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The Unnatural History of Cypress Parish
Louis Proby is an old man now, sitting in his study in New Orleans awaiting what they say is a huge storm, Hurricane Katrina. As he watches the skies darken, he remembers his earlier life, as a watchful, curious young man filled with hunger and desire in Cypress Parish, the life that was washed away when the Mississippi River flooded in 1927. He remembers exactly how the P...more
Paperback, 240 pages
Published
April 5th 2010
by Unbridled Books
(first published July 1st 2007)
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Usually, I cannot read books that meander all over the place or open too many plot holes, but I stuck with this book because I loved the physical descriptions of Cypress Parish as well as the science behind the Mississippi River. I am not normally a reader that likes descriptions, but Elise Blackwell wrote such lush lines that I felt the heat and weight of the Mississippi delta. I just wish her story would have been as well crafted as her descriptions.
I listened to this on CD. It's a novel detailing some true events that took place at the time of the 1927 flood in south Louisiana. A 17 year old boy in 1927, the story of that time and his own growing up is recounted by an old man on the eve of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Fascinating details of Louisiana life and history are included in the story.A must read for those who think Louisiana is the most interesting place in the U.S. to live.
There's a lot of story here crammed into a small book. Ultimately, the author just tries to cover too much: Katrina and the 1927 flood, the Carville leper asylum, Huey Long, plus several threads about the main characters. I guess I was hoping this would be the book John Goodman is writing in Treme.
Cypress forests used to blanket Louisiana. This is just one story of the rape of land, but also the story of how New Orleans was saved from flooding by the destruction of levys which protected other towns. A unique novel, well written and with historical basis.
I had no expectations going into this one since I had never heard of it before finding out that a Twitter friend wrote it. Wonder coming-of-age story that also explores politics and family dynamics.
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It took me several tries to get into this brief volume, but once it engaged me, I was hooked. The texture of the language and the flow of the story feel at times like the river it they are centered around- apparently slow moving but carrying a lot of weight. The eddies of the tale, where the the interspersed bits of other facts and stories played out, were as rich and meaningful as the tale. The narrative is not as strong as the feeling from the book, that of the man as a boy and the man as a...more
This had potential, but just didn't make it.
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Well written story set in LA in the 1920s as the flood is approaching. It is told in flashback by an old man who was a teenager at the time. It describes family conflicts and class conflicts that still resonate in today's world.
a lovely little coming of age historical fiction novel. a quick light read, it also explores some deeper moral questions as well. louisiana, flooding, levees...you get the idea.
This novel is too short to accomplish what it's trying to do. On the other hand, it is a quick read. I'd recommend John M. Barry's Rising Tide instead.
Lovely, lovely writing. Elise Blackwell is a real craftswoman. I've enjoyed all her books.
please see full review at http://www.litmob.com
An enjoyable read about a young man's life, family and friends in south La. 1927
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Elise Blackwell is the author of three novels: Hunger, The Unnatural History of Cypress Parish, and Grub. Originally from southern Louisiana, she has lived all over the country and currently teaches at the University of South Carolina.
More about Elise Blackwell...
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