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tristan_turquoiseheart's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
tildahlia's review against another edition
4.0
I found myself appreciating this book more after a bit of distance from it, when I was better able to take it as a whole and get what it was trying to do. It was a slow and lyrical meditation on family, place and displacement without fuss or adornment. I appreciated that she resisted high drama around Katrina as I found it was ultimately more powerful to focus on the aftermath; the fragmentation of family and lost connections to home. She was incredibly evocative of New Orleans, which speaks to excellent writing skills. I loved the sections on her time in Burundi.
sadbean's review against another edition
beautiful prose but the pace was too slow for me
jansbookcorner's review against another edition
4.0
Well written and very honest account of life in New Orleans East. New Orleans is not romanticized but is laid bare to reality. The house represents so much about success and struggles not only for the house, but for the Broom family, neighbors and New Orleans itself. Interesting story.
betseyboo's review against another edition
4.0
I wish there would have been a genealogical chart at the beginning of the book to keep track of the relationships between the people mentioned in the book. I also would like to note to other readers that the photograph listing in located in the back of the book. I would have appreciated annotations with the photos. That being said, great book!
timna_wyckoff's review against another edition
4.0
April bookclub book. The mix of narrative and journalism sometimes felt disjointed, but overall, I appreciated the glimpse into the author's grappling with place/displacement, and her explorations of what it means and feels like to call New Orleans home.
waynediane's review against another edition
3.0
If you can make it through the first 100 pages, the book is fairly good or it gets better. Somewhat disorganized- needed editing. Discussion of social inequality? A memoir about a house or the author. Lot's of gaps going to Burmudi because, I'm bored, lots of gaps. Read for a book club otherwise would not have finished it.
cathunit_5591's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
I absolutely loved this book. Sarah Broom's story was deeply touching, and she is a wonderful writer. Her mother, Ivory, was a lovely, intelligent woman, and she tried so hard to keep the house alive. Then came Katrina. This is a beautiful story of strength and continuing resilience. But it's really Sarah's story and testament to her love for her family.