false 15 409 408 true 5991328 read 1 true 329349 currently-reading 0 true 329348 to-read 101 false 5991467 new-orleans 94 false 5991586 pre-2005 81 false 5991554 2006 72 false 5991539 2007 60 false 5991532 2009 53 false 5991536 2008 34 false 5991572 2005 21 false 6024431 beach http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/78123784 Sweetheart (Gretchen Lowell, #2) by Chelsea Cain
bookshelves: 2009, currently-reading
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/77854908 to: Push: A Novel (Paperback) by Sapphire
bookshelves: 2009
This book was incredibly disturbing and depressing. It was tough to get through knowing this was a true story. Reminded me of why I left social work. I could not deal with the true evil of the world anymore. Makes me remember why I hate people. There are some really sick people out there. I don't know if I can bear to watch the movie...this story will stick with me for a long time. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/77854622 to: The Scarpetta Factor (Kay Scarpetta, #17) by Patricia Cornwell
bookshelves: 2009
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/70132744 Lisa's review of Shake the Devil Off: A True Story of the Murder that Rocked New Orleans
by Ethan Brown

Thanks Leigh, going to read that now! ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/70132744 to: Shake the Devil Off: A True Story of the Murder that Rocked New Orleans (Hardcover) by Ethan Brown
bookshelves: 2009, new-orleans
I have a lot of thoughts about this book and I don't know how to even begin to put them into words.
This book is so much more than I thought it was going to be. I bought it because I spend a lot of time in New Orleans and was familiar with The murder/suicide of Addie and Zach. I had even met Addie once when she was bartending at the Spotted Cat. I thought it was going to be another grisly "true crime" recap of the horrific details of the murder. I was not expecting to read such a thought provoking and deep look at not only Zach and Addie but life in New Orleans post Katrina and the plight of the soldiers of the Iraq/Afghanistan war, and the devastating state of our mental health provisions in the US. I loved seeing the familiar names of NOLA musicians and my blogging "friends" who I have come to know from their words (and some in person)in the past 4 years: Amzie Adams, John Boutte, Freddy Omar, Karen Gadbois, Mark Folse, Andrei Codrescu, Joshua Clark, Louis Maistros, Poppy Z. Brite, and most importantly Ashley Morris, who upon re-reading a brief synopsis of his involvement in post-K NOLA, brought tears to my eyes.

I learned more than a few things about the War and about the situation in NOLA. Although I pride myself on keeping up with the news, politics and issues current to the city, I was surprised to read about some murders and circumstances surrounding some murders that I was not aware of before. Goes to show that people outside the city really don't have a full grasp on what's going on in the city.

I strongly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in US politics, New Orleans, mental health issues, PTSD, Katrina, the War in Iraq/Afghanistan, or true crime.

The only thing missing is a better picture of Addie, and how she came to be the person she was. We have such a complete picture of Zach that I feel like I want to know more about Addie. I don't know if that was intentional by the author or if Addie's family/friends were not as forthcoming or interested in this project. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/74947029 to: Chasing the Dead: A Novel (Hardcover) by Joe Schreiber
bookshelves: 2009
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/74177027 to: World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War (Paperback) by Max Brooks
bookshelves: 2009
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/74156577 to: Dead and Gone (Sookie Stackhouse, #9) by Charlaine Harris
bookshelves: 2009
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/74059031 to: From Dead to Worse (Sookie Stackhouse, #8) by Charlaine Harris
bookshelves: 2009
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/73552520 to: All Together Dead (Sookie Stackhouse, #7) by Charlaine Harris
bookshelves: 2009
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