Tim Gautreaux's writing is simply amazingly good. His characters are sublimely human, and he has a knack for finding the good in all of them - even those who might be a bit unsavory. He places them in situations that are ordinary and unique at the same time - and in those situations he finds ways to reveal things to us that allow us to learn more about ourselves. The characters learn about themselves as well, and this is a treasure to observe. The stories here deal with joy and sorrow and all of the areas in between. The people here are struggling to come to grips with their own families, with their work, with the people around them - and with the world in which they live.

In the title piece, a man attempts to assert more of a guiding influence on his grandchildren, and in the process winds up changing several aspects of his own life as well. His trials in striving to accomplish a task given him by his wife, while sitting with his grandchildren at the same time, is presented with some of the most genuine humor I've read in a while - but it's a gentle humor, and it never belittles the characters or the situation (and this finely-tuned humor is used to good effect in several of these stories, even the more 'serious' ones.

'Misuse of light' is a moving portrait of a man who works in a camera shop learning about the lives of his customers through the small areas where their lives intersect with his. When someone sells a camera to his shop and he finds a roll of film in it, he develops it in order to get a glimpse into other lives. Opening this door can, as he learns, have jarring effects - on him as well as on the lives he enters. When he uncovers information that causes pain to the young woman who has sold him the camera, rather than abandoning his 'study', he probes a bit further in order to get to a level in this past wherein she can find a bit of peace. It's something that makes the character endearing - it's a story to restore faith. Another story dealing with faith it 'Good for the soul', in which a parish priest with a bit of a drinking problem, attempting to do a good deed (against his better judgment), runs afoul of both the law and his community.

'Easy pickings' details a rather inept thief's attempt to take advantage of a solitary elderly woman - rather than being a cakewalk, he finds that he's definitely bitten off more than he can chew. There's a great deal of the above-mentioned gentle humor in this tale - and Gautreaux delivers it with tender respect, never ridiculing his characters. 'The piano tuner' is, like 'Misuse of light', a finely-crafted work in which one character sets out to help another cope with the world - and does so with no expectations of any sort of reward. It's a good example of how those among us who are a little 'different' can find their niche - and a gentle lesson in showing such folks more tolerance.

'Resistance' is another case of one human helping another - in this instance, an elderly man, a widower, sees a need and fills it. The little girl who lives next door is very obviously the victim of an abusive, drunk father. When the neighbor learns that her parents are unable/unwilling to help her with her science project, he takes on the task himself - and the light he creates shines not only into her dark life, but also into his own.

'Sorry blood' and 'Sunset in heaven' both deal with aspects of growing old. In the former, an Alzheimer's patient is victimized by one of the lowest low-lifes you're liable to meet (and hope that you don't). In the latter, the plight of an old man similarly afflicted opens the eyes of a middle-aged man to the possibilities in his own life.

'Rodeo parole' is a frightening, surreal look at a desperate attempt by prisoners to be viewed in a more favorable light by the parole board - by making themselves sitting targets for a bull enraged by repeated electric shocks from prison guards. Its few pages explode with action.

My two favorites in this collection are 'Dancing with the one-armed gal' and 'The Pine Oil Writers Conference'. In the former, a man on the run from (or is it 'to') himself meets a woman hitchhiker as he travels west from Louisiana. They're both looking for something - and neither is sure just what, although they think they know - and the 'answers' they find aren't the ones they expect. It makes for a very interesting and revealing encounter - both for the characters and the reader. 'The Pine Oil Writers Conference' is, for me, the gem of this book. Gautreaux has created the classic 'riddle wrapped in an enigma' with this story - an aspiring writer (a minister) attends the conference, hoping to find out if writing fiction is 'the thing he does best'. The short excerpt included in this story produced by the character for a conference workshop is so well written than it made me sorry there wasn't more of it.

I've never read anything by Tim Gautreaux before - but you can bet I'll be looking for his other short story collection (SAME PLACE, SAME THINGS) as well as his novel (THE NEXT STEP IN THE DANCE). This little book was a great discovery.

If you get off the interstate and on to the old highways, you can see them. They're the people who live between the suburbs of one great city and the suburbs of the next. Tim Gautreaux invites us to get out of our cars and into the grey-wood houses with a bentwood rocker on the front porch and an Oldsmobile engine hanging from the pecan tree in the side yard. He gives us a sad, funny, sympathetic and ultimately hopeful introduction to his friends. He shows us their fears, their friendships, their courage and their dreams. Take him up on his invitation. You won't regret it.

These short stories are awesome and pure Louisiana: rich, delectable and spicy. My favorite was also 'Good for the Soul' about the well-meaning priest who drank just a wee bit too much....but had a heart of gold. I laughed until I cried in parts of this one. Thanks, Tim, for these superb, uplifting stories. You make us Louisiana natives proud!!!

Intimate Enemies: The Two Worlds of the Baroness de Pontalba, by Christina Vella, is one of the best books that I have ever read. I took Professor Vella's class at Tulane University in the Spring of 2000. This book was the basis of the class. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in thorough documentation of facts about a dynamic woman and her family, as well as two great cities, New Orleans and Paris.

This book has been recommended to me by a tour guide while I was paying New Orleans a short visit. I bought it together with Gwendolyn Midlo Hall's excellent "Africans in Louisiana", and, read one after another, starting with Hall, the books give a pretty cool picture of what New Orleans (and Louisiana, for the matter) were about during the 18th century. Although Gwendolyn Hall is by no means a bad writer (on the contrary), Christina Vella definitely is the more compelling read.

Her first few chapters rock, especially the ones about the old Almonester and his fights with the Cabildo, followed by the biography of the old Pontalba. Those are the best chapters of the entire book. Vella did a fantastic job with placing those characters in a broader historical setting. Beautifully written, she doesn't hesitate to give psychological explanations to those men's actions, and does so convincingly. Vella even allows herself to comment ironically on certain developments, or (dis)approve of the actions of her characters, which is pretty rare in modern historical scolarship. (Why?)

The scene then shifts from New Orleans to France, and the story becomes one of a superweird triangle relationship between Micael, Celestin, and Celestin's father, with a pretty dramatic ending. The broader historical perspective shifts accordingly, from the organization of a colonial society to a gender study of early 18th century France. What were the (im)possibilities of a unhappily married woman in this society? Micael, by her extraordinary personality, pushes the boundaries of the possible to the extreme.

The last few chapters of "Intimate enemies", where Christina Vella retraces the building activities of Micael in Paris and New Orleans, are the weakest. The organization of those chapters is sometimes sloppy and unfocused, and although much space is devoted to details regarding the architecture and construction of the Hotel Pontalba and the New Orleans buildings, one senses that Vella doesn't master these themes enough to present them to the reader in a comprehensive fashion. Also, the emphasis on the architecture unfortunately took away some of the focus from the biographical stuff, that in the later years doesn't get less interesting. After having given Micael's father a chapter, her sons would have deserved one as well, especially Celestin Jr. since he became quite an important public figure, but also the other two (How exactly did Micael's sons get in touch with their spouses? How did they relate to Micael after marriage? Why did Gaston remain single his whole life? Was he gay? etc.).

Notwithstanding, this book was a pleasant and thoughtprovoking journey. I'm recommending it to all my friends.

Growing up in New Orleans, I was always familiar with the name Pontalba and the row apartments flanking Jackson Square that bore the name. Pontalba, Almanester, de la Ronde, Miro, Pere Antoine: these were names that every student in New Orleans schools learn. Yet, now I feel as if I know each of them on a personal basis, as if I have actually met them. In the process, I have come to know the city of New Orleans in th 19th century, the same city which I have always known and loved in the 20th. Christina Vella brings to life people who have been dead and gone for over a hundred years. Only through the meticulous research that she has done can these ghosts be brought back to life. Vella has done a superb job in this endeavor. With her vivid descriptions of the city in mind, you can walk through the French Quarter today and literally see the muddy, murky streets of the previous century. You can see the ships on the river carrying the young bride and bridegroom to France. You can see the beloved cathedral as it looked back then. Read Intimate Enemies to learn about the people Vella is describing, but read it also to learn about the city which was their home, about the country that became their nation. Vella has done exactly what every historian strives to do: to bring the past to life in such a way that it is understood and therefore clearly explains why things are the way they are today.

I read this book in the 8th grade. I found a copy of it at the library, and decided that it looked like something I'd like. I was so wrong...It was something that I LOVED. Luckily, the library that I checked it out at decided to sell it to me, since I was the only one to check it out. This is a fabulous book with beautiful imagery. After reading it, I found myself thinking about it constantly, and wanting to know as much about the former voodoo queen as I possibly could. To anyone that loves to read, I would reccomend this book. Totally fabulous!

I am so sorry it is out of print! The language soars from the opening paragraph to the very last sentence. The story is fascinating, the characters well-sketched and varied. The author's adept interweaving of the myths and realities of old New Orleans makes for a "can't miss" novel that should be a classic.

This book is very well written. Francine Prose does well in her other novels, but this one is, by far, her best, in my opinion. With her skillful use of words she opens a door into another world, one of magic and beauty. It's a shame it's out of print.

Dr. Joe White is one of the most, if not the most respected horticulturist in the state of Louisiana. His advice is always on target and the book would make a great addition to any home library.

I received this book as a birthday gift and haven't been able to put it down. It evoked childhood memories of Sasanquas in bowls, spider lillies in beloved friends' yards, and laughter at funny names like "Grancy Graybeard." I remembered a gigantic yellow Lady Banksea rose that grew so large it took over the roof of my playhouse. Thanks for the memories and helpful advice. Even my grandfather the masterful gardener would approve.

Anyone wishing to garden in Louisiana's unique environment should consult this guide. Organized by plant type, it is easy use for species identification, planting instructions, and care tips.

Refer to this guide before purchasing plants and again when doing garden maintenance.

I finished this book in one day. I was impressed about how the author took the reader from everyday life into another world, a world that is full of disaster and a great love story that will touch both young and old. Kathleen Duey is a great writer and you can tell from the first sentence in this book she knows alot about life back in the 19th Century.
This story is about a wealthy girl, that has everything. But when she falls in love with a Cajun worker in her Father's plantation, she knows her father will disaproves. So they meet in secret, hoping they can marry...read more to find out. If you like this book, I recommend her other novel, San Francisco Earthquake, 1906, which is another great romance novel.
This historical novel, deserves more than five stars.
Happy Readings!!

I Loved the book! I just finished reading it and it really was awesome. I wanted to be Madaline through out the whole book. It really lets your imagination soar. They are so in love and it is so exciting because you wonder if they will be caught and it keeps you reading until you're done. I would definetly recommend this book to anyone who likes historical romances.

This story deserves so many more stars if only just for the love story in it. The only fault that I found in it was that it was way too short. The ending came rather abruptly and unexpectedly but it was still extremely good and romantic. HURRICANE is a story about Madelaine LeBlanc, a plantation owner's daughter, who falls in love with Francoise, a Cajun hired hand who comes to work on the LeBlanc plantation after hurricanes ravage it. The disaster is downplayed a little too much. The love scenes are phenomenal and Ms. Duey did a splendid job with the dialogue between Phillipe and Francoise. I would recommend this book to any cheesy romance lover or any just regular romance lover (it's not that cheesy, really, I don't think)!!!!

People like author Robert E. Roberts give me hope for the human race. "My Soul Said to Me" is an outstanding book that deserves widespread readership by all segments of society. I highly recommend it to anyone concerned about breaking the horrific cycle of violence that our current prison system perpetuates. It is well established that our prisons are training camps in degradation and corruption and that conventional solutions to crime and violence have failed on all fronts. Robert's personal account of his journey behind the walls of justice and his relationship with inmates demonstrates a bold step forward toward a more humane and enlightened prison system. Excellent companion reading to this book is "Violence: Reflections on a National Epidemic" by James Gilligan, M.D., a prison psychiatrist for 25 years. I hope Oprah invites both these authors on her show and gives these books the exposure they deserve. --Suza Francina, Mayor, City of Ojai, California, author, "The New Yoga for People Over 50" and "Yoga and the Wisdom of Menopause."

This book is fascinating. I read it in a weekend. It's the story of a man who transforms his life. Bob Roberts was a successful dentist in the New Orleans area who had a personal crisis prompt him to change. He gave up a wealthy lifestyle and ended up founding an organization called Project Return that helps ex-cons make the transition to a legitimate life in society. It seems most ex-cons end up committing further crime and returning to jail. The graduates of his program have a huge success rate at staying out of trouble.

The book gives some interesting insight into the "Drug War." One of its inadvertent results is that you have non-violent drug users arrested and sent to jail where they are so brutalized that when they are released, they sometimes turn violent, usually against someone more helpless than them -- a child victim perhaps.

However, this is not a grim book. It's a pleasure to read. There's a lot that is inspiring and hopeful. Parts are funny and triumphant. I really enjoyed it and endorse it wholeheartedly.

I met Bob Roberts at a conference he hosted a few years ago. This book is as compelling and fierce as I expected. In forsaking comfort to find his own soul, Bob also found a way to help society's outcasts -- prisoners -- discover their own dignity and humanity. These stories are the real thing: messy, poignant, energizing. So few people do this work; so many should know that it can, and is, successfully being done. Help yourself to hope by reading this book.

Private Investigator Talba Wallis is working on routine cases when her friend, Babalu Maya, hires Talba to prove that Babalu's fiancé is cheating on her. But Talba gets more than she bargained for when Babalu is found dead of a drug overdose after receiving her report. When Babalu's fiancé unexpectedly hires Talba to look into Babalu's death, she begins to realize that she didn't know her friend as well as she thought.

Her investigation turns up another name for Babalu, taken from her hometown of Clayton, Louisiana. Talba soon discovers that not only is she not welcome in Clayton, someone wants to put an end to her investigation and to her.

The more she finds out about the case, the more danger she puts herself in. From a gruesome, covered-up attack that happened decades ago, to a suspicious political campaign, Talba uncovers enough to make people uneasy.

But will she find the answers she's searching for before the person who wants to silence her finds her? With the help of Eddie, her supervisor, and the cunning tricks of a P.I., Talba fights until the end to solve her friend's death and unravel the mystery that has gone on for decades.

"Louisiana Bigshot" is a lively, twisting novel that provides the reader with a look into the life of a private investigator through Talba Wallis's confident, headstrong personality. Julie Smith also intersperses meaningful poetry and several sub-plots throughout the story, keeping the reader interested.

I loved this second fast-paced tale of the irrepressible, sassy, intelligent poetess-turned-detective, Baroness Pontalba. The plot had more surprising twists and turns than a Louisiana bayou country road...and keeps you guessing until the very end. It always cracks me up when Ms. Smith brings Detective extraordinairre, Skip Langdon into the story....she's the main character in her excellent Skip Langdon series. If you're just discovering Ms. Smith's writing, you're in for a delectable treat and a fabulous story. She's the best!

When New Orleans PI Talba Wallis does a pre-marital background check on her friend Babalu Maya's fiance, things quickly go from bad to worse. The fiance is a cad, but Babalu seems to have other, darker problems on her mind. Yet, when Babalu turns up dead, it is none other than the fiance who believes she was murdered and hires Talba to look into it.

Talba immediately runs into a roadblock when she finds that Babalu Maya doesn't seem to exist. Following a trail which eventually leads to Clayton, Louisiana, Talba keeps digging. People in Clayton aren't talking, however. Refusing to give up, Talba and her boss, Eddie Valentino, both put their lives on the line to learn the murky secrets the town is hiding.

Talba Wallis's new adventures far surpass her last one. I hope Julie Smith hasn't killed off her Skip Langdon series but, if such is the case, Talba is a more than worthy successor. The atmosphere in this fast-paced tale is earthy and real. The dialogue is crisp, the writing is superior, and the plot is strong. If you haven't yet discovered the world of Talba Wallis, a/k/a the Baroness Pontalba, treat yourself to this book. It's definitely a winner.

...I decided to buy this book in order to recreate that experience,so i tried the cured salmon,(the eggplant is to die for)the chicken mousse was sublime.The book gives you so much information on how to learn the basics and gives you the confidence to cook like a chef.This book is a must for all food lovers.

I have been a Chef for 16 years. It's rare when a book excites me as much as Dominique's has. He demonstrates a fresh new approach to Classical French Cooking Techniques. The Tropical flavors that he interweaves with French influences are totally unique and exciting. The book is a must have for serious culinarians as well as the home cook.

i was very facinated by this young chef talent and passion about food . i tried the tuna and pineapple ,the crab roll then got a bit more adventurous and tried the sugarcane sweetbread .all were really really good . i just wish that my latitude was as good his latitude!

A very personal portrayal of a predominately Irish brigade from New Orleans fighting for the south. The enigma is that this regiment had the highest percentage of Irish in any brigade plus they were linked with the famed Wheat's Tigers plus they fought in Virginia during the entire Civil War. This is particularly impressive since New Orleans was captured so early in the war and the 6th Louisiana virtually became orphans in regards to State support. Much like the famed Kentucky Brigade. Gannon is a excellent writer that through intensive research provides flowing first hand accounts particularly from the brigade priest and Captain Ring. The high point of the book is the close up look at where the brigade participated in major campaigns and battles. They were a key part of the Valley Campaign, particularly Port Republic, the Seven days, Cedar Mountain, both Bull runs, Gettysburg, Early's Valley campaign including the threat to Washington and the disasters at Cedar Creek and Fort Steadman. The best gem in the book is the section on the capture of Rappahannock Station, which was an isolated bridgehead for Lee's army located on the north side of the river. This fascinating break down in strategy and command is very well focused and told in detail because the luckless 6th is one of the 3,000 troops that virtually get overwhelmed and captured in a sudden attack by large numbers. This little told event precedes Grant's arrival but seems to reveal problems in southern command caused by the lost of key officers and the strain of a long war on the Confederate supplies. The sadness of the brigade is captured as it is progressively whittled to only 50 odd survivors at Appomattox.

This book is a fascinating and intriguing account of the 6th Louisiana. While Gannon named his book Irish Rebels and covered the majority Irish members, he does give due to the Louisianians and other immigrants who made up the regiment. I was grateful to see this as my ggggrandfather was one of those members in a company from outside of New Orleans, Company C, the St. Landry (Parish) Light Guards and to see the action his unit took part in on paper was a great experience. It gave a story to my grandfather's participation in the War I never knew!

I stumbled onto this book while researching my family history, and was absolutely taken with the story of these men. Gannon is a gifted writer with a reverence for his subject, respect for the facts and sources, and a warm narrative style. This book is a treat to read, and in doing so you will not only develop a personal interest in the lives of these brave Irish men, but you will understand how their lives impacted the nation we have become. Irish Rebels is a marvelous story, told by a master!

I read Kane, then went on to Luke and can't wait for something, anything, on Roan. The "southern" thing hooked me.Luke and April have thee chemistry! The way they come together after everything,makes you believe in true love.

Luke has it all -- suspense, steam, and characters you can fall in love with. Luke and April charmed me from the very first, and I couldn't wait to see how it all turned out!

I suspect we all fantasize from time to time about being saved from ourselves. Luke and April are the perfect couple, but life has thrown them a few curves. I was up half the night zipping through this incredible book. Loved the keen glimpses into the life of a real live fiction writer. Jennifer Blake is an accomplished author and has been a personal favorite for many years!