Customer Reviews

Orleans Embrace with The Secret Gardens of the Vieux Carre

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Though finely printed with many photographs, I am certain this book was never meant to merely decorate the coffee table. It opens with glowing praises of notables and celebrities like Francis Ford Coppola, Nicholas Cage, Jimmy Buffett, and many others. As 100% of the publisher's profits go to preservation of the French Quarter, that is also worthy of considerable praise, for surely New Orleans is America's greatest city, and the Vieux Carré its most precious jewel.

Actually three essays in one volume, the book covers New Orleans history, the French Quarter gardens, and saving New Orleans in its current post-Katrina period. The writing is uniformly verdant and lush, with descriptions often poetic if not philosophical. However, this is quite a visual book, with a great many photographs included. It's perhaps my own sense of artistry, but I find some of the photographs a bit on the dark side and of somewhat low contrast. New Orleans is not known for its many clear sunny days, and the high walls surrounding many of the gardens reduce the available light, but the gardens usually aren't quite so gloomy and shadowy as some of the photographs might suggest. I don't know the cameras used for this volume, but some of the images also seem to lack the "snap" that would typically come from a large format camera, usually the camera of choice for this kind of work. If a 4x5 or larger was indeed used, then I really can't explain it. But that's not to say there aren't many gorgeous photographs here, and others may find my criticism far too influenced by my personal sense of style, and they are probably right. I particularly like the photographs of the pool and the spacious courtyard of the Begue home on Bourbon Street, and there are many, many others to enjoy here.

All in all, a fine volume, especially on the gardens, historical preservation, and salvaging the city after Katrina. If one is looking for more on actual building architecture and how it arrived there, by all means try Lloyd Vogt's "Historical Buildings of the French Quarter," which is entertaining in its own right, yet in an entirely different and most original way.

For a poetic and photographic tour, "Orléans Embrace with The Secret Gardens of the Vieux Carré" is warmly recommended. But it really shouldn't be left on the coffee table without first reading it from start to finish.

WOW...what a big beautiful book! For anyone who has a connection to New Orleans...buy it...give it...treasure it...well written, throughly researched, amazing photos and layout...sure to be an award winner! Thanks for putting your heart into this volume!

No ordinary coffee table photography book, "Orleans Embrace With The Secret Gardens Of The Vieux Carre" is a 388-page memoir of the New Orleans French Quarter featuring 49 historic black-and-white photographs and 320 full color illustrations. While the overall book draws from the previous work of Roy F. Guste, Jr., the photographs by Louis Sahuc are bonded with a personal and compelling narrative text by T. J. Fisher. Readers will encounter a work originally intended to be of local interest, but in a post-Katrina world, has emerged with universal attraction as a memorial and a motivation to restore a once great American city to its unique and original glory. Enthusiastically recommended, "Orleans Embrace With The Secret Gardens Of The Vieux Carre" will prove to be of immense interest to several categories of readership including: gardening enthusiasts, historians, architects, photographers, and anyone who has every walked along the avenues and admired the parks, gardens, and buildings of the New Orleans French Quarter.

Read this book. Highly recommended.

What a great book! Far more than just a pretty "coffee table" title!

Visually gorgeous, the narrative is equally powerful - you'll be transported into New Orleans past as well as learn why this city deserves a place in our future. The author's love is evident with every turn of the page.

I plan to get several as gifts. My friends will be delighted and I'll be helping this deserving community since the publisher is donating profits to preservation efforts.

I first got this book through the library on a recommendation from the Book-A-Day Calendar series and after flipping through the pages I figured I'd buy, not one, but three copies for gifts. The combination of the three contributors to the book make for a great read, whether or not you've experience the French Quarter. The fact that all proceeds go toward the preservation of the French Quarter sealed the deal for me

Wow. Startling. Stunning. Powerful. Spectacular. A masterpiece. What an unusual, beautiful and intelligent offering. For us around the world who love New Orleans and Louisiana, it is a sentimental journey, filled with bittersweet memories. The narrative and pictorial part melt together with a special synergy. It is an uncloaked love letter...an open memoir...a wakeup call. The writing is touching and reflective. The majestic photos transport you to another time and place. This sweeping 3-part commemoration and celebration of the French Quarter is meaningful, significant, dreamy, compelling. Bravo. Kudos. Well done. This passionate work is heartfelt and effective. But yet real and factual. I have never read anything quite like it. It is a vibrant one-of-a-kind piece -- a classic! -- just like the French Quarter itself. I feel and see the complex characters whom are luckily enough to call this place "home" past and present. After spending time with this book, now I understand why Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie moved to the French Quarter. There is a reason celebrities love this place, now and then. It is a special spot. Like none other. After reading the book, many will better "get it." They will be moved to visit. Like the book says, many who come to help out, stay. Thumbs up! Long live the Vieux Carré! Anyone who reads this book will want to be counted in among those who love and seek to save this glorious national landmark treasure! A book to inspire and move all. Tonight I am going to dig out my Tennessee Williams works and start re-reading them!

This is a great book: it is a passionate "love song" dedicated to New Orleans. The photos and text will tug at your heartstrings.

I'm sure this book is warranted for it's purpose but it was not what I was expecting. I was looking for a book full of photographs of New Orleans wonderful gardens and courtyards that I know are hidden beyond the city streets and doors. Hence the title "Secret Gardens of New Orleans" but I suppose by secret gardens they meant close up photographs of plants and these I can very well see in my own yard. I was looking for photographs that showed the garden or courtyard architecture along with these plants but that was extremely limited and not very well displayed.
Well cudos for giving a tribute to Katrina and hopefully the sale of this book will have a good cause otherwise.

This book is a treasure. The photography and text are super, and extremely enjoyable. When I get homesick I pick up "Embrace", having been a resident of New Orleans from 1978 to 1988.

Congradulations to Morgana Press for 2 fine books. My sister, jenniferporterartist.com did the illustrations for Morgana Press's 2nd book "Hearsay From Heaven and Hades" also by T.J.Fisher.

I'm proud to own both books.

Thank-you, Kristina