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In the Path of the Storms: Bayou La Batre, Coden, and the Alabama Coast
The Gulf Coast villages of Bayou La Batre and Coden are two of Alabama’s most distinctive, with roots going back to the French settlements of the 18th century. For generations, the proud inhabitants of these communities have extracted their modest livings from the sea, sustained by a lesson handed down over time— that providing for the needs of one’s family is the only true measure of success. But the world has changed drastically for them. A global economy of higher gas prices and cheap imported seafood has threatened the lifeblood of the area. And in recent years a rash of hurricanes, culminating with Hurricane Katrina, has battered the hopes and dreams of these Bayou towns.
But they have known hard times and massive changes before. In the 1970s, refugees from Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos flooded into the area and within a few years made up a third of the local population. Three Buddhist temples soon took their places among the Catholic, Baptist, and Pentecostal churches that predominated, and for a time the different ethnic groups coexisted in a kind of uneasy peace. But now they are learning to pull together in an uncertain struggle to rebuild their communities.
In the Path of the Storms is a powerful portrait in words and photographs of a unique and unforgettable place. It is a story of tradition, and forces of change, and the epic struggle of these Gulf Coast communities to survive and thrive.
But they have known hard times and massive changes before. In the 1970s, refugees from Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos flooded into the area and within a few years made up a third of the local population. Three Buddhist temples soon took their places among the Catholic, Baptist, and Pentecostal churches that predominated, and for a time the different ethnic groups coexisted in a kind of uneasy peace. But now they are learning to pull together in an uncertain struggle to rebuild their communities.
In the Path of the Storms is a powerful portrait in words and photographs of a unique and unforgettable place. It is a story of tradition, and forces of change, and the epic struggle of these Gulf Coast communities to survive and thrive.
140 pages, Paperback
First published May 6, 2008
7 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 10, 2024
In this short, easily read account, the authors present the history of Bayou La Batre and Coden. There are two chapters related to Hurricane Katrina and it's aftermath and recovery from that devastation, but the long history of the area is covered compassionately.
I enjoyed reading this book, which reminds me somewhat of the Foxfire series, in which the younger generation listens to the wisdom of the older generation.
Highly recommended to anyone who lives in Alabama or us interested in historical accounts of life in small towns.
I enjoyed reading this book, which reminds me somewhat of the Foxfire series, in which the younger generation listens to the wisdom of the older generation.
Highly recommended to anyone who lives in Alabama or us interested in historical accounts of life in small towns.
October 7, 2014
It's clear that the author came to care about her subjects, something edited out of too many otherwise good books. Her almost reverential respect engenders the reader's empathy and invites them into the homes and lives of these hard-working people.
The book is at its best when the people themselves are allowed to speak, and there are several gripping accounts of the life and death struggles residents faced on that fateful night when Katrina came ashore.
It's important for the casual reader to understand though that this is more of a history book than it is a book about Hurricane Katrina. Certainly, there is a chapter devoted to Katrina, but the bulk of the text provides a view of the bayou's past, present, and future.
If I had a quibble, and indeed it is a very minor one, it's that the book felt more like a collection gathered from previously published accounts, so you don't get that first-hand feeling except in rare, shining moments. But as I said, this is a very minor complaint, a slight off-key note in an otherwise excellent book.
My grandparents lived in the bayou all their lives, and I spent a great deal of time there before moving there permanently in 2013.
This is a book that residents as well as outsiders can enjoy. I had approached it with some reservation, fearing that the locals would be ridiculed for their humble ways, but the author managed to avoid this, capturing the characters and the local flavor without sensationalizing the less savory aspects of bayou life.
Nicely done and a refreshingly positive look at life in one of the South's most unique and beautiful communities.
The book is at its best when the people themselves are allowed to speak, and there are several gripping accounts of the life and death struggles residents faced on that fateful night when Katrina came ashore.
It's important for the casual reader to understand though that this is more of a history book than it is a book about Hurricane Katrina. Certainly, there is a chapter devoted to Katrina, but the bulk of the text provides a view of the bayou's past, present, and future.
If I had a quibble, and indeed it is a very minor one, it's that the book felt more like a collection gathered from previously published accounts, so you don't get that first-hand feeling except in rare, shining moments. But as I said, this is a very minor complaint, a slight off-key note in an otherwise excellent book.
My grandparents lived in the bayou all their lives, and I spent a great deal of time there before moving there permanently in 2013.
This is a book that residents as well as outsiders can enjoy. I had approached it with some reservation, fearing that the locals would be ridiculed for their humble ways, but the author managed to avoid this, capturing the characters and the local flavor without sensationalizing the less savory aspects of bayou life.
Nicely done and a refreshingly positive look at life in one of the South's most unique and beautiful communities.
February 10, 2019
This book was an unexpected gem, outlining a community that existed in the periphery of my awareness while growing up in neighboring Mobile. Although we played Alba in sports, I knew little of the community. I gained a little more exposure when I visited the schools recruiting youth and adults during my time with the scouts and was always amazed at the resiliency of the people I met. This book brought this diverse community to life.
I highly recommend it. The book gives voice to an entire ecosystem hanging on for dear life to a tenuous existence ever on the precipice of disaster.
I highly recommend it. The book gives voice to an entire ecosystem hanging on for dear life to a tenuous existence ever on the precipice of disaster.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews