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Half of Paradise
Toussaint Boudreaux, a docker – hardworking and looking for a break – earns extra cash as a prize fighter. But the only break he gets lands him in gaol and then on a chain gang. Avery Broussard, wayward son of an old plantation family, loses his freedom for a cartload of Prohibition moonshine and finds himself attached to the same work camp as Boudreaux. Neither would have chosen the life – blood, sweat and tears come with the territory – but each is determined to make the best of it or find a way out. HALF OF PARADISE is a powerful novel of people from very different backgrounds who find their destinies tragically intertwined.
Paperback
First published January 1, 1965
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About the author
James Lee Burke
120 books4,160 followersJames Lee Burke is an American author best known for his mysteries, particularly the Dave Robicheaux series. He has twice received the Edgar Award for Best Novel, for
Black Cherry Blues
in 1990 and
Cimarron Rose
in 1998.
Burke was born in Houston, Texas, but grew up on the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast. He attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and the University of Missouri, receiving a BA and MA from the latter. He has worked at a wide variety of jobs over the years, including working in the oil industry, as a reporter, and as a social worker. He was Writer in Residence at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, succeeding his good friend and posthumous Pulitzer Prize winner John Kennedy Toole, and preceding Ernest Gaines in the position. Shortly before his move to Montana, he taught for several years in the Creative Writing program at Wichita State University in the 1980s.
Burke and his wife, Pearl, split their time between Lolo, Montana, and New Iberia, Louisiana. Their daughter, Alafair Burke, is also a mystery novelist.
The book that has influenced his life the most is the 1929 family tragedy "The Sound and the Fury" by William Faulkner.
Burke was born in Houston, Texas, but grew up on the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast. He attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and the University of Missouri, receiving a BA and MA from the latter. He has worked at a wide variety of jobs over the years, including working in the oil industry, as a reporter, and as a social worker. He was Writer in Residence at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, succeeding his good friend and posthumous Pulitzer Prize winner John Kennedy Toole, and preceding Ernest Gaines in the position. Shortly before his move to Montana, he taught for several years in the Creative Writing program at Wichita State University in the 1980s.
Burke and his wife, Pearl, split their time between Lolo, Montana, and New Iberia, Louisiana. Their daughter, Alafair Burke, is also a mystery novelist.
The book that has influenced his life the most is the 1929 family tragedy "The Sound and the Fury" by William Faulkner.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews
February 25, 2009
This is James Lee Burke's first novel. Great characters, strong description, and mostly interesting situations. BUT. . . it is one of the most depressing books I ever read (just finished it), and some of the dialog and situations go nowhere for pages and pages - just lots of back and forth between desperate little people with nothing to say about life sometimes. I really like his later mysteries, but this was not my cup of tea (I did finish it, hoping to find something redeeming in it. Sigh!)
January 16, 2012
It is quite interesting to read the first book by an author you enjoy, to see how their writing has developed and progressed, especially if they have acquired a following, such as Burke definitely has. The story itself is less than satisfying, but interesting enough (though I much prefer Pierce's Cool Hand Luke), and goes along fairly quickly. I found it amusing when I came across turns of phrase that I know he has used in later books, such as his description of nutria as they make their "scream of a hysterical woman." You can easily see the groundwork for his Robicheaux series, in tone and descriptive language, as well as character development. One thought however: why is it no other snakes except moccasins slither through literary swamps?
June 7, 2011
A very predictable and tiresome read. At times, the prose was excellent, particualary the descriptions of the nuances of Louisiana culture. But there little to look forward in reading about three two-time losers systematically destroying their lives through their own poor decisions. The only saving grace is that Burke does not swaddle these losers with victimhood.
January 26, 2019
Three down on their luck young men self destruct in Burke's debut novel due to a heady mixture of bad decisions and misfortune. Avery Broussard, the last heir to an aristocratic family that stopped being aristocratic three generations back drifts to a life of petty crime. JP Winfield, up and coming country singer finds fame and drugs. Toussaint Boudreaux, a black man is born in a time and place where his skin color will forever be his defining feature. Avery is the most culpable of the three while Toussaint has reasons to feel the most hard done.
It is almost three separate novellas with predictable bleak ends. It does not work as a tragedy because Avery gets the most page time and he was the least sympathetic of the three. The ending feels anticlimactic.
I would recommend it to only Burke fans to trace the evolution of Burke as a writer. He would go on to improve on almost every facet of writing - plotting (better paced), writing (more vivid), characterization (more layered). Here Burke only shows faint traces and subdued hints of the phenomenal writer he will go on to become. A solid but predictable tragedy. Rating - 3/5.
It is almost three separate novellas with predictable bleak ends. It does not work as a tragedy because Avery gets the most page time and he was the least sympathetic of the three. The ending feels anticlimactic.
I would recommend it to only Burke fans to trace the evolution of Burke as a writer. He would go on to improve on almost every facet of writing - plotting (better paced), writing (more vivid), characterization (more layered). Here Burke only shows faint traces and subdued hints of the phenomenal writer he will go on to become. A solid but predictable tragedy. Rating - 3/5.
August 26, 2020
A masterpiece in allegory. In this year, this book must be read. Burke follows the lives of three men. One is given a great talent that destroys him. A second man is lost and cannot find his way leading to the loss of his great love. A third overcomes his lack of family relationships and poverty and finds his freedom. We all are given talents and deficits. What we do with both defines our destiny. Burke is a master.
March 7, 2020
James Lee Burke is a great writer, but this stand alone was NOT a joy to read...You can sense the talent, but the characters evoke NO sympathy...We have a tragic interwoven tale involving three men in the post-WWII Louisiana ...the last scion of of a planter family whose land has been lost to the economics of the time...an African-American prizefighter/longshoremen...and a Hank Williams-like musician burning the both ends of a candle...downright tough read!!!
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July 22, 2015His first. Three hard-luck-Joes. Life is hard then you die. Harder for some than others. Hard people living hard lives. Burke is such an excellent story teller, easy with dialog, makes the local slang seem comfortable. And B. shows us you don't have to be a bad person to have bad things happen to you. Sometimes, the most innocent things trip you up. Not that there aren't bad men, but if you stay out of pool halls....Dad always told me, 'if you hang around the service station, your going to get grease on your britches'.
January 26, 2010
Ew. The worst James Lee Burke I've ever read. The only bad James Lee Burke I've ever read! This was a chore to finish.
January 25, 2020
Overall, this was a good read. This was my first book by James Lee Burke. I really enjoyed the writing style of the author. Easy to read, great character development, and good descriptions of the settings. This was a story about the lives of three men, three different lives, all from the deep Louisiana south. There was nothing outstanding about them. And, that is what made the story so great. They were ordinary men, on the lower wrung of society, who stumbled upon trouble either with the law and/or drugs and alcohol. And, by the end of the story, it doesn't end well for all three of them.
In some ways, this read much like a Mark Twain novel addressing issues of racism, poverty, corruption, drugs/alcohol, imprisonment, and the rough life that comes from living in the deep south. But, while I understand the author was intentionally being real and raw while reflecting life in the early 20th century South, the continuous use of derogatory terms about certain people rubbed me the wrong way. It almost made me wonder what the author was thinking when he wrote this. Every black man was always referred to as a "negro" or "nigger". And, every woman was referred to as a "whore", or simply used as sex objects. Literally, like throughout the entire book. Was that really what life was like in the Deep South of the 20th century? After nearly 400 pages of it, it got a bit tiring.
Nevertheless, I really liked the stories and experiences. I want to give the author another chance to show me that this is not what he thinks of people in other books. I look forward to finding out.
In some ways, this read much like a Mark Twain novel addressing issues of racism, poverty, corruption, drugs/alcohol, imprisonment, and the rough life that comes from living in the deep south. But, while I understand the author was intentionally being real and raw while reflecting life in the early 20th century South, the continuous use of derogatory terms about certain people rubbed me the wrong way. It almost made me wonder what the author was thinking when he wrote this. Every black man was always referred to as a "negro" or "nigger". And, every woman was referred to as a "whore", or simply used as sex objects. Literally, like throughout the entire book. Was that really what life was like in the Deep South of the 20th century? After nearly 400 pages of it, it got a bit tiring.
Nevertheless, I really liked the stories and experiences. I want to give the author another chance to show me that this is not what he thinks of people in other books. I look forward to finding out.
February 25, 2018
Burke introduces us to three addicted men from South, two to alcohol and one to drugs. The human nature of the stories reflect their struggles and how they cope with life with no punches pulled.
March 22, 2020
I understand that this book was a very early James Lee Burke novel, but it really disappointed me. I guess I am used to how his characters lives eventually collide in unique ways. In this book he introduces three characters, but only two of them ever are together in the same story line, and even those two are only briefly connected. I guess I expected more.
January 10, 2014
Just completed a re-read of James Lee Burke’s first published novel, Half of Paradise. Though he was only in his twenties when it came out in 1965, the signs of his genius were already apparent.
It’s a tale of three men whose actions and circumstances and the nature of the U.S. criminal justice system doom them to a certain fate. Avery Broussard, the last of a prominent family, is an alcoholic whose bad judgment leads him to prison. Toussaint
Boudreaux, an African American, is a longshoreman and prize fighter who falls down on his luck after breaking a hand in a match. And J. P. Winfield is a country musician who becomes hooked on drugs.
It’s not a joyful read. But Burke’s descriptive poetry, character development, and empathy for the lot of the common man are all there, along with many of his now familiar themes. There’s even a Robicheaux in the book, though it’s not Dave.
It’s a tale of three men whose actions and circumstances and the nature of the U.S. criminal justice system doom them to a certain fate. Avery Broussard, the last of a prominent family, is an alcoholic whose bad judgment leads him to prison. Toussaint
Boudreaux, an African American, is a longshoreman and prize fighter who falls down on his luck after breaking a hand in a match. And J. P. Winfield is a country musician who becomes hooked on drugs.
It’s not a joyful read. But Burke’s descriptive poetry, character development, and empathy for the lot of the common man are all there, along with many of his now familiar themes. There’s even a Robicheaux in the book, though it’s not Dave.
December 13, 2012
I wish I could remember who suggested I read this author. After seeing the other reviews here (thank you good reads and goodreaders) i will probably try another one of his books. But this thing I could hardly stand to read. In fact, after the first section "book one" i just started flipping thru and reading random parts... and found the writing rather uninspired and flat, and the character development dull and predictable. Maybe he was one of the first to observe and describe these sorts of characters, maybe that was forceful in it's day, and if so I appreciate my lack of perspective on making this critique.
October 28, 2012
Perhaps, had I read this in 1965 when it was written, I would have found it more interesting. As it was, I found myself getting confused with the characters (and there are only three main ones and they are pretty different), and not really caring what happened to them. Some of the dialogue, and the prose, is awful and painful to trudge through. Had I read this first, I likely would not have explored other novels by Burke. And that would have been the biggest tragedy of this book by far.
January 7, 2019
James Lee Burke's first novel. Characters are perfectly drawn but the subject matter is (as pointed out by other reviewers) extraordinarily depressing - from drug addicts in a downward spiral, to hard luck African American boxers who find themselves doing hard time through no fault of their own - if you are feeling overly happy with your life, have a read - this will calm you right down :)
October 2, 2012
Definitely not a feel-good book. Well-written, predictable, and disturbing. Interesting, but odd. It was one of those books that if the library loan would have run out before I finished the book, I would have been fine with that. Hmmm....
May 17, 2016
What a good but depressing read!
I love to read James Lee Burke. I've finally read the book that brought him to national attention. It's very enjoyable, but sad. I won't say more than that for fear of giving it away. I recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of Mr. Burke.
I love to read James Lee Burke. I've finally read the book that brought him to national attention. It's very enjoyable, but sad. I won't say more than that for fear of giving it away. I recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of Mr. Burke.
July 7, 2018
Low-lifes are miserable.
May 30, 2023
The first novel of James Lee Burke, one of the best descriptive writers I've ever read. I love Louisiana & the bayous, & New Orleans is one of my favorite cities to visit, full of wonderful memories, so when I read Burke's southern novels, including the marvelous Robicheaux series, I am transported back there & can see, smell, feel, taste, & hear everything I remember. His words bring the settings & characters to life like no one else, wringing every drop of emotion from me. Reading his books is an experience, not just a pastime. This book is the first taste of what's to come in a career spanning nearly 60 years. It follows the lives of three different men--Avery Broussard has escaped from his father's declining plantation to work on oil rigs & live his own life, but finally returns after years away to find the land & house dwindled & in debt & his father in poor shape. After his death, Avery has no other family, the land is sold to pay debts, & Avery has to fend for himself. He becomes involved with moonshiners & is caught & sent to a work camp to serve his sentence. Toussaint Boudreaux is a black dock worker with a side career as a boxer. Just as his fight career is starting to take off, Toussaint injures his hand & cannot fight or work on the docks. Looking to find a way to earn some money while he's out of commission, he becomes involved with a gang who sets him up as fall guy for a furs robbery. Toussaint catches on to what's happening, but too late to avoid capture by the police. He is in the same work camp as Avery. J.P. Winfield is a country boy who plays guitar & sings. He auditions for a music show for radio broadcast & becomes a local celebrity, but gets involved with a woman who is a drug addict & gets him hooked. These three lives are forever changed by their circumstances & the people they meet, trying to make a life for themselves & achieve some form of success & happiness, but thwarted at every step & falling back into the ways they're trying to escape. An amazing start to an astounding career for Mr. Burke who is 86 & still going strong--may you write forever!
November 26, 2024
"Cool Hand Luke" meets "The Devil All The Time."
There is so much that I loved and appreciated about Half of Paradise. A lot of my admiration comes from Burke's prowess as a writer. Even though this is his first novel, he excels in his descriptions and tone setting. His experimentations of shifting between third and first person whenever a character is high, hallucinating, dreaming, or feverish is genuinely really cool to read. He's a master at writing between the lines, in both the minutiae of intimate scenes and the novel's overarching themes of class keeping the little guy down. Burke takes the scenic route in his storytelling, and his novel is better off for it. Burke understands so much about poverty it's frightening. He knows that in a capitalistic, hegemonic, postbellum society, it doesn't matter if you're black or white. If you're poor and you try to get ahead, whether by musical talent, criminal enterprise, or honest hard work, you'll be knocked down a peg by the pitfalls baked into the system: drug abuse, lack of parents, alcoholism, legal maneuvering, and just plain bad luck. While at first Half of Paradise feels like a good ol' boy's long-winded yarn, it eventually transforms into a precise portrait belying a depth of soul rarely found in artists, let alone writers.
As much as I loved Half of Paradise, I wanted to love it more. I think Burke struggles to give his characters unique voices. Everyone sounds the same, and it can be hard to differentiate who is speaking. The characters fates and story arcs are barely intertwined as well, and this feels like three different novels smooshed into one. Half of Paradise can feel like a scrapbook of ideas more than a polished narrative, but at the same time it is absolutely deserving of the awards it received.
This novel is a relic of a bygone age, for worse, and for better.
There is so much that I loved and appreciated about Half of Paradise. A lot of my admiration comes from Burke's prowess as a writer. Even though this is his first novel, he excels in his descriptions and tone setting. His experimentations of shifting between third and first person whenever a character is high, hallucinating, dreaming, or feverish is genuinely really cool to read. He's a master at writing between the lines, in both the minutiae of intimate scenes and the novel's overarching themes of class keeping the little guy down. Burke takes the scenic route in his storytelling, and his novel is better off for it. Burke understands so much about poverty it's frightening. He knows that in a capitalistic, hegemonic, postbellum society, it doesn't matter if you're black or white. If you're poor and you try to get ahead, whether by musical talent, criminal enterprise, or honest hard work, you'll be knocked down a peg by the pitfalls baked into the system: drug abuse, lack of parents, alcoholism, legal maneuvering, and just plain bad luck. While at first Half of Paradise feels like a good ol' boy's long-winded yarn, it eventually transforms into a precise portrait belying a depth of soul rarely found in artists, let alone writers.
As much as I loved Half of Paradise, I wanted to love it more. I think Burke struggles to give his characters unique voices. Everyone sounds the same, and it can be hard to differentiate who is speaking. The characters fates and story arcs are barely intertwined as well, and this feels like three different novels smooshed into one. Half of Paradise can feel like a scrapbook of ideas more than a polished narrative, but at the same time it is absolutely deserving of the awards it received.
This novel is a relic of a bygone age, for worse, and for better.
January 1, 2020
Having read most of James Lee Burke's books, I recently began a re-read of them all, this time in order of appearance.
The first of Burke long line of novels, initially published in 1965 when the author was still under thirty years old, Half of Paradise lays a strong foundation for the work to come. Already present is the strong sense of place, the lush descriptions of nature, and the deeply flawed, troubled characters.
Half of Paradise centers on three young men, all from Louisiana but of widely divergent backgrounds, Avery Broussard, J.P. Winfield, and Toussaint Boudreaux. The three are trapped in bondages of different kinds, both of their own making and not. A depressing book about which the readers knows in his gut there will be no happy ending, Burke never allows these three to manifest an ounce of self-pity.
Some of the dialogue is awkward, but those who are familiar with Burke's brilliance see this debut novel for what it is and look ahead to the author's growing surety and mature writing.
The first of Burke long line of novels, initially published in 1965 when the author was still under thirty years old, Half of Paradise lays a strong foundation for the work to come. Already present is the strong sense of place, the lush descriptions of nature, and the deeply flawed, troubled characters.
Half of Paradise centers on three young men, all from Louisiana but of widely divergent backgrounds, Avery Broussard, J.P. Winfield, and Toussaint Boudreaux. The three are trapped in bondages of different kinds, both of their own making and not. A depressing book about which the readers knows in his gut there will be no happy ending, Burke never allows these three to manifest an ounce of self-pity.
Some of the dialogue is awkward, but those who are familiar with Burke's brilliance see this debut novel for what it is and look ahead to the author's growing surety and mature writing.
July 17, 2024
Half of Paradise is James Lee Burke's first book and it feels a bit like a first book, in that it is almost where it needs to be to stand out. There's a lot of good here, a lot of solid ideas, but too often the story moves slowly or certain aspects feel incomplete. There are good scenes and well-written segments but never the moment where the story is cooking and you can't put the book down.
Burke here lets the characters drive the narrative and some readers might be disappointed by the lack of a larger plot, but I appreciated the choice even if it doesn't always work.
It's worth noting that Half of Paradise is one of the bleakest books I have read. If you're reading this book and you think things can't get worse for the characters, don't worry, they can. After this book came out, James Lee Burke was compared to Thomas Hardy (an author even mentioned in this novel) and I can see the comparison. Burke and Hardy have both written books focusing on people trapped in the roles that society had made for them, who struggle to break free of those bonds.
Burke here lets the characters drive the narrative and some readers might be disappointed by the lack of a larger plot, but I appreciated the choice even if it doesn't always work.
It's worth noting that Half of Paradise is one of the bleakest books I have read. If you're reading this book and you think things can't get worse for the characters, don't worry, they can. After this book came out, James Lee Burke was compared to Thomas Hardy (an author even mentioned in this novel) and I can see the comparison. Burke and Hardy have both written books focusing on people trapped in the roles that society had made for them, who struggle to break free of those bonds.
September 22, 2020
This was apparently James Lee Burke's first book-- I don't want to pan it too badly-- but it just didn't light any fires for me...
We see the traditional Louisiana setting and nobody describes it better than Burke. The characters are practice characters for later novels he would pen and therefore we see them to be fairly stereotypical or Burkian types. There is always the crazy religious nut, the scum bag bully cop or in this case prison guard, the murderously dangerous guy... etc.
We see the strong prose and powerful dialogue that just got better as Burke continued writing-- I offer no complaints about the phrasing and colloquial speech.
The problem for me with this novel was that it simply did not go anywhere. It meanders around in a rich and wonderful environment-- but there seems to be no real plot-- no real resolutions-- Despite the rich characterization. there just simply is a wandering story with no direction.
We see the traditional Louisiana setting and nobody describes it better than Burke. The characters are practice characters for later novels he would pen and therefore we see them to be fairly stereotypical or Burkian types. There is always the crazy religious nut, the scum bag bully cop or in this case prison guard, the murderously dangerous guy... etc.
We see the strong prose and powerful dialogue that just got better as Burke continued writing-- I offer no complaints about the phrasing and colloquial speech.
The problem for me with this novel was that it simply did not go anywhere. It meanders around in a rich and wonderful environment-- but there seems to be no real plot-- no real resolutions-- Despite the rich characterization. there just simply is a wandering story with no direction.
August 6, 2022
I'll echo the sentiments of many other reviewers and say I can see the nascent talent in Burke's writing, but the story was incredibly depressing, and the craft was mainly lacking. Too much boring detail, inane conversations that dragged on and had no real impact on the story or the characters, and some stereotypical characters: the sadistic prison guards, the homely, bored, addicted prostitutes, the glad-handing politician, etc.
What stood out for me was Burke's excellent sense of place. He excelled in immersing me into the Louisiana bayou country, New Orleans, cotton farms, and other locations.
Definitely one to pass on if you'd rather read Burke's best works with Dave Robicheaux. But this book gave me hope as a relative new writer that my craft might improve by leaps and bounds as I continue writing. All writers can take heart knowing that even the greats weren't necessarily great with their debut novels.
What stood out for me was Burke's excellent sense of place. He excelled in immersing me into the Louisiana bayou country, New Orleans, cotton farms, and other locations.
Definitely one to pass on if you'd rather read Burke's best works with Dave Robicheaux. But this book gave me hope as a relative new writer that my craft might improve by leaps and bounds as I continue writing. All writers can take heart knowing that even the greats weren't necessarily great with their debut novels.
March 13, 2023
Mr. Burke is not known for his light and laughter-provoking stories. No wonder. He did lighten things up a bit once Dave Robicheaux came along, but his wonderful writing still told gritty tales.
Here, in his first published outing, it is all downhill. For those of us who think we have managed to sparkle and dance through life, the lesson is simple: we have been lucky. Life just as easily could put us on the street or the prison farm. Of course, some people do tend to help bad luck along.
This is my last book to read of all Mr. Burke's work, save the next one which drops soon. I am not expecting champagne and roses: "Flags on the Bayou", set in New Orleans in 1883. Like "Half of Paradise", it is a stand-alone and I expect it to knock the reader down. Like "Paradise".
Here, in his first published outing, it is all downhill. For those of us who think we have managed to sparkle and dance through life, the lesson is simple: we have been lucky. Life just as easily could put us on the street or the prison farm. Of course, some people do tend to help bad luck along.
This is my last book to read of all Mr. Burke's work, save the next one which drops soon. I am not expecting champagne and roses: "Flags on the Bayou", set in New Orleans in 1883. Like "Half of Paradise", it is a stand-alone and I expect it to knock the reader down. Like "Paradise".
July 8, 2024
The very definition of a three-star book. Too compelling to put down, but not enough to elicit much excitement to finish. Decent, simple, straightforward writing that tries to channel Hemingway, but lacks in momentum and sensory detail. And to boot, the story is dreary as can be. But what Burke succeeds at here is creating three characters who, despite their flaws, you root for, especially as they each persevere in the face of a society and a set of social circumstances that constantly work against them.
I find the three separate storylines to be interesting, though I would have preferred if they'd intertwined more. As it is, this is like reading three separate novellas that constantly interrupt one another. A good, unique read, but not terribly easy to recommend.
I find the three separate storylines to be interesting, though I would have preferred if they'd intertwined more. As it is, this is like reading three separate novellas that constantly interrupt one another. A good, unique read, but not terribly easy to recommend.
February 20, 2023
Found this gem in the paperback section of my local thriftstore. Funny, I've perused all the books on JLB's website but never noticed this one; his first published novel (1965) and, after reading it, I appreciate more how honed his craft was at the start of his great career.
Some reviewers didn't see much in it, a simple narrative following three seperate characters in their lifetime, all in southern Louisuiana. Love and tragedy and much time spent in and out of the penal system.
I found elements of the clear sentence structure of Hemingway and the darker run on paragraphs of Faulkner. If you're into James Lee Burke, a must find.
Some reviewers didn't see much in it, a simple narrative following three seperate characters in their lifetime, all in southern Louisuiana. Love and tragedy and much time spent in and out of the penal system.
I found elements of the clear sentence structure of Hemingway and the darker run on paragraphs of Faulkner. If you're into James Lee Burke, a must find.
October 25, 2019
After listening to Lay down my sword and shield, I found this one of BURKE's books to evaluate his style of writing. This one again is dark and depressing.
It is once again full of brutality and set in the south of America.
It leaves the reader/listener not wanting to know the outcome of some of the 'stories'.
I do not think I really like BURKE's style and subjects, but he certainly has a talent to involve a reader.
Recommended.
It is once again full of brutality and set in the south of America.
It leaves the reader/listener not wanting to know the outcome of some of the 'stories'.
I do not think I really like BURKE's style and subjects, but he certainly has a talent to involve a reader.
Recommended.
February 20, 2023
I believe this is JLB’s first novel, c. 1999.
I think it accurately portrays the beauty of life, and life’s brutal sadness when you die addicted to drugs and alcohol, or if there is such a thing, worse, live in that half-alive life of the incarcerated.
This would be a jolly good book to read, while you’re braiding a rope to hang yourself with, & you want to get one more book in before you die.
Yet I finished it—does that make me a masochist? You be the judge.
I think it accurately portrays the beauty of life, and life’s brutal sadness when you die addicted to drugs and alcohol, or if there is such a thing, worse, live in that half-alive life of the incarcerated.
This would be a jolly good book to read, while you’re braiding a rope to hang yourself with, & you want to get one more book in before you die.
Yet I finished it—does that make me a masochist? You be the judge.
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September 25, 2025Three men's stories don't really intertwine, except to offer, through their experiences and viewpoints, a look at life in and around New Orleans in what seems to be the early 1960s or late 1950s. Complex characters with messy lives, who come tantalizingly close to catching a break here and there, but who seem wilfully hell-bent on letting their weaknesses rob them of a reasonable working strategy to live with the world they inhabit. Writing is really nice.
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