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trogdor19's review
4.0
I really enjoyed the conversational style of this book, and seeing (what felt like firsthand) the culture of New Orleans, ecstasies and agonies all. The author does spend more time than expected on music history in this book, and that can slow the pace for people not picking up the book specifically for that. But he does a great job of representing the rich culture of New Orleans, and the shock that the hurricane wrought in that very unique way of life.
sariggs's review
1.0
THis book has some small sections that I liked, like the history of WWOZ, NOLA's radio station. However, on the whole, I hated it. The guy moves to NOLA at the same time I did, and lives on the same block I did, and manages to earn my loathing. I don't know if it was just an age thing, since I moved there in my mid-20s and he was middle-aged, but we were both New Yorkers and you'd think I'd appreciate his perspective. Instead, he said things like "I found myself calling my wife Boo" and I wanted to vomit. He had a bottle thrown at his feet and after that they never walked anywhere. Funny, I never had a problem during the day, or walking to Tip's at night. I think this big difference is that I'm always a little cautious, because I'm a woman, and as a white man in a black city, he was feeling that caution for the first time. Well buddy, welcome to the real world. I couldn't even finish the book, since the disgust got to be too much. He actually says he's glad his wife is eventually disenchanted with NOLA, because he'd never dream of actually living there, just a quick 10 month exploitive outsider view of new orleans is all he's after, them back to nyc. Skip it.
pearwaldorf's review against another edition
5.0
It's a very personal, roundabout, well-researched history/memoir of New Orleans. Like listening to a new friend tell you about some of the things he's known and learned in his life and why they're important to him. Fantastic and highly recommended.
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