes the stories.

I too was one of those stories as I was trapped in the Superdome and couldn't escape until a group of us were smuggled out. I wrote my story in Diary From the Dome. Wish I had possessed your writing talents though.

[...]

Must have for any New Orleanian past or present. A truly unique work of art. Long live the Crescent City.

As one who relocated after Hurricane Katrina, I have read every book that comes my way regarding New Orleans. I still miss living there so maybe reading alleviates a little homesickness? In any case, this was such a well put-together collection! Most stories moved me to tears, either via my own memories or the tale being told. I held off on 5 stars because there is an inexplicable story added from someone who never lived or visited New Orleans. I just felt the space could have gone to someone else who knew the area. I definitely consider this a must read though, for anyone missing the city!

Excellent collection of nonfiction writing about New Orleans and post-Katrina prose. I expect this to become a hot collectible for those collecting the works of Ms Causey, a popular new romantic suspense author, as well.

wait a few months and the price will go down to 20.00. Definitely don,t pay more than 30.00, that's a ripoff. Get it from the library