Despite having many books to read, I bought yet another one. When I heard about this non-fiction book, I just had to have it.
From what I've learned already, I'm sorry I never saw New Orleans before it was devastated by Katrina. I wonder if, after reading it, I'll want to go now...............
Is anyone here familar with New Orleans and its people?
A brief description of the book (from Amazon) follows:
The hidden history of a haunted and beloved city told through the intersecting lives of nine remarkable characters
After Hurricane Katrina, Dan Baum moved to New Orleans to write about the city’s response to the disaster for The New Yorker. He quickly realized that Katrina was not the most interesting thing about New Orleans, not by a long shot. The most interesting question, which struck him as he watched residents struggling to return, was this: Why are New Orleanians—along with people from all over the world who continue to flock there—so devoted to a place that was, even before the storm, the most corrupt, impoverished, and violent corner of America?
Here’s the answer. Nine Lives is a multivoiced biography of this dazzling, surreal, and imperiled city through the lives of nine characters over forty years and bracketed by two epic storms: Hurricane Betsy, which transformed the city in the 1960’s, and Katrina, which nearly destroyed it. These nine lives are windows into every strata of one of the most complex and fascinating cities in the world. From outsider artists and Mardi Gras Kings to jazz-playing coroners and transsexual barkeeps, these lives are possible only in New Orleans, but the city that nurtures them is also, from the beginning, a city haunted by the possibility of disaster. All their stories converge in the storm, where some characters rise to acts of heroism and others sink to the bottom. But it is New Orleans herself—perpetually whistling past the grave yard—that is the story’s real heroine.
Nine Lives is narrated from the points of view of some of New Orleans’s most charismatic characters, but underpinning the voices of the city is an extraordinary feat of reporting that allows Baum to bring this kaleidoscopic portrait to life with brilliant color and crystalline detail. Readers will find themselves wrapped up in each of these individual dramas and delightfully immersed in the life of one of this country’s last unique places, even as its ultimate devastation looms ever closer. By resurrecting this beautiful and tragic place and portraying the extraordinary lives that could have taken root only there, Nine Lives shows us what was lost in the storm and what remains to be saved.
- Board index Arts Entertainment The Library
- Search
-
- It is currently Thu May 23, 2024 3:52 am
- All times are UTC-07:00
Nine Lives by Dan Baum
Discussion of Books, Literature, Book Reviews, and more!
Nine Lives by Dan Baum
"Out, damned spot! out, I say!"
- William Shakespeare, Macbeth, 5.1
Jump to
- Official Forumgarden Area
- ↳ News and Announcements
- ↳ Request A New Forum Here
- ↳ Problems, Solutions Feedback
- ↳ Threads containing hotlinks
- ↳ Test Forum
- Relaxing in the Garden
- ↳ Introductions
- ↳ Member Map Link
- ↳ Photos
- ↳ Member Map Discussion
- ↳ Members' News
- ↳ ForumGarden Hotel
- ↳ General Chit Chat
- ↳ Friends, Relationships, Advice
- ↳ Mental Health
- ↳ Travel Vacation
- ↳ FG Game Shows
- ↳ The Dating Game
- ↳ Commentary
- ↳ FG's Got Talent!
- ↳ Mystery Gardener!
- ↳ Weather Station
- ↳ Welcome To My Day!
- ↳ Pub Nutters Inn
- ↳ The Coffee Shop
- ↳ Holidays
- ↳ Just For The Fun Of It
- ↳ Arcade Discussions
- ↳ Word Games
- ↳ This Deserves A Caption
- ↳ Links to the Fascinating
- ↳ Explain Your Avatar!
- ↳ Did You Know?
- ↳ Show Us Your Computer Station
- ↳ Skewed News Humor
- TV Movie Chatter
- ↳ General TV Shows
- ↳ Soap Operas
- ↳ Films Cinema Forum
- Music Forums
- ↳ General Music
- ↳ New Releases
- ↳ Song Lyrics
- ↳ Favorite Music Videos
- My Favorite Videos
- ↳ Arts Animation
- ↳ Autos Vehicles
- ↳ Comedy
- ↳ Music
- ↳ People
- ↳ Pets Animals
- ↳ Science Technology Videos
- ↳ Sports
- ↳ Travel Places
- ↳ Video Games
- Personal Forums
- ↳ Fitness Nutrition
- ↳ Wall Street to Main Street
- ↳ Health Wellness
- ↳ Diabetes
- ↳ Men's Health
- ↳ Women's Health
- ↳ Healthcare
- ↳ Work Employment
- ↳ Fashion Clothing
- ↳ Home Management
- ↳ Kids Family
- ↳ Physically Challenged
- Support and Counseling
- ↳ Recovery Forum
- ↳ Bereaved People
- ↳ Bereaved Parents
- General Forums
- ↳ Current Events
- ↳ History
- ↳ Bizarre News Stories
- ↳ Conspiracy Theories
- ↳ Conservation The Environment
- ↳ Polls, Polls, and more Polls
- ↳ Philosophy
- ↳ Wide World of Sports
- ↳ Societal Issues News
- Crimes, Trials, Justice
- ↳ Crimes Trials
- ↳ Missing Children
- ↳ Missing Adults
- ↳ Amber Alert Forum
- Shop 'Til You Drop
- ↳ Hot Deals Freebies
- Dogs, Cats, All Things Pet Related
- ↳ The Pets In Our Lives
- ↳ Pet Advice Support
- ↳ Choosing a Pet
- ↳ Training Your Pet
- ↳ Pet Behavior
- ↳ Your Pet's Diet
- Farming
- ↳ Pastoral
- ↳ Hydroponic
- ↳ Arable
- Autos, Motorcycles, Anything With Wheels
- ↳ Cycling and Cyclists
- ↳ Biker Forum
- ↳ General Chit Chat
- ↳ Auto Racing
- Radio Forums
- ↳ General Radio
- ↳ Amateur Radio
- ↳ Shortwave Listening
- ↳ Collecting and Refurbishing
- ↳ Radio Tech: HD Radio, Satellite, SDR, Packet
- Politics
- ↳ Current Political Events
- ↳ Immigration
- ↳ Abortion
- ↳ Gun Control
- ↳ Drugs, Alcohol Tobacco
- ↳ Health Care
- ↳ Warfare Military
- ↳ Presidential Elections Campaigns
- ↳ Social Human Rights
- ↳ International Politics
- ↳ Political Humor Satire
- Arts Entertainment
- ↳ The Time Capsule
- ↳ Time Capsule Photo Gallery
- ↳ The Nifty 1950's
- ↳ The Psychedelic 1960's
- ↳ The Super 70's
- ↳ The Awesome 80's
- ↳ The 1990's.
- ↳ Our Current Decade
- ↳ The Television Forum
- ↳ The Library
- ↳ Talk About Comedy
- ↳ The Gaming Zone - PC Console
- ↳ Flash Games
- ↳ Web Design Art Forum
- ↳ Poetry Writing Forum
- Religions Beliefs
- ↳ General Religious Discussions
- ↳ Christianity
- ↳ Modern Ancient Paths
- ↳ Body, Mind, Soul
- ↳ Magic Mystery
- ↳ Ancient Wisdom
- ↳ Islam
- ↳ Judaism
- ↳ Eastern Religions
- ↳ Godlessness
- ↳ Prophecies and Prophets
- Science Technology
- ↳ Science
- ↳ Paranormal Science
- ↳ Space and Astronomy
- ↳ Earth Changes
- ↳ The Internet
- ↳ Computers Internet
- ↳ Electronic Gadgets Galore
- ↳ Home and Car Audio
- Hobbies - Special Interest Forums
- ↳ The Outdoors
- ↳ Gardening Forum
- ↳ Garden Galleries
- ↳ Photography More
- ↳ Geo Photo Blogging
- ↳ Needlecrafts
- ↳ The Kitchen
- ↳ Arts Crafts
- Senior Forums
- ↳ Retirement Planning
- ↳ Retirement Activities
- ↳ Health and Drug Concerns
- ↳ Senior Share
- Regional
- ↳ United States
- ↳ New England / Mid Atlantic
- ↳ South East
- ↳ Mid West
- ↳ Mountain West
- ↳ South West
- ↳ Pacific West
- ↳ Australia
- ↳ Canada
- ↳ United Kingdom
- ↳ England
- ↳ Scotland
- ↳ Wales
- ↳ Northern Ireland
- ↳ Ireland
- ↳ Other Regions
- Westcliff Rules Debating Area
- ↳ Watch
- ↳ Discuss
- ↳ Propose
- ForumGarden Blogs
- ↳ Recent Blog Postings