First Third of Confederacy

[Patti]

The first third! What did you think?

[Sarah]

My favorite part of the book so far is its portrayal of New Orleans - a place I have rather sad and negative connotations of due to Katrina. But this novel really shows all its charm, despite the seediness of some of the locations - like the nightclub/brothel.

“Leaving New Orleans also frightened me considerably. Outside of the city limits the heart of darkness, the true wasteland begins.”
Did you guys catch the Conrad reference?

[Patti]

But then how does he see the town itself? I imagine he thinks that he is more or less the king of the castle - obviously he sees himself as superior to just about everyone. He harbors no respect for the others in the city, so perhaps he thinks about them like servants? I thought that it was especially remarkable the way he treated his mother throughout the first third - as if she was only good for cooking and cleaning and ensuring his happiness. It reminded me of the sexism that still lingered in the sixties, but amplified. Perhaps the author meant to portray these abusive relationships in a negative light for a reason?