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Catahoula Bayou #2
Junior's Leg
Fifteen years after he tormented fellow students at Catahoula Bayou School, Junior Guidry is broke, drunk, one-legged, and living in a wreck of a trailer on the edge of a snake-infested swamp. He's survived an oil-rig accident that would've killed most men but, with the help of a good lawyer, made him rich instead. But he's squandered his fortune on drink, blackjack, womanizing, and brawling, leaving a wake of wrecked cars and friendships, not to mention lost or stolen wooden legs. Then the mysterious Iris Mary Parfait enters his life. She's on the run from a tragic childhood and a bad, bad man. When news reaches Junior that a bar owner with Mob connections has posted a $100,000 bounty on Iris's head because she knows too much about him, Junior realizes he could regain his fortune—but at what cost?
Narrated in Junior's unvarnished voice, Junior's Leg takes the reader on a singular journey through the mind of a troubled man. It is at turns unsettling, ribald, sexy, and poignant—a bold stroke of storytelling that ultimately plumbs the possibilities of love and redemption, even for as unlikely a candidate as Junior.
Narrated in Junior's unvarnished voice, Junior's Leg takes the reader on a singular journey through the mind of a troubled man. It is at turns unsettling, ribald, sexy, and poignant—a bold stroke of storytelling that ultimately plumbs the possibilities of love and redemption, even for as unlikely a candidate as Junior.
- GenresFiction
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
7 people are currently reading
90 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
February 11, 2018
Laissez les bon temps rouler! So this ain't high falutin' lit. but it's sure enough a rollicking good tale with faulty yet lovable characters and a slough of Cajun patois to fill a shrimp boat. It's the second of a trilogy but can stand alone just fine. I'll read the others. Walter Benjamin be damned this here was fun!
May 3, 2019
I did not read the first book in the series, Meely LeBauve, but Junior's Leg by Ken Wells is a book that stands alone as a complete story.
Junior is a drunk, washed-up, one-legged meanie that blew all the money he received in an accident settlement. He is quite the character. Enter Mary Iris, she walks into Junior’s trailer home carrying her own criminal baggage. The two make quite a pair.
I love the Louisiana setting and the Cajun dialect added to the fun as well. The story is so funny I laughed out loud reading every single page.
Funny, rough and racy and definitely worth the read. It's a lot of fun and so enjoyable.
Junior is a drunk, washed-up, one-legged meanie that blew all the money he received in an accident settlement. He is quite the character. Enter Mary Iris, she walks into Junior’s trailer home carrying her own criminal baggage. The two make quite a pair.
I love the Louisiana setting and the Cajun dialect added to the fun as well. The story is so funny I laughed out loud reading every single page.
Funny, rough and racy and definitely worth the read. It's a lot of fun and so enjoyable.
July 5, 2012
This is the sequel to "Meely LaBauve", which I did not read. "Junior's Leg" stands alone as a novel, however.
A redemption story set in Louisiana's Catahoula Parish (probably based on LaFourche Parish) with all the symbolism the reader can handle.
Wells captures the dialect (and cadence) of modern day Cajuns better than any other writer I have read, although some of the dialogue is a bit forced, at times.
Overall, I enjoyed this book quite a bit and look forward to reading other works by Wells.
A redemption story set in Louisiana's Catahoula Parish (probably based on LaFourche Parish) with all the symbolism the reader can handle.
Wells captures the dialect (and cadence) of modern day Cajuns better than any other writer I have read, although some of the dialogue is a bit forced, at times.
Overall, I enjoyed this book quite a bit and look forward to reading other works by Wells.
August 31, 2018
This book has been in my collection of first signed editions for a decade or more. Finally, I picked it up. HILARIOUS. Junior’s Leg is the sequel in a series I’ve not read, but it didn’t matter. It stands alone with no problem. Protagonist Junior Guidry is a broke-down, worn-out, drunk-off-his-ass, one-legged, oil rig accident survivor who lives in a nasty trailer so close to a swamp in the Catahoula Parish that water moccasins swim beneath it. After the gnarly work accident, he received a nice legal settlement which he promptly squandered on blackjack, booze, and a string of women. Now, he depends on a “podnah” to deliver his monthly stipend of whiskey along with his disability check.
When Mary Iris Parfait (what a name!) enters his life by literally stepping into his trailer to hide from her own demons, what’s left of Junior’s life takes a positive turn from the quagmire in which he wallows. But not without a redemptive lesson in what goes around comes around. Puredee fun.
This book sharpened my Cajun vocabulary.
My favorite lines: Ghost or robber, I just laid there on the sofa watchin’ her come. Either one could cut my sorry throat and what could I do about it? Shuh, nuttin’. If she’s gonna cut my throat, I hope she’s got a sharp knife.
When Mary Iris Parfait (what a name!) enters his life by literally stepping into his trailer to hide from her own demons, what’s left of Junior’s life takes a positive turn from the quagmire in which he wallows. But not without a redemptive lesson in what goes around comes around. Puredee fun.
This book sharpened my Cajun vocabulary.
My favorite lines: Ghost or robber, I just laid there on the sofa watchin’ her come. Either one could cut my sorry throat and what could I do about it? Shuh, nuttin’. If she’s gonna cut my throat, I hope she’s got a sharp knife.
March 19, 2022
This has got to be one of the best books I have ever read. Junior narrates the story and sometimes speaks directly to the reader. I'll let you judge the type of person you think he is! Great twists and turns--funny, heartfelt, or dangerous moments that lead to a swashbuckling climax.
This is the second book in an awesome series. Mealy LaBauve is the first book if you want to begin at the beginning.
This is the second book in an awesome series. Mealy LaBauve is the first book if you want to begin at the beginning.
April 1, 2020
While it's not the fully rounded book that Meely LeBauve was, this sequel is still an enjoyable and satisfying read that humanizes and redeems the villain of the first book.
Warning, if strong language makes you faint of heart then pass on this one.
Warning, if strong language makes you faint of heart then pass on this one.
April 23, 2021
I absolutely enjoyed the second book that Ken wells wrote in this storyline. Junior is not a likable human being;however, by the end he’s a decent person. The way the author spun the story with Cajun dialect and added a glossary was terrific. Great story and no easy read !!!
April 18, 2012
Junior, the bully from the first book in this series, is all grown up now and just as ornery as ever when the book starts. He's lost a leg, and drunk away all the money he received as settlement for the oil work accident he lost his leg in.
A kind albino girl named Iris Mary comes into Junior's life rather unexpectedly, and together they have some misadventures that change both of them.
I didn't expect to like Junior as much as I did, considering how he treated Meely and company growing up. But when you learn about his home life, and his thought process (he narrates Junior's leg), a lot of that seems to make sense. And in the end, he does make peace with Meely and his past- in a surprising way!
I love how this book tied up the series - even though it's the second book written, it's chronologically third and I'm glad I read it in that order.
Sadly, my library didn't have this book! I'd read (and loved) Meely LaBauve and Logan's Storm, and wanted to finish out the series. They had to do a very extensive interlibrary loan for me -- they finally found a copy in Tulane University's library. So thanks to the folks who sent it all the way to NJ for me to read.
When I can afford to, I want to buy my library a hardcover copy so they will have the complete set- I'd hate to think that other patrons will be reading the series and have to miss out on this great book if they don't know to do the interlibrary loan.
A kind albino girl named Iris Mary comes into Junior's life rather unexpectedly, and together they have some misadventures that change both of them.
I didn't expect to like Junior as much as I did, considering how he treated Meely and company growing up. But when you learn about his home life, and his thought process (he narrates Junior's leg), a lot of that seems to make sense. And in the end, he does make peace with Meely and his past- in a surprising way!
I love how this book tied up the series - even though it's the second book written, it's chronologically third and I'm glad I read it in that order.
Sadly, my library didn't have this book! I'd read (and loved) Meely LaBauve and Logan's Storm, and wanted to finish out the series. They had to do a very extensive interlibrary loan for me -- they finally found a copy in Tulane University's library. So thanks to the folks who sent it all the way to NJ for me to read.
When I can afford to, I want to buy my library a hardcover copy so they will have the complete set- I'd hate to think that other patrons will be reading the series and have to miss out on this great book if they don't know to do the interlibrary loan.
October 19, 2009
Reading this, the second in a trilogy by Nicholls' great white hope, Ken Wells, former page 1 editor of the NY Times. Always tickles me to see the acknowledgment to Dr. Al Delahaye at Nicholls State University. I once caught Delahaye trimming his nose hairs in his office, door wide open, with a pair of regular scissors.
Anyway, I enjoyed this. A little too redemptionist, I suppose, but a good read nonetheless. I'd like to read the third one.
Anyway, I enjoyed this. A little too redemptionist, I suppose, but a good read nonetheless. I'd like to read the third one.
November 24, 2014
I picked up Wells' first book, Meely LaBauve, when I was in New Orleans last time. I like to try to get a book by a local author when I travel. It was GREAT, sort of an updated Huck Finn-type character. This book, Junior's Leg, focuses on a character from Meely and may even be a better read. FIND THESE BOOKS, read them and tell your friends!! Such great language, wonderful, complicated characters... They deserve to be read more broadly. Enjoy and... you're welcome!
March 15, 2013
Although it was difficult to imagine the change in Junior from the first book in this trilogy, he was such a stinker in Meely LaBauve, the book as whole was quite engaging. Good storytelling even if the characters seemed to be conveniently manipulated by the author rather than growing naturally out their own personalities. I'm looking forward to Logan's Storm, the last book in this series.
June 6, 2014
One of those books you have to stick with a bit before you can really start to enjoy it. It seems to have a message of redemption, but not that redemption is readily had or necessarily complete. "Junior" loses his leg at the start of the book and then uncoils out a semi-tragic spiral of living a life he made hard all by himself.
Worth reading, but not worth rushing to the bookstore for.
Worth reading, but not worth rushing to the bookstore for.
March 28, 2013
I kinda went into this book knowing it wasn't going to stack up to Meely Labauve, but still hoping for a good read. Sadly I was right. I just couldn't identify with Junior and found the book too far-fetched in too many ways.
July 25, 2007
book #2 in the series-- not as good as the first, but still hard to put down. The characters are lovable and despicable at the same time. A fun summer rEAD.
January 5, 2008
I read this book because I loved "Meely LeBauve" so much. It is not as good but still a good read. A "what goes round comes round" kind of story.
May 23, 2008
I love it when an author turns his own story on its head.
August 2, 2010
sequel to Meely LaBauve
October 27, 2010
and a half stars
July 30, 2011
love love loved this book
March 16, 2012
A beautifully rendered tale of squalor and redemption, funny, heartbreaking and true.
October 4, 2012
Loved this as much as the other books in the trilogy. This one was more coarse and raunchy ... but then, so was the narrator of this tale. Excellent!
October 12, 2012
A fun story, not as good as Meely LeBauve but a fun read.
September 3, 2014
Laugh out loud funny! Funny!
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews