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thetomatowriter's review
3.0
I think I would probably have enjoyed this book more if I didn't feel like I was racing against the clock. It took a while for me to get to it and it's actually due back at the library tomorrow, so I kind of rushed through it and probably missed at least 70% of the information in there. I'll probably buy this book and read it again some other time, because it was interesting, and there was a lot of useful info for my pirate wip. When that happens, I'm sure I'll have a more thorough review.
I will say, at least in the beginning, there was kind of an overdose in background information. I know the author has to set the historical context and it was important and interesting to read about how the early 19th century around the Gulf coast was so ripe for piracy and privateering; but after over a hundred pages, the book still seemed to be mostly background with an occasional sprinkling of what the Laffites were up to at the time. Historical novels can put a strain on my attention as it is, and especially because I was rushing, those chapters kind of blurred together. I think he could have been a little more concise and given the people he actually intended to write about a little more attention.
My favorite antic that I read in this book happened shortly after a price was put on Jean Laffite's head for the first time. A $500 reward was put out for his apprehension, which was pretty small compared to everything he had done at the time. Soonafter, there were signs posted around New Orleans offering a $1,000 reward for the apprehension of Governor Claiborne, signed "Laffite." I also poked some fun at the fact that Pierre Laffite's sons were named Pierre and Jean and Jean Laffite's son was named Jean Pierre. The ending was captivating enough, and I enjoyed reading about the legends that lingered even after they died. I'm sure when I read it again, I'll have more to talk about but that's about all I remember for now.
I will say, at least in the beginning, there was kind of an overdose in background information. I know the author has to set the historical context and it was important and interesting to read about how the early 19th century around the Gulf coast was so ripe for piracy and privateering; but after over a hundred pages, the book still seemed to be mostly background with an occasional sprinkling of what the Laffites were up to at the time. Historical novels can put a strain on my attention as it is, and especially because I was rushing, those chapters kind of blurred together. I think he could have been a little more concise and given the people he actually intended to write about a little more attention.
My favorite antic that I read in this book happened shortly after a price was put on Jean Laffite's head for the first time. A $500 reward was put out for his apprehension, which was pretty small compared to everything he had done at the time. Soonafter, there were signs posted around New Orleans offering a $1,000 reward for the apprehension of Governor Claiborne, signed "Laffite." I also poked some fun at the fact that Pierre Laffite's sons were named Pierre and Jean and Jean Laffite's son was named Jean Pierre. The ending was captivating enough, and I enjoyed reading about the legends that lingered even after they died. I'm sure when I read it again, I'll have more to talk about but that's about all I remember for now.
nolabilly's review
This was my sixth time attempting to read this book. By all rights, I should have devoured it based on subject matter alone, but it was an exhaustingly dull. It was written with the exacting detail of academic precision, but there was no life to be found anywhere on the page. I regret purchasing this.
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