Louisiana Power & Light

by John Dufresne

Welcome to Monroe, Louisiana, corrugated paper capital of the North Delta parishes, home of the Louisiana Passion Play and the Christian business weekly Prophet and Loss, a city whose library hosts a dysfunctional Great Books seminar, whose civil theater has produced a musical-comedy version of King Lear, and whose cypress tress have been known to drip snakes.
Folks here have been studying the genetically deficient Fontana family for generations, ever since Peregrine Fontana sloshed his way out of the swamp in 1840. Now it's 1972 and Billy Wayne Fontana is the last survivor of this sorry familial line.
In this hilarious and wholly original tragi-comic romp you'll meet Billy Wayne, who has been raised and groomed for the priesthood but who leaves his spiritual calling for Earlene, a sassy woman who writes country music lyrics at her kitchen table; George Binwaddie, a Pakistani messiah and motel owner who is driven to extraordinary acts of violence; Angelo Candella, a Vietnam hero and State House official who runs his office from a wheelchair; and Moon Pie Fontana, Billy Wayne's offspring, a physically disabled child-star radio evangelist. Hold on, this is a wild and wacky ride through the Louisiana backwaters.
As quirky and imaginative as the best of John Irving, culled with the literary affects of Flannery O'Connor, Eudora Welty, and William Faulkner - all of whom Dufresne was compared to in reviews from his debut collection The Way That Water Enters Stone - this first novel about marriage, politics, friendship, love, and the quest for salvation will break your heart and make you laugh at the same time.

Genres: Fiction, Southern, Historical Fiction, American, Literary Fiction, Novels, Book Club

306 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 1994

About the author

John Dufresne teaches in the Master of Fine Arts Creative Writing program at Florida International University. He is a French-Canadian born in America.

Reviews

[Ali Mangkang · Rating 3 out of 5]

What I learned from this book is what I learn from all good Southern literature - the characters might seem too crazy, the decisions too bizarre, the lessons too hard unless you've lived in the South for very long - and then it not only seems possible that these fictional characters could exist, but that the circumstances of their undoing and redemption are always, somehow, an untold story you have waited for someone to reveal.

[Josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three parts comedy, two parts tragedy, one part religious essay. That’s how I would describe this very unique telling of the somewhat over-told tale of the prototypical Southern familial line of rejects, misfits, and goons. By his own admission in the author’s forward, we learn that this book started as a story about a specific place- Monroe, Louisiana. That story then grew into a novel focusing in on a particular family, which only sired male offspring, and had a long, long history of screwing up, burning out, imploding, and exploding. You know the ones, they probably exist in your parts as well……"Well, did you hear what old _____________ messed around and did last week?" Response: “No, but it doesn’t surprise me, that bunch has always been wired that way.” In this story, that blank is filled by the last name “Fontana”, but in your life there may be another name substituted.

So, is it genetic, environmental, voodoo curse, or God’s master plan? That’s what we (narrated from a dual person plural perspective) try to cipher as we journey through the last remaining male in the line as he tries to discover, come to grips with, and overcome the Fontana curse. Does he accomplish it, can he rise above? Well, in ways he can and in others he can’t. That’s where I would refer you back to the recipe that started this review. It is a wild ride. You will certainly laugh out loud in coveys, you should probably shed a tear or two along the way but I never got there, and you will on occasion wonder what point exactly this author is attempting to make about the divine. A fresh take on some of the broader jumps other authors have tackled headlong by some of Southern literature’s more heralded works. Save this one for that junction in your literary grind when searching for a break from laborious, deep reading….it’s good salve for that.

It's a 3.5 star rating. Somewhere between "I liked it" and "I really liked it". I enjoyed the first two sections more than the last, but others will, I suspect, find the opposite true. Don't shy away because of a "3 star".

[Emma Strawbridge · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 but a round up felt dramatic. something is NOT right with the fontanas! i like the interlocking storylines but i wish certain deaths had not come so early.

[Marilyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit difficult to follow--if this had been the first book I read by this guy, I would not have read any more of his work.

[Donald Stevens · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was my least favorite books I have gotten from LA. It was confusing, too many people, too many strange happenings.

[Rand]

The danger is, of course, that in writing you recall what you’ve tried to erase.

[Corey Friedrich · Rating 2 out of 5]

It finished so strong, but so much about this book disappointed and annoyed me. The premises of the book are really inspired. The writing isn’t bad, but it’s wasted on things that don’t matter. Almost everything that was skimmed over was something I was interested in hearing about, and everything that was expanded upon was boring. There was definitely something hear that could have and should have worked, but it did not. Also, the two wives were completely indistinct from each other in my mind. And they’re important characters, so that was frustrating! There were also too many side characters that were just generic friends of the main character and were too easy to mix up.

[Veronica · Rating 4 out of 5]

honest to God just so heartbreaking it left me slightly suicidal. John dufresne I was familiar with your game but you really got me again you son of a bitch

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read this in 2006 or 2007. I was still thinking about it years later after learning more about the Southern Gothic style, so I had to go back to the library to find it and read it again.

[Cathy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didn't care for this book at all, except a few passages of brilliant writing over the 100 pages I read.

I can't. Just can't. Did not finish and won't ever finish.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I honestly have no idea what I just read. It was clearly part parody, but a very loving parody that came from a good place. Or maybe it was satire, but with too much truth mixed in? It was very funny at points, and uplifting. It was straightforward but at the same time absolutely mystifying, and then disheartening. I laughed and ached. I can't begin to fathom what point Dufresne was trying to get across. All of them at once, I suppose.

Here's one passage that I liked which doesn't even begin to represent the book as a whole but y'know I can't just like type the whole thing up, so here you go. Billy Wayne, formerly on the path to priesthood but now trying desperately to conceive with the woman who drew him away, has the following dream after a conversation with his friend about how maybe the chemicals at his exterminator job are affecting his sperm:

Billy Wayne dreamed that he arrived on a call to this shingled bungalow on Grammont. He strapped his tank to his back and held the spray gun, nozzle down. The lady was in tears, said she couldn't live in this filth anymore. It's been six months, she confessed, since her last treatment. Billy Wayne opened the cabinet under the kitchen sink and saw the infestation. He aimed his gun at the carpet of roaches, and when he squeezed the trigger, not Diazinon, but light instead shot from the nozzle. He sprayed the entire house with light and told the woman, You won't be having problems for a while.

That quote alone should help you understand if this is a book for you.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the absolute best books I have ever read. It is highly recommended to everyone.

I'm not even sure I can explain why it captivated me so--but it did.

I had to read this for a class in Southern American Literature, which included none of the old standbys like Faulkner, etc., but did have some very unique pieces. This was the book that factored into more of my papers and short essays on the final than any of the rest. I read it four times during that semester and have reread it twice since.

Pick it up. And let me know what you think, because I'm curious to know if it's universally appreciated or if I'm just a little bit crazy.

[Caroline · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the kind of Southern writing I do not appreciate. "Billups and Too Tall went down to the field where the broken down train station used to be and looked for crawfish for supper," or something like that. If that's what you want to read, read Flannery O'Conner, Carson McCullers, Shirley Jackson. Sixty years ago.

[Missy LeBlanc Ivey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly, I picked this novel up at our local Goodwill for $3.99 only because it had the word "Louisiana" in the title. I'm collecting all things pertaining to Louisiana for my Louisiana guest bedroom.

It was written by a creative writing professor in Florida, with short chapters, so you can catch a quick read here and there. That's about the only good thing about this book. The subject itself was rather boring. It gets a 2 star because there's not a lot going on. This book heads back to my local Goodwill.

The setting is suppose to be Monroe, Louisiana, but you never get that feel. No accents, no southern scenaries, no nothing. The story centers around one main character, Billy Wayne Fontana, who followed his heart for love and left the priesthood before he was actually certified. He was searching for meaning and purpose in his life, but he never felt "fulfilled", which we all may experience in life from time-to-time, especially when we turn our back on God. Unfortunately, I never did develop feelings for any of the characters. This read brought no emotions out what-so-ever! No action really until the very last couple of short chapters where the last 3 Fontana men died.

But, of course, there's another Fontana in the near future because of his lusty feelings. The town people would still believe in the Fontana curse. God fearing people would believe it was all the bad decisions Billy Wayne made by following after lust instead of his heart. The scientists believe a genetic defect in their genes. Then there are those that believe the Fontanas were deposited there in Monroe, Louisiana by space aliens from Venus.

Unfortunately, the book doesn't really go into the Fontana's ancestral history. He just drops a few lines here and there in random odd spots in the story. So you don't even get a real good feeling or any ideas about Billy Wayne's earlier ancestry...just surface stuff....to even know why their is a cyrse on the Fontana name.

[Susan Waterman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Almost gave it five stars....I really love this book. I usually don’t like comedy in my fiction... but this is the comedy of my heritage. I don’t know how to best describe it, it’s not “comedic”. It has elements of wit and satire along with tragedy. Very entertaining and engrossing. The only drawback for me was it was littered with too many characters. At times I had a difficult time knowing the placement of all the minor characters in the book.

[Ryan Boyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

An unforgettable quick read steeped in southern humor and drawl, but ends up being so much more. Comedy, Philosophy, Humor. These words cover the overarching themes, but fail to do justice for the nuggets of wisdoms scattered everywhere. You ignorant? Stop that foolishment and give it a read.

Lastly, the absurdity of these characters brings to mind some back home, which I think anyone who has spent time somewhere rural or southern can likewise identify.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yes, it's another novel about goofy small-town Southerners, and it condescendingly traffics in stereotypes. That's the bad news. The good news is that it's intermittently hilarious and clever, and quite a bit of fun to read. Not a must-read, but a good read if you're in the mood for that sort of thing.

[Matt Larson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clever writing, but God is it a morose story, rendering it a very dreary read. Would have preferred one chapter on the point that fatalism is a fool's errand, inevitably and stubbornly bringing you closer to the fate you're praying to escape, rather than a whole book on it.

[Darryl Wawa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exceptional humor. Read it twice.

[Courtenay Truett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic writer. Amusing to boot! My favorite book of his "Love Warps the Mind a Little."

[Emily Adams]

Interesting characters and easy to follow dialogue, but I had to push myself to finish this book.

[Hannah Becker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the narrator and the sarcastic comments. Though the story speaks a lot about religion, it is not one of those books that's trying to convert you.

[Eddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

very enjoyable.. along with Harry Crews one of my favorite southern authors.... just a nice summer read with unforgettable characters.

[Stefanie Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

""

[Thomas Holbrook · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading John Dufresne’s most recent novel (No Regrets, Coyote), I was thirsty to read another of this master storyteller’s works. This is his first novel and it holds within it the glimmer of the talent that he has developed in the ensuing 20 years. The wonder of good fiction is its timelessness, even though Louisiana Power & Light has some dated material (the protest against high-tension electric lines, the hold the Catholic Church in the Louisiana Bayou) this novel holds observations of and commentary on the human condition that merit it’s being included in the list of “Good Fiction.”
Billy Wayne, the last of the Northern Louisiana Fontana family, is being raised by the local Catholic Convent in order to save the Parish the threat of him continuing the tragic history of his ancestry. Peregrine Fontana was the first to settle in the marshy, reptile and mosquito infested area that eventually became the town of Monroe. From the birth of Peregrine’s two sons, (the only progeny produced by Fontana’s are male) his family tree has been filled with failed riches, inept outlaws, insanity and bad luck (four males were killed during WWII while playing hambone with a live grenade). When Billy Wayne meets Earlene as she was recuperating in the hospital from being beaten by her then boyfriend, he leaves the vocation chosen for him, that of a Priest, and marries her within the week. The ensuing years prove that the wisdom of those who placed Billy Wayne in the convent for his protection was of a sound and reasoned nature.
This book is a standard of Comic-Tragedy. The eye Mr. Dufresne has for the foibles of human behavior, coupled with his rare talent to give voice to that witness, makes many of his sentences heartbreaking and others hilarious to the point of breathlessness. Billy Wayne’s having been weaned on Catholic Theology is always cognizant of his “vocation” and the struggle created between following one’s heart-desire and one’s “calling.” The description of the Trinity given the young Billy Wayne by the convent’s Priest is brilliant (a candle), speaking to the simplicity of faith and the complexity of mystery.
It could be argued that the entire book is a treatise on God’s grace. Billy Wayne works for an electrical power company, working with a medium that cannot be seen, yet is powerful, capable both of producing light and of being destructive and is notice most in its absence. By the book’s end, after the seeming destruction of everything valuable in Billy’s world, hope remains in its potential and threat.
I will read another of Mr. Dufrense’s books. His stories are too rich, his writing too clear, his wit too sharp and his heart too honest to cease with the reading of only two of his novels.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

John Dufresne's debut novel is devastatingly funny, incredibly frustrating and a little audacious. Louisiana Power & Light was very well reviewed by the critics. The Philadelphia Inquirer opined that it is "a spiritual farce of magnum force, The Chicago Tribune declared that it "brings home serious truths about faith and heritage, chance and genealogy", and The New Yorker wrote that the story "assumes the immediacy of revelation…Along with bits of family history and breezy philosophizing, there are passages of unlikely beauty." It is not often that I acknowledge critics when reviewing books, but their scales balanced in much more favor than mine of the book. It just seemed like the fair thing to do.

Dufresne is a wonderful writer, and his character development, plot entanglements and ear for the dialect are sure. I will probably read more of his work.

Opening pages detail the convoluted and heartbreaking history of the Fontana/Wayne family in Monroe, LA. Billy Wayne is quickly introduced as the focal point of the tale, following generations of bad luck, despair and the odd fact that the Wayne family has never produced a female child. And the men are just lacking in intelligence, good judgment and truly horrible purposeful and chance events.

This book got added to my reading list following a friend reading me this passage:

"The infant Billy Wayne, the only breathing descendent of Peregrine Fontana and tabernacle of his formidable gene, was abandoned to the care of the good Sisters of St. Francis Hospital, who, with the unspoken complicity of the town, devised and executed a strategy to rid the world once for good and all of the Fontana aberration, a solution at once so inspired and so diabolical it could only have originated, our Pentecostals believed, with the Pope of Rome himself. Billy Wayne was to be groomed for the priesthood."

This is enticing, laugh aloud funny stuff. Sadly, for this reader, the ensuing plot development of Billy Wayne's life and the family and friends of Monroe collapses under its own weight. At some point, I stopped being charmed and became frustrated, then irritated, then full-blown angry with this story. Depression followed. There is only so much heartache, bad behavior and purposeful mindlessness I could stand. Then I just wanted the book to be over. If I wrote the book, Billy Wayne probably would have become the Pope of Rome and created a stir in the halls of the Vatican and throughout the Catholic world. But, that's me.

I do think most readers will appreciate, if not embrace, this book. Please do give it a go. The critics are most likely right.

[Andrew · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book. I really wanted to like this book.

You see, I read No Regrets, Coyote not too long ago and was intrigued. Figured getting out of the mystery genre with this author would be even better, and something of an adventure. I couldn't wait to try it.

But maybe I should've waited. I just didn't GET this book! I suppose there may be great literary significance here that went far over my head.. (It's been known to happen! See also: every book I ever read in high school English) ..but I just couldn't engage with the plot nor decipher the point.

This book is hard to follow, wanders around quite a bit, is packed with distracting extraneous detail (all things I found intriguing in No Regrets, ironically) and honestly the main character just seems so pointlessly...foolish. (or maybe that WAS the point??) I don't know. If the theme of this book is intended to be "man's destiny is to inevitably be a dips#!t", then maybe I *DID* get it.. and just didn't like it.

Which is too bad, because there are some really witty passages and some incredible color to the writing. But the plot, man, the plot. Just a slog for me. Too much work for a pretty good Descartes joke.

Two Stars. (UCBC rating 2.6)

[Janice · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Southern tale about one of "those" families (bless their hearts). The Fontana clan has been infamous since their ancestor crawled out of the bayou to Monroe, LA. Each generation has a tale about the Fontanas. This generation has Billy Wayne who the town tried to do right by when they send him to be raised by nuns. Everyone hopes that he will find his calling and thus not bring anymore Fontanas into the world thus ending the line.

But that's not to be and we watch Billy Wayne make one mistake after another. It it may be that his family doesn't really have bad luck, but just poor decision making skills.

Fun tale, loads of eccentric characters. Fine to visit, wouldn't want to live there.

[Andrew Young · Rating 3 out of 5]

September 8, 1994: Alex Chadwick talked with the author: "Louisiana Power and Light" by John Dufresne, published by Norton: A novel about a fictional family in Monroe, Louisiana.


I recall hearing about this book on NPR "All Things Considered" or similar, so it must have been 1994. I probably bought it soon after that, maybe a few years on my book list. I finally started reading it in April 2011, so that's almost 17 years that it could have sat around on my bookshelf, even in my nightstand, waiting to be read. Now I'm quite enjoying it and considering reading another one of his books.

[Deb Christenson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Author John Dufresne has written a character study here in this novel. As in, the protagonist is quite the character!! As in, there's not much plot, but a whole lot happening with Billy Wayne Fontana, the protagonist. If you love Louisiana, you'll love the language here as Dufresne invites you out to the front porch with your favorite beverage (sweet tea or something stronger) and spins his yarn.