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Deep in the Shade of Paradise
As family and friends arrive at Paradise, the Loudermilk family ancestral home in the swamp country of Shiver-de-Freeze, Louisiana, for the marriage of Grisham Loudermilk and Ariane Thevenot, all kinds of romantic entanglements arise to complicate the wedding.
368 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
23 people are currently reading
259 people want to read
About the author
John Dufresne
50 books142 followersJohn Dufresne teaches in the Master of Fine Arts Creative Writing program at Florida International University. He is a French-Canadian born in America.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
June 29, 2015
Family, friends and guests all gather together for the nuptials of Grisham Loudermilk and Ariane Thevnot. While this suppose to be a joyous celebration, there are some people that have doubts. Thinking that it is going to be over before it even started but they are determined to make it work even if the odds are against them. Who is the stranger that Grisham suppose to marry? Defining the reasons from the start of this book to the conclusion, this is a uniquely and strange book about the joys of marriage.
I had a hard time rating and reviewing this novel, it read like a fantasy. I can see this on the big screen providing the director adds clarity on what this book was really about. It had a narrator that detailed what the book was about, but it was also about other things that did not really make sense. I prefer the book to mainly be about Grisham, he was the only memorable character. Often I got confused if the book went from Past to Present, it read like it was shifting different viewpoints.
Yet it was satisfying but to be honest,I could not tell you what I just read.
I had a hard time rating and reviewing this novel, it read like a fantasy. I can see this on the big screen providing the director adds clarity on what this book was really about. It had a narrator that detailed what the book was about, but it was also about other things that did not really make sense. I prefer the book to mainly be about Grisham, he was the only memorable character. Often I got confused if the book went from Past to Present, it read like it was shifting different viewpoints.
Yet it was satisfying but to be honest,I could not tell you what I just read.
March 27, 2013
How to describe this book?
Ostensibly it tells of a weekend family gathering for a wedding. In Paradise, Louisiana.
But the writing is a hoot!
Don't even know where to start. The characters are outrageous and so is the writing. Every line goes off into a tangent, a stream of consciousness, whatever. And oh so funny. But rather profound, too.
Ostensibly it tells of a weekend family gathering for a wedding. In Paradise, Louisiana.
But the writing is a hoot!
Don't even know where to start. The characters are outrageous and so is the writing. Every line goes off into a tangent, a stream of consciousness, whatever. And oh so funny. But rather profound, too.
August 18, 2020
This book could be termed "avant -garde," but it could also be equally termed "trash."
Deep in the Shade is trippy and so detail-laden that it loses its meaning; the first one-third of the book is heavy on one-off characters and endless digressions. For example, consider the beginning of the chapter "The Eye Cannot See Itself" (Ah, but notice how DEEP the chapter title is! Dufresne must be an elite thinker to come up with such a meaningful-yet-meaningless title!):
"When the Rambler let out a sudden and piercing screech (Like a freight train's brakes, Benning said; Royce said, Like two milk bottles rubbed together; Adlai thought, Baby, caterwaul, howler monkey, a thousand fingernails sliding down a blackboard, and the whine of Dr. Cullipher's high-speed drill and the sound you might make if that diamond-burr drill bit were to puncture the enamel of your lateral incisor, drive through the dentine, pierce the odontoblast, enter the pulp chamber, and stab the throbbing nerve) and then began to overheat, Adlai eased the car onto the gravel bed of the rest area and parked.”
That. is. one. sentence. I think it's fair to suppose not a single reader is able to read that one sentence without having to reread it at least two, three, or maybe four times. (Note: Having read the previous chapter’s ending does not help to decipher the above sentence’s meaning; the beginning of ”The Eye Cannot See Itself” had not a single observable tie to the previous chapter—Benning merely noted that someone named Rylan had died at some point in the past.)
The first third of the narrative is rambling and disorienting; I never once blamed Audible for not having it--it's that sub par of a novel.
However, the one star this booked earned will be based on the fact that the book picked up. Mildly. The digressions slowly eased up--well, Dufresne at least began putting them in the Appendix, anyway--and the plot continued. Steeped and bogged down by meandering philosophizing, sure, but at least it finally continued at the pace of a swamp stream.
Deep in the Shade is trippy and so detail-laden that it loses its meaning; the first one-third of the book is heavy on one-off characters and endless digressions. For example, consider the beginning of the chapter "The Eye Cannot See Itself" (Ah, but notice how DEEP the chapter title is! Dufresne must be an elite thinker to come up with such a meaningful-yet-meaningless title!):
"When the Rambler let out a sudden and piercing screech (Like a freight train's brakes, Benning said; Royce said, Like two milk bottles rubbed together; Adlai thought, Baby, caterwaul, howler monkey, a thousand fingernails sliding down a blackboard, and the whine of Dr. Cullipher's high-speed drill and the sound you might make if that diamond-burr drill bit were to puncture the enamel of your lateral incisor, drive through the dentine, pierce the odontoblast, enter the pulp chamber, and stab the throbbing nerve) and then began to overheat, Adlai eased the car onto the gravel bed of the rest area and parked.”
That. is. one. sentence. I think it's fair to suppose not a single reader is able to read that one sentence without having to reread it at least two, three, or maybe four times. (Note: Having read the previous chapter’s ending does not help to decipher the above sentence’s meaning; the beginning of ”The Eye Cannot See Itself” had not a single observable tie to the previous chapter—Benning merely noted that someone named Rylan had died at some point in the past.)
The first third of the narrative is rambling and disorienting; I never once blamed Audible for not having it--it's that sub par of a novel.
However, the one star this booked earned will be based on the fact that the book picked up. Mildly. The digressions slowly eased up--well, Dufresne at least began putting them in the Appendix, anyway--and the plot continued. Steeped and bogged down by meandering philosophizing, sure, but at least it finally continued at the pace of a swamp stream.
January 17, 2013
"Digression will be inescapable, significant and illuminating," John Dufresne writes in one of the far-too-many digressions that erupt throughout this narrative dealing with a wedding in Paradise, Louisiana with a cast of characters that would put Faulkner to shame. That ought to be fair warning that will be anything but a straightforward tale.
There are times when this is a highly enjoyable read, with beautifully written, witty passages -- a man battling Alzheimer's is "lost in a desert of disremembrance ... his past is leaking away, and he's losing himself" -- but there are also times when the digressions, which Dufresne obviously enjoys writing, are an indulgence bordering on annoying; doubly so when they're inserted as footnotes of sort, in a lengthy appendix. Perhaps that's part of the Southern Gothic-meets-James Joyce-meets-Italo Calvino shtick, but it loses its charm quickly.
Reading this book reminded me of why I enjoyed Dufresne's "Louisiana Power & Light" years ago but also found it an ordeal at the same time. I underlined a number of passages in "Paradise" that made me chuckle, and even could be said to be provocative, but it took an effort to complete a book that I began with high spirits. Even with a family tree at the beginning of the book, I couldn't keep all of the characters straight.
I won't say "Don't read this," but would advise that it may be a challenge to enjoy it.
There are times when this is a highly enjoyable read, with beautifully written, witty passages -- a man battling Alzheimer's is "lost in a desert of disremembrance ... his past is leaking away, and he's losing himself" -- but there are also times when the digressions, which Dufresne obviously enjoys writing, are an indulgence bordering on annoying; doubly so when they're inserted as footnotes of sort, in a lengthy appendix. Perhaps that's part of the Southern Gothic-meets-James Joyce-meets-Italo Calvino shtick, but it loses its charm quickly.
Reading this book reminded me of why I enjoyed Dufresne's "Louisiana Power & Light" years ago but also found it an ordeal at the same time. I underlined a number of passages in "Paradise" that made me chuckle, and even could be said to be provocative, but it took an effort to complete a book that I began with high spirits. Even with a family tree at the beginning of the book, I couldn't keep all of the characters straight.
I won't say "Don't read this," but would advise that it may be a challenge to enjoy it.
April 29, 2008
This is one weird (and weirdly wonderful) book. One read is not nearly enough to keep track of exactly who's who and what's happening, but suffice it to say that it involves a tangled mix of characters with the kinds of names you only find in Louisiana, a wedding, conjoined twins, a boy genius, and more. Love the lighthearted, loopy writing and the pervasive sense of buoyancy and hope in the face of some very messed-up lives.
August 2, 2007
A funny and poignant novel with interesting characters and enough asides to keep you wanting to read more.
September 19, 2012
John Dufresne is a dreamer. Deep in the Shade of Paradise is one of his finest dreams.
December 5, 2012
Made my life better.
December 18, 2019
This is my third John Dufresne novel to read and it is just as wacky as the others. Some of the reviews posted found the number of characters and seemingly unrelated stories confusing. I did not, but maybe I have an offbeat sense of humor that appreciates Dufresne's writing. I also like Karl Hiassen and Dave Barry so maybe that explains why I like this book. My only complaint about this book is the endnotes. Not their content, which I found amusing, but the fact that I like footnotes better. This book is not all laughs, especially Royce and his struggle with Alzheimers. I found Deep in the Shade of Paradise a very worthwhile read.
March 31, 2019
Wonderful glimpse into very small town Louisiana life. There are memorable characters, weddings, funerals and many laugh out loud scenes. It was another book i didn't want to end and will be difficult to replace with one as good. It will be one of my favourites.
December 19, 2023
Very disjointed and too many characters. Plus the "cajun" references and towns were not credible. For one thing, Monroe is in the north part of the state. There really wasn't too much "cajun" or even "Louisiana" about this book.
June 1, 2012
the sheer number of characters coupled with the author's tendency to tell stories unrelated to the story at hand left me feeling like i didn't know the characters nor care about their story. there were some moments i truly loved, "'you don't believe in God?!'..'I believe in the need to believe in a god'" but there also times i wanted to throw the book across the room, especially when the author asked me to tell my own story on a blank page.
April 5, 2015
Although it took me a few days to read this book I really enjoyed it. I haven't read John Dufresne before. His style and the devices he used to tell the story in this book were engaging (apart when he got a bit too clever and talked about the author of the book in the 3rd person - that was a bit tedious). Anyway, will look out for more of his works.
July 9, 2007
Great book by a highly imaginative writer. The Fontanas and the Loudermilks of NE Louisiana are a bunch, indeed they are. The lists are great. The appendiv to a work of fiction is genius. The book's funny. The book's profound. Read it. You'll be the better for your read.
March 8, 2009
Maren
January 29, 2010
I thought at first I was going to like it. Then I got bogged down with too many characters and too much silliness. Reminded me of the writing of Harry Crews but less.
September 16, 2010
Great for read-alouds to and by adults.
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November 30, 2011I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
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May 10, 2013
One of the most beautifully written books I've read in years with some of the most deeply-imagined characters since Lake Woebegone. Easily fits into my top ten book list.
April 4, 2014
Bayou reunion of characters that stay with you like hot sauce.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews