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Haunted Bayou and Other Cajun Ghost Stories
The late J.J. Reneaux was known for her skillful telling of Cajun ghostlore from the swamps and bayous of Louisiana. In Haunted Bayou, she draws from this unique gumbo of superstition, ghost stories, and true life experience, weaving ten original short stories and three traditional tales on timeless the struggle between truth and illusion, faith and temptation, good and evil.
164 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1994
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 12, 2026
Haunted Bayou and Other Cajun Ghost Stories by J.J. Reneaux is a collection of 13 short ghost stories steeped in Louisiana folklore. This collection of Cajun tales begins with an introduction written by the author that includes a brief history of the Acadian people, the purpose of these ghost stories, and a reminder of the connection storytelling has between generations.
I really enjoyed this collection of ghost stories, especially since I live in Lousiana. I chose to read this collection in February in celebraton of Folklore February and The Mardi Gras Readathon. Reneaux introduces each of the stories with a few fun facts before diving into tales that are both horrifying and hilarious. Illustrations by Wendell E. Hall are also sprinkled throughout the book, and a few of the creatures depicted are terrifying. I learned some new Cajun vocabulary (glossary included in the back of the book), interacted with some colorful characters, and spent hours exploring themes that provided some food for thought. Folkloric stories were told for entertainment purposes and to help people face their fears, but they were also intended to teach valuable lessons or serve as warnings for anyone being led astray. Many of these tales deal with the struggle between good and evil, faith and temptation, as well as fantasy and reality.
While I enjoyed all 13 of the stories, my favorites included:
"Haunted Bayou"
"The Singing Bones"
"Madame Longfingers"
"The Nightmare Witch"
"The Grunch"
I think anyone who enjoys reading ghost stories will enjoy this collection of Cajun-flavored tales. I would not mind checking out more collections in this American Folklore & Storytelling Series from August House.
I really enjoyed this collection of ghost stories, especially since I live in Lousiana. I chose to read this collection in February in celebraton of Folklore February and The Mardi Gras Readathon. Reneaux introduces each of the stories with a few fun facts before diving into tales that are both horrifying and hilarious. Illustrations by Wendell E. Hall are also sprinkled throughout the book, and a few of the creatures depicted are terrifying. I learned some new Cajun vocabulary (glossary included in the back of the book), interacted with some colorful characters, and spent hours exploring themes that provided some food for thought. Folkloric stories were told for entertainment purposes and to help people face their fears, but they were also intended to teach valuable lessons or serve as warnings for anyone being led astray. Many of these tales deal with the struggle between good and evil, faith and temptation, as well as fantasy and reality.
While I enjoyed all 13 of the stories, my favorites included:
"Haunted Bayou"
"The Singing Bones"
"Madame Longfingers"
"The Nightmare Witch"
"The Grunch"
I think anyone who enjoys reading ghost stories will enjoy this collection of Cajun-flavored tales. I would not mind checking out more collections in this American Folklore & Storytelling Series from August House.
September 20, 2024
As good as I remembered! Short and interesting little stories with a wonderful Cajun flair.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews