Pearce Oysters

by Joselyn Takacs

A family drama set along the Louisiana coastline during the 2010 BP Oil Spill, Pearce Oysters follows a third-generation oyster farmer whose business, family, and livelihood are on the brink of collapse. Golden Vale, Louisiana, is a hardscrabble coastal town 80 miles south of New Orleans but worlds away culturally. For generations, families have made their living working in commercial fishing or in the petroleum industry. After the sudden death of his father, thirty-five-year-old Jordan Pearce becomes the unwitting head of his family's storied oyster company. Amid Jordan's struggles with flighty employees, a fraught romantic life, living with his distressed, widowed mother, and a fishery that's been on life support for years, the Deepwater Horizon oil rig suddenly explodes off the coast of Louisiana, prompting one of the worst environmental disasters in history. As fallout from the explosion and subsequent oil spill intensifies, Jordan must grapple with the existential repercussions for his family, and the surrounding community, which has already seen its fair share of hardship, having just barely recovered from Hurricane Katrina. Forced to seek help from his estranged brother, Benny―a beatnik musician who ran away to New Orleans years ago―Jordan and what's left of the quarrelsome Pearce clan are reunited under one roof, alongside a cast of unforgettable regional characters. Jordan’s desperation to save the business, coupled with Benny’s desire to distance himself from his past, test the bonds of their family and the strength of their principles. Together, they must commit to saving this long overlooked corner of the Gulf Coast―a final act of hope in the face of impending tragedy. This tender, unflagging exploration of industry, class, culture, and the extraordinary beauty in the margins of life, is eye-opening, eco-fiction that elevates the voices of deeply sympathetic characters.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Environment, Book Club, Audiobook, Southern

368 pages, Paperback

First published June 25, 2024

Reviews

[Vlorini · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve spent a huge amount of time in New Orleans enjoying the people, the music and the oysters. This story comes from interviews with people affected by the deep water horizon spill. The author did a wonderful job capturing the heart of the people and the area. There has been lots written about Hurricane Katrina, but so many lives were upended by this spill, which is not spoken about. And more lives lost directly by exposure to the oil and the chemicals used to try to contain the spill. Thank you for allowing me to read this wonderful book. If you think you want a soundtrack to go with it, I suggest Zachary Richard.

[Brandice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pearce Oysters is a family drama set in Louisiana in the wake of BP’s oil spill in 2010. While this story is fictional, the spill was real and as a student then, I did not comprehend the extent of the damage or its long-lasting impact in real time. ⁣
⁣
The characters in Pearce Oysters felt real too — One family is siloed in their individual grief and plans for their futures, and estranged brothers are brought back together to deal with the impact the spill has on their oyster farming business as well as its effect on their community. I felt for each of the Pearce family members and was rooting for their happiness and success. ⁣
⁣
Pearce Oysters provided more insight into the disastrous spill and about oyster farming, which I knew nothing about. I found both of these elements interesting and enjoyed reading the Pearce family’s dynamics too. This was a great debut novel and I look forward to seeing what Joselyn Takacs writes next.

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did you get a chance to wear your Mardi Gras beads yesterday?

I dreamed of beignets and creole cuisine!

My university alumni book club chose Pearce Oysters, a debut novel by Jocelyn Takacs, for our read last month and treated us to a Zoom meeting with the author.

In short, this novel is about loss and resilience and what happens when a legacy is interrupted by a devastating environmental disaster.

Our club read about the fractured Pearce family, a devastated Louisiana community, and an oil spill disaster that brought them together. After their father dies, the two brothers inherit the oyster farm. One picks up where the father left off and the other, a Bohemian Jazz musician in New Orleans, wants nothing to do with the business. Meanwhile, their mother goes through an identity crisis and is oblivious to the tension between her sons. The oil spill brings the three back under one roof again…and exposes cracks as well as an opportunity for healing.

You’ll like this family drama/eco tragedy because of the themes of legacy (how the legacy they inherited affected the boys and how it influences the legacy they pass on to future generations), loyalty (when the chips are down, family is there for you), toxicity (both in relationships and the environment) and community (how people stepped up or down during the 80+ traumatic days).

I find myself reaching for more books like this one where I can read about a ‘felt’ experience of an event that teaches me about how to be resilient and how to live through difficult times.

Although I had difficulty with the lifestyle choices that the Pearce brothers chose, the occasional burst of swearing, and the shocking choices made by their grieving mother, I kept reading because it was such an interesting read. I’d never read a book about a fractured family’s emotional response to an environmental disaster. Just because I didn’t connect with the Pearce family doesn’t mean that I didn’t relate to them or perhaps I should say ‘recognize them’. I did ~ I saw their tenacity and I was rooting for each of them to have a happy ending. I saw the sibling rivalry and I understood the ‘whys’. Perhaps the main reason I kept reading was because of what I was learning about Louisiana, oysters, and ecosystems. Upon reflection, I realized that if I didn’t care about the Pearce family, I wouldn’t have learned about the ripple effects of this disaster. Takacs crafts amazing characters and hones in on some fantastic human interactions.

I think the thing that stayed with me was that the oil spill didn’t just affect one crop or season of oyster farming, but years of income were lost. I had no idea that it took up to three years for oysters to grow to market size. I could understand that it was an existential as well as a financial threat to those on the Louisiana coast.

[Zibby Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a gripping, transportive, and beautifully-layered novel about a fractured family, a devastated community, and the oil spill disaster that brings them together. It follows a family that runs an oyster farm in Louisiana that has been in business for over 90 years. The novel takes place in 2010 during the BP's largest accidental oil spill in world history, which would be the BP oil spill. This is a family that does not get along in the best of times. They're brought under one roof as their business and the ecosystem that they depend on are under threat as oil makes its way into Louisiana's capital.

This book touches on the ripple effects of that event, how widespread the effects can be, and how damaging they are on an individual level. Even though the book covers the environmental disaster and damage to the oysters, the book is really about the people. It's about the emotions and how the event challenged a town and the people in the story. We find out that the environmental devastation just exacerbated underlying things in some cases.

[Chapters of Chase · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here's a debut novel to add to your reading list! ✨
Thank you, Zibby Books & Libro.FM, for the gifted copies of Pearce Oysters {partner}

Genre: Fiction
Trope: Family Saga
Format: 🎧
Pub Date: 6.25.2024
Pages: 368
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆

"A family drama set along the Louisiana coastline during the 2010 BP Oil Spill, Pearce Oysters follows a third-generation oyster farmer whose business, family, and livelihood are on the brink of collapse."

Joselyn Takacs did an outstanding job with her debut novel, Pearce Oysters. There was something authentic about all the book's characters—by the end, I felt like they were all family members. It wasn't an especially "quick" or "entertaining" read, but it made me feel something and that is one of the best things a book can do. 

Audiobook Review: ☆☆☆☆☆
Pearce Oysters is told from the perspective of an omniscient narrator, and the book itself is narrated by Xavier Casals. There was something almost hypnotic about Casals' voice, and it kept me completely immersed in the storyline. He really brought all the emotions of the characters to the forefront of the story and, therefore, brought the story itself to life. 

Read if you enjoy:
😅 Family Dynamics
🌎 Environmental Stewardship
👏🏼 Realistic characters
📖 Fiction based on actual events
🤩 Debut novels
📍 New Orleans settings

I recommend reading Pearce Oysters if you enjoyed reading Migrations or Once There Were Wolves.

______
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[Tony Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

review contains some minor plot spoilers, read with caution -

Pearce Oysters first grabbed my attention from its beautiful cover, then because it was a story different from the typical books I see on the shelves. This is the second historical fiction title I have read this year. I previously said "this is not my genre" but maybe it is because I enjoyed reading it so much, I'm probably going to go for a third.

One of the things Takacs does best in this book is that the characters in the story come from many different backgrounds (ethnicities, sexualities, class), but it never feels like tokenism. It's completely believable that all of these people would be living in the South Louisiana bayou town Golden Vale or New Orleans and coexisting. The way they interact with each other feels genuine as well, both in their positive (friendships, relationships) and negative experiences (racist microaggressions, homophobia).

I especially loved Cydni, an Indigenous Pointe-au-Chien. When we first meet her, mostly all we get out of Cydni and Jordan's first few scenes are showings of her quick wit personality. So, by the time we learn she's from the Pointe-au-Chien tribe, it's just added information rather than the driving point of her presence in Jordan's life or the story. But she's not removed from her own identity either, the moments where it comes up in conversation or thought feels believable to her lived experiences and not just to feel like a gold star sticker for having a non-white person in the room. I wouldn't have minded hearing more about her tribe and the impact of the oil spill on her people, but I also recognize that could easily be its entirely own book.

As for Alejandro, I wish we had gotten more out of him. I wanted to know more about his loneliness, his decision to "illegally" immigrate then seek asylum in the US, his sexuality, how his identities may intersect or conflict with each other. I'm not disappointed at the idea of a gay romance being treated rather normally or as a non-abrasive plotline (hell I'm usually begging for it), but I was surprised by how his relationship with Benny develops with so little fear of judgment or consequence when otherwise Alejandro is quiet and kind of marked as an outsider. As well as Benny's remarks around his own upbringing led me to believe that the general tone towards queer people in Golden Vale was negative. So, I guess I would have expected more conflict there based on the existing tones within the story. Similarly to Cydni, it could be that the issue is he's a secondary character, so the book may not have had the space or pages to develop him further, but I still wanted it.

The main characters, Jordan, Benny, and May also shine. The brother's relationships with each other and also their unique relationships to May (Mother) as well as their differing memories of their deceased father's character feel genuine. As someone with three siblings, I have always thought that no two children have identical relationships with their parents and that is shown well throughout this story. The way they respond to trauma, hardships, all differ yet you see the through line of familial bond for better or for worse.

It's impressive to write a story that can focus on your kind of average families, yet still be so captivating and interesting. I think the massive tragedy of the oil spill of course is part of that ability, but it's not the only reason. Overall, I would rate this book 4.5 stars. I only took away .5 stars for areas where I wanted more (Alejando, Cyndi) and areas where I wanted less (some of the secondary characters in New Orleans felt pointless).

Thank you to Zibby Books and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for this honest review.

[Marisa Zane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meet the Pearce family, owners of a 90-year-old oyster farming business in coastal Louisiana. After his father’s death and Hurricane Katrina, Jordan is just starting to get his feet under him when it comes to running the family business. His brother, Benny, inherited the business along with Jordan, but he’s never been interested in oysters. Instead, he’s been living in New Orleans, playing musical gigs when he can, and collecting a paycheck from Jordan. Their mother, May, can best be described as fragile in her newly widowed life. Then the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explodes, spewing thousands of barrels of oil per day into the Gulf of Mexico for weeks. The family’s livelihood is threatened. Jordan does everything he can to try and save the business, including a few things he never imagined. Meanwhile, the rest of real life - family dynamics and relationships outside the family - keeps happening.
—
I was in law school when the Deepwater Horizon disaster happened, so I remember seeing clips briefly on the news, but not much more. This book gave me a story to understand the impact on people, agriculture, and local economies. The characters were so well developed. One chapter would have me feeling frustrated with a character, and the next would have me sympathizing with them. Ultimately these were people wanting to make it in the world and feel cared for. I thought it was an excellent balance of a family story and eco-fiction.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Claire Talbot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pearce Oysters takes you on a journey to a town on the Louisiana coast where the Pearce family has farmed oysters for three generations. Jordan is the son who is trying to fill his deceased father's shoes and keep the oyster boats running. May is the family matriarch, and she is struggling with grief and depression. Benny is the brother who ran off to New Orleans to be a musician, but leads an untethered life filled with lots of bad decisions. All of these characters are flawed and complex. There is something to root for in each character, yet each of them makes terrible decisions at times. The author Joselyn Takacs did a research project interviewing oystermen on the coast after the BP oil disaster of 2010 and her research and personal stories make the book authentic and powerful. The descriptions of the land and the people within it are heartbreaking. Enjoyed this book! I highly recommend it if you enjoy environmental or family themes with real characters and settings. Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set on the coast of Louisiana after the 2010 BP oil spill.. PEARCE OYSTERS is a character driven story that follows the complicated family dynamics of the Pearce family with each having their own personal issues as they try to save their family livelihood, The Pearce Oyster Company.

This takes a deep look into the rocky relationship between two brothers, with their mother facing her own identity crisis, as they put aside their differences to maintain their late father’s, now struggling, generations-farmed oyster business. I couldn’t help but root for these flawed, sometimes bad decision making characters. This felt real and raw, and Takacs storytelling gave me the same feelings and emotions as in her characters. This book shows the painstaking research Takacs took to write this very thought provoking story. I felt so much anger toward BP, still do. You can’t but feel compassion and empathy for all the families involved in this disaster, along with the devastation this caused on the wildlife, just heart-wrenching. 4.5 stars — Pub. 6/25/24

[Toby LeBlanc · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC from a friend. She'd thought it was similar to my novel, and she was not wrong. Takacs pulls much of South Louisiana bayou and coastal culture together to create the story of a struggling family of oystermen following the BP oil spill. This story hit close to home (literally) because this was one of the worst man-made environmental disasters to ever hit Louisiana (and that is saying a lot). Overall I believe Takacs did a fine job of depicting the trials and tribulations of this part of the world. Her depiction of inveterate oil companies and their carefree approach to the well being of anything but profit is spot on. The rough-necks drinking with visiting scientists is commonplace. And her depictions of a lived-in New Orleans (rather than the toured one) is impressive. There were a few places where descriptions did not quite ring true or were a little tired. Nobody on the bayou has sprinklers. And the Cajun was yet again the funny-talking sidekick.

The family in this story is very familiar as well. They are well-depicted; tragically so. The different reactions they have to their way of life being stripped from them is compelling. The Pearce brothers' relationship is very believable. Their distinct relationships with their mother is also impressive. Characters are definitely what are driving this book. That said, I do wish the mother would have had more depth. Southern mothers are an intricate sea of contradictions and May felt like a missed opportunity. Alejandro could have been opened up so much more as well. There is a lot of tragedy there to unpack, but I can only imagine what wonderful story could have come from that. To make up for those two, we have Cyndi and Lucille. They both brighten every scene they appear in.

I went back and forth on whether or not to give this five stars. The plot is wonderful. The pacing is very well thought out. The characters sparkle. I decided on four starts because what was written already. That, and I would have liked to seen more on how the spill altered entire cultures. Call me a Cajun snob (an oxymoron), but I would have liked to see more in the epilogue about what moving away from an area and a Cajun way of living does. Takacs possible treatment of what is happening to Cyndi's Pointe-au-Chien tribe would have also been interesting. All in all, I do recommend this book to anyone who likes South Louisiana, especially the parts that don't make it into popular media.

[Jeatherhane Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The whole point of an oyster is where it’s from.”

The sense of place is strong in this one. The Louisiana Bayou is described in vivid and immersive detail. The whole point of this novel is its setting.

After the death of their father, Jordan and Benny take over the family oyster business, except Benny doesn’t really stick around to help out. The two are at odds, until an oil spill threatens their livelihood. Their mother, May, just wants her boys to get along.

The family is surrounded by a cast of supporting characters, some of which feel a bit like tokens, but showcase the diversity of the area. The story about the brothers is dynamic and engaging, but I was less interested in their mother’s romantic interludes and other peripheral storylines. The details and historical facts about oyster farming and oil spills added another layer of interest.

I very much enjoyed this debut novel! I received an ARC via NetGalley, and also purchased an audiobook copy so I could listen on the road. The audiobook narration is excellent.

[Lindsey Bluher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Libro.FM for gifting this audiobook—because this book is character driven and a little on the slow side, I likely would have DNF’d it had the audiobook narration been so good.

Overall, I really liked this and it’s somewhere between a 3.5 and 4 star book. I really enjoyed learning more about the family’s story, their legacy as oyster farming, and the impact of a huge oil spill. It all felt so authentic and heartbreaking, but in a quiet way. I think it could have been a bit more heavy hitting on the emotional front which would have hooked me even harder. I was so sad about the ending, but I appreciated the reality of it all.

[Gabriela Paszt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the bones of this book. Highlighting the suffering of those in Louisiana with Hurricane Katrina and then the BP crisis. The bones were good. I just didn’t love it. I’m not entirely sure why. I felt like some of the relationships were more surface level than I wanted them to be… some of it didn’t make sense to me? Was it necessary that every character had some deep issue in their romantic relationship ?
But then again- maybe the author was trying to say like desperation and fear can make people really act unhinged?

[Filipa Ribeiro Ferreira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gostei muito da forma como a autora escolheu contar esta história, que é muito dura e baseada em testemunhos orais dos habitantes do Golfo do México depois do derrame de petróleo do furo da BP Deepwater Horizon em 2010. Temos uma família cheia de problemas que inadvertidamente se une, precisamente ao mesmo tempo que o negócio familiar com 90 anos vai ao fundo, tudo no espaço de pouco mais de duas semanas. Fiquei a conhecer melhor a forma de cultivo de ostras, que faz destas pessoas uma espécie de agricultores-pescadores. E também se assiste à ignomínia das companhias petrolíferas, ao seu conluio com os poderes políticos, à sua indiferença perante o sofrimento e morte da vida humana, animal ou vegetal, o acabar com a forma de sustento das populações sem qualquer remorso, à busca pelo lucro acima de tudo, ao atirar de dinheiro para calar as pessoas, atitudes execráveis, sem quaisquer contemplações. Mas também se reflete sobre os falhanços e a solidão, as inseguranças ao crescer quando o futuro parece claro para todos menos nós, a tentativa de fugir ao que o destino nos reserva.

[Maddie Fox · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5! Cool story, but honestly not that eventful. I’ve never read a historical fiction from this time/setting (Louisiana during the big BP oil spill), so this was definitely a unique read, but I’m not sure if I’d recommend.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHOA.
Okay I got a slow start with this book, and that was a mistake, because once I focused, I was HOOKED.
This is a story inspired by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill of 2010.
This story is layered and moving, focusing on a single family of oyster farmers in the Louisiana bayou. A fractured family wondering if they can save their legacy and their livelihood from what would turn out to be the worst oil spill in the history of time. Their family business, their family dynamic, their mental and physical health, and the very ecosystem around them is in danger.
This story only dips a toe into the ripple effect of this devastating disaster. While it seems like a story about the environment and the economy, it’s really a story about people. It’s about family dynamic, friendship, sibling rivalry, heartache, grief, desire. It’s an honest look beyond the big picture, down to the very humanness and individual impact of something so massive. It reminds us that news headlines are not just words on pages, disconnected from us. They’re the stories of very real humans like you and I, living very real human lives, and their stories matter.
This is a slow-paced, character driven story that m I am sure it will stick with me for a long time.

[Diandra Knutson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story gives a clear view of a family and a community filled with tragedy and hard times. It was beautiful to watch the growth of Benny throughout. But this story really isn’t about growth of character it seems. It was more of being a fly on the wall and witnessing a moment in time and how each character reacted to the oil spill in their waters. It was heartbreaking and eye opening. I honestly enjoyed it and felt the conclusion was perfect for what the story was. A little slow for my taste, but the narrator for the audiobook made it immersive and enjoyable.

[Lori Bree · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one had a lot of potential. I liked it, but didn't love it. It moved a bit slowly. It did have an excellent and diverse cast of characters. Also--the audio narration was fantastic.

Thank you to Libro.FM for my copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Lucia Bellanger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this, but felt that the ending was rushed a bit. I loved to rural Louisiana setting though!

[Sean · Rating 4 out of 5]

I lowkey thought this book was really good from a character standpoint and it had me gripped once I got past the thirty percent mark. I thought the characters were really realistic and well fleshed out, and the backdrop of the oil spill made for a great setting. My only complaint was that it was a little preachy towards the back half beginning with the sign party. Even though I agreed with what was being said, it felt unnatural coming from Jordan and Alejandro how disastrous the oil spill was. I think the message was super important but it just felt like a lot was trying to be crammed in that didnt necessarily fit. Sad ending too but that ok. Overall liked and would recommend.

[Mary Hinkle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel details the complex, long-term cost of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, off the Louisiana coast, in 2010. This spill caused irreparable damage to ecosystems, livelihoods, family relationships and an entire culture. The Pearce family — troubled, flawed, vulnerable — is portrayed with sympathy and understanding by the author in this compelling story.

[Hope — bookclubberhope · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars
I was attracted to this family drama by the setting: the coast of Louisiana, with a family of oyster farmers during the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
Because of my love for the Gulf, that oil spill affected me deeply, so I was intrigued to hear about this book set during that time. Luckily, the setting and the writing all worked for me! This book is really a family drama, set amid the catastrophic effects of the oil spill for their business. The characters are well-formed, their dilemmas are believable, and you can’t help but feel for their situation, caught in a disaster that is out of their hands.
The author, Joselyn Takacs, did extensive research for this book and it shows in the authenticity of her writing. This is her debut novel.

[Dawn Penner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the setting and learning more about the BP oil spill in the Gulf of America. I also enjoyed learning more about oyster farming - so much I didn’t know! The story was overall interesting, with intriguing family dynamics. I found that it got a bit long at the end, with some surprising twists that I didn’t see coming, but that I also thought didn’t contribute much to the overall story.

[Olivia Swindler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be so unique and important. I love a family saga and really liked the way this story circled around a family as well as their community. The characters are messy but lovable. I remember when the oil spill happened and I am glad to see a book about it.

Thank you to libro.fm for my alc.

[Olivia Berson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t really know how to describe my thoughts on this. Really great storytelling of how crazy the BP oil spill was for families directly impacted, and was extremely disheartening and interesting. But it didn’t hook me as much as I was hoping (maybe that’s the environmental professional in me).

[Jaclyn Brill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked but didn’t love. Interesting dynamic of a fictionalized story based on the 2010 oil spill in Louisiana. Was hoping for a little more fast paced drama, but I still liked listening. Thanks Libra.fm for my audio copy!

[Emma Roper · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED.

[Leah DeCesare · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wrenching exploration of family, brotherhood, society, and what makes a life centered around the 2010 BP oil spill off Louisiana's coast.

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[Natalie Curtis · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️