Pre Fest Reading List

[Terry]

"Louis Armstrong's New Orleans" by Thomas Brothers, a great read if you are interested in history of Jazz and the connection between what happens on the stage of Gospel Tent every year and Jazz.

[Nipsey Russell]

I start read beer labels.Abita..Blackened Voodoo...Just the classics
:p

[Carolina Beadhead]

I start read beer labels.Abita..Blackened Voodoo...Just the classics
:p

Oh, yeah.

And the restaurant menus....

[jazzykeb]

A Confederacy of Dunces - by John Kennedy Toole

[BigDag]

I like the idea of this thread. I'd like to contribute a couple of suggestions, although I know most of the regulars here have already read these...

"Why New Orleans Matters" by Tom Piazza. Not only does it state the case for the rebuilding of the City, it tells how Jazzfest changed the life of the author.

"A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole. A hilarious piece of fiction, set in mid-60's New Orleans. Absurd, yet so plausible, to anyone who has spent a lot of time in New Orleans.

"I Hear You Knockin'" by Jeff Hannusch. A history of old New Orleans R&B, told by the artists themselves. Great pictures.

Anyone else want to add to the list... ?

[Carolina Beadhead]

I like the idea of this thread. I'd like to contribute a couple of suggestions, although I know most of the regulars here have already read these...

"Why New Orleans Matters" by Tom Piazza. Not only does it state the case for the rebuilding of the City, it tells how Jazzfest changed the life of the author.

"A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole. A hilarious piece of fiction, set in mid-60's New Orleans. Absurd, yet so plausible, to anyone who has spent a lot of time in New Orleans.

"I Hear You Knockin'" by Jeff Hannusch. A history of old New Orleans R&B, told by the artists themselves. Great pictures.

Anyone else want to add to the list... ?


We HAVE to add Chris Rose's 1 Dead in Attic (http://www.chrisrosebooks.com/) to the list!

[Nipsey Russell]

Anything by Anne Rice
My favorites - feast of all saints, The Vampire Lestat, Memonch the Devil.
Just to set the mood
I read Blackwood Farm on the flight last year.

[saturn]

We HAVE to add Chris Rose's 1 Dead in Attic (http://www.chrisrosebooks.com/) to the list!

Absolutely, plus many of his columns published since the book.

[NeenAtlanta]

Managing Ignatius by Jerry E. Strahan

Frenchmen, Desire, Good Children and other Streets of New Orleans by John Churchill Chase

The Kingdom of Zydeco by Michael Tisserand

Under a Hoodoo Moon by Dr. John

The Borthers -An autobiography of Art Aaron Charles & Cyril Neville, by David Ritz

The Benjamin January series by Barbara Hamby

The Dave Robicheaux books by James Lee Burke

[saturn]

Another good detective fiction book -- Tony Dunbar's "Tubby Meets Katrina". I picked it up in NOLA during fest last year.

[Zenwinemaster]

Feet on the Street by Roy Blount, Jr.

Satchmo by Louis Armstrong

Bayou Farewell: The Rich Life and Tragic Death of Louisiana's Cajun Coast by Mike Tidwell

Letters from New Orleans by Rob Walker

Desire Street: A True Story of Death and Deliverance in New Orleans by Jed Horne

Rising Tide: The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 and How it Changed America by John M. Barry

Bad Bet on the Bayou: The Rise of Gambling in Louisiana and the Fall of Governor Edwin Edwards

Jazz Fest Memories by Michael P. Smith and Allison Miner

New Orleans Jazz Fest: A Pictorial History by Michael P. Smith

Huey Long by T. Harry Williams

[NeenAtlanta]

Oh yeah, I forgot about Dunbar. I read the first couple - City of Beads I think was the name of one of them. I'll have to pick up the new one.

[jonnygospeltent]

A Walk On The Wild Side by Nelson Algren.

[Fables of Faubus]

I like the idea of this thread. I'd like to contribute a couple of suggestions, although I know most of the regulars here have already read these...

"Why New Orleans Matters" by Tom Piazza. Not only does it state the case for the rebuilding of the City, it tells how Jazzfest changed the life of the author.

"A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole. A hilarious piece of fiction, set in mid-60's New Orleans. Absurd, yet so plausible, to anyone who has spent a lot of time in New Orleans.

"I Hear You Knockin'" by Jeff Hannusch. A history of old New Orleans R&B, told by the artists themselves. Great pictures.

Anyone else want to add to the list... ?



offbeat, the Jazz Fest bible.:cool:

[jodied]

We HAVE to add Chris Rose's 1 Dead in Attic (http://www.chrisrosebooks.com/) to the list!
I read that on the plane to fest last year...it is a must read!!!!

[Amyloves...]

I'm with Nipsey. Abita classics.

[nashvegasfess]

I rite ok but i dont read so goood.

[steeleye]

Here's one that's off-the-wall: "The Plantation Cookbook" by The Junior League of New Orleans. The second half of the book has some fabulous old creole recipes, but the first 100 pages detail a fascinating history of some of the more famous plantation houses in Louisiana. It's a cool book.

[Blitzzzzz]

Not exactly reading, but the Kerri McCaffety books, especially "Obituary Cocktail" and "Etoufee, Mon Amour" are great for getting in the mood or bringing the NOLA vibe back when you just can't wait to get there. Her "Majesty of" series, The French Quarter, St. Charles Avenue, etc., are very nice, too.:cool:

[mightyradgumbo]

The Great Deluge by Douglas Brinkley
I have yet to read this but I hear it is a great book


Absinthe: History in a Bottle by Barnaby Conrad-This is an intoxicating (pun intended) read.

[Blitzzzzz]

The Great Deluge is a amazing, frustrating, painful book. Reading it makes you feel like you want to scream, much akin to the post K days when we all sat in front of the TV screaming at Bush and Brownie!
Another similiarly frustrating book is "The Storm" by Ivor van Heerdon, the LSU scientist who pretty much called the whole thing in advance. The work his team did and his unrelenting criticism of the Corp are largely responsible for the truth about the levees eventually coming to light.
Both books are a tough go, but well worth the time and frustration.:cool:

[mangoon]

Have to second James lee Burkes dave robicheaux books.. In the middle of "Jolie Blons Bounce". Really good stuff.

[ibjamn]

I just recently finished Poppy Z. Brite's 3-novel Liquor series. Puts you right smack dab in the middle of NOLA's restaurant world. She's a local writer who used to write horror (which I didn't care for), but the Liquor series is a great, fun read. Her hubby is Chef Chris Debarr of Delachaise, an innovative chef and a great place to keep in mind for late night munching in NOLA. (On the corner of St. Charles & Delachaise, near Jackson.)

[Papins]

Any of the James Lee Burke's Dave Robicheaux books. IMO Neon Rain was the best one. Also, The Lords of Misrule by James Gill, The French Quarter An Informal History of the New Orleans Underworld by Herbert Asbury.

[Corona]

I just recently finished Poppy Z. Brite's 3-novel Liquor series. Puts you right smack dab in the middle of NOLA's restaurant world. She's a local writer who used to write horror (which I didn't care for), but the Liquor series is a great, fun read. Her hubby is Chef Chris Debarr of Delachaise, an innovative chef and a great place to keep in mind for late night munching in NOLA. (On the corner of St. Charles & Delachaise, near Jackson.)
ooh, I love those books too! How'd ya like....crap, I can't remember the 3rd one now...Liquor, Prime and then......?????

[ibjamn]

ooh, I love those books too! How'd ya like....crap, I can't remember the 3rd one now...Liquor, Prime and then......?????


Soul Kitchen. :)

[Cleophus]

I wanna second Neen's recommendation of John Chase's "Frenchmen, Desire & Goodchildren". It's probably my favorite non-fiction NOLA book. It's about the source of street names in NOLA -- but while that sounds like a pretty dry topic, the book is far from dry! Lots of great history and explanations in it... I'm constantly saying "Did you know... ?" to my friends when I'm in NOLA, about some historical story or quirk.

[Papins]

Song For My Fathers by Tom Sancton...if you like true crime, Killer With A Badge-Chuck Hustmyer, Desire Street-Jed Horne. There's also some books by former NOPD detective; John Dillman; French Quarter Killers, Blood Warning, Unholy Matrimony

[ibjamn]

PAPINS!!!! Your avatar!!! It's there! Congrats! :)

[MzJoey]

French Quarter Fiction. The Newest Stories of America's Oldest Bohemia.
An anthology of the best works of living writers on the heart of New Orleans. Edited by Joshua Clark

A most wonderful collection of short stories.

I'm thinking copies of these volumes would be an easy thing to donate for the silent auction in '07. Hell you can order them online and have them shipped to whomever will be collecting the items. (Just a thought (as I hug my volume)...ok, i'm a booknerd, worked in a library for 14 years, in the Acquisitions Dept. It was so hard to walk to my desk past booktruck after booktruck filled with the hottest things just published)

[Fables of Faubus]

I think that is a fabulous idea, miz. joey!

[ScoopJohnD]

Just finished 'Blue Monday:Fats Domino And The Lost Dawn of Rock n Roll' by Rick Coleman. A fantastic biography that not only gives Fats his proper due for the influence he had on music but also shows how (as the cover blurb states) " his 'big beat diplomacy' dovetailed with the civil rights movement and helped change America musically and socially." I highly recommend it.

I'm not much on guide books, but Lonely Planet has a series called World Food and their New Orleans volume is great. I don't know if it's been updated so specific listings might not be accurate, but it has wonderful general info on the foods and traditons of New Orleans and surrounding areas as well as fantasic photos, recipes and essays, including one on Fest and one on getting a biscuit recipe handed down that are just fantastic.

[Papins]

Ibjamn: thanks goes to CBH and DT....were it not for them, I'd still be going on no sleep trying to figire out how to post my pic....CBH was kind enough-and techwise enough to size my pic, and DT...well...DT stayed up with me into the wee small hours of Friday morning...

[traditionaloldies]

We HAVE to add Chris Rose's 1 Dead in Attic (http://www.chrisrosebooks.com/) to the list!

Just ordered this one, thanks. This will be the start of my collection into all things New Orlean. Great thread Terry i can see i'm going to be busy reading this winter.

[Terry]

.....with the response to this thread. I just ordered "Why New Orleans Matters", and " A Confederacy Of Dunces",and will definitely read "Blue Monday".

I must admit I had an ulterior motive in starting this thread, namely to start the juices flowing toward making the commitment to attend Jazz Fest 2007. This thread and the readings will keep me headed in the right direction. Thanks for all the suggested readings.Keep 'em coming.

[Papins]

Confederacy of Dunces is a classic. I remember I once loaned it to a friend, and he said that he got to hating Ignatius J. Reilly so much, he couldn't finish the book. How good is an author that can develop a character like that. That book is shear genius.

[ibjamn]

Confederacy of Dunces is a classic. I remember I once loaned it to a friend, and he said that he got to hating Ignatius J. Reilly so much, he couldn't finish the book. How good is an author that can develop a character like that. That book is shear genius.


So sad we look we lost the author so young. Like Walker Percy says in the intro, we mourn the body of work he would have produced.

[BigDag]

Terry: Make that committment to come to Jazzfest. In "Why New Orleans Matters", Tom Piazza writes that he went into debt to attend his first Jazzfest. He says it was the best decision he ever made.

[saturn]

Terry: Make that committment to come to Jazzfest. In "Why New Orleans Matters", Tom Piazza writes that he went into debt to attend his first Jazzfest. He says it was the best decision he ever made.

You mean not everybody goes into debt to get to New Orleans? ;)

[NeenAtlanta]

I forgot about one more that I really enjoyed - NEW ORLEANS, MON AMOR by Andrei Codrescu

It's a series of short essays that contain the dry wit he is known for on his NPR pieces.

[Blitzzzzz]

.....I must admit I had an ulterior motive in starting this thread, namely to start the juices flowing toward making the commitment to attend Jazz Fest 2007. This thread and the readings will keep me headed in the right direction. Thanks for all the suggested readings.Keep 'em coming.

Terry,
Like the punch line in the old joke about God and the lottery tickets goes:"BUY A TICKET!"
Once you've committed to that plane ticket, or hotel room if you're within driving distance, you'll never be able to use the old excuses about not going that you used to use to talk yourself out of going!
I used to do that, taxes on my house, heavy work load, etc., all those reasons. Once you pop for that plane ticket, there's no going back, then you just make it happen and you'll be glad you did!!!

[csoul]

Awesome thread, Terry. I'm reading "French Quarter Fiction" and was wondering what I would start on when I finish it. My list is now very long. Thanks to everyone for all the great suggestions. I can NEVER get enough info re: NOLA!!!

[funkkjunkie]

Wanted to resurrect this thread as I and a couple friends have been having a great time reading books listed here. Juana couldn't put down the nonfiction title, Rising Tide. Susanna has been through all 8 Benjamin January books by Hambly in less than 2 months and is begging me to find her some more books that take her to the New Orleans of the 1800's. I think I've read all of Burke's Dave Robicheaux books now. Can yall recommend some fiction set in old nola?

[NeenAtlanta]

Wanted to resurrect this thread as I and a couple friends have been having a great time reading books listed here. Juana couldn't put down the nonfiction title, Rising Tide. Susanna has been through all 8 Benjamin January books by Hambly in less than 2 months and is begging me to find her some more books that take her to the New Orleans of the 1800's. I think I've read all of Burke's Dave Robicheaux books now. Can yall recommend some fiction set in old nola?

Cool - I'm glad someone else like the Hambly. I think I only read the first two, but whew, talk about atmosphere!

Did you ready them KK?

[Orleansnj]

Have to add something I think I may have seen earlier in the thread - but not sure..

Bayou Farewell: The Rich Life and Tragic Death of Louisiana's Cajun Coast by Mike Tidwell

The Great Deluge

1 Dead in the Attic - definitely a good read.

[electric_lady]

You mean not everybody goes into debt to get to New Orleans? ;)

LOL. I too am going into debt to attend fest. But ya know, it's a small price to pay to hang out in Heaven for a bit.

My reading recommendation, "Coming Through Slaughter" a somewhat historical fiction account of Buddy Bolden's life.

[funkkjunkie]

Neen, I had checked out one of the robicheaux books and one of the january books from the library. I had read a little of both but I was having trouble getting into the jan. one so I passed it to susanna. Didn't ever go back to it.

[mamaroux]

All the Tubby Dubbonet books by Tony Dunbar, so you can feel like you're there all ready. I laugh when he mentions some of the places and musicians. I've finally got my hands on Tubby meets Katrina.

Why New Orleans Matters is amazing and highly recommended, as well as Do you Know what means to miss New Orleans? by David Rutledge. I was lucky enough to have autographed copies of each given to me last MG as a gift.

As much as I think the Douglas Brinkley book, The Great Deluge, is one of the best books out there about the thing, I don't think I'd recommend it for pre-fest, light hearted, get yourself ready, reading... but here's a link to the NYTimes review: http://preview.tinyurl.com/nymsj

I am looking for a library copy of Playing a Jazz Chorus by Samuel Charters right now. I won't buy it until I can get to Octavia books, but I may call 'em to see if they have it and order it that way.

[mamaroux]

The Great Deluge is a amazing, frustrating, painful book. Reading it makes you feel like you want to scream, much akin to the post K days when we all sat in front of the TV screaming at Bush and Brownie!
Another similiarly frustrating book is "The Storm" by Ivor van Heerdon, the LSU scientist who pretty much called the whole thing in advance. The work his team did and his unrelenting criticism of the Corp are largely responsible for the truth about the levees eventually coming to light.
Both books are a tough go, but well worth the time and frustration.:cool:

ABSOLUELY!!! they are the two books that I recommended to all our patrons who wanted something to read about the thing. I told they they'd get extremely clear images of what happened and want to scream and yell. We had a difficult time keeping those books in the library, they flew off the shelves.

[mamaroux]

I just recently finished Poppy Z. Brite's 3-novel Liquor series. Puts you right smack dab in the middle of NOLA's restaurant world. She's a local writer who used to write horror (which I didn't care for), but the Liquor series is a great, fun read. Her hubby is Chef Chris Debarr of Delachaise, an innovative chef and a great place to keep in mind for late night munching in NOLA. (On the corner of St. Charles & Delachaise, near Jackson.)

I'm half way through the last Tubby book, so I'll have to get online and find those to order in through the library, too. Sounds just up my alley. I just finished a book called "Last Bite" that was written by Julia Childs executive chef and enjoyed that very much. I love those culinary mysteries!

... and of course there's always Julie Smith's series about New Orleans, here's the link to her website: http://www.juliesmithauthor.com/characters.htm

[mamaroux]

Any of the James Lee Burke's Dave Robicheaux books. IMO Neon Rain was the best one. Also, The Lords of Misrule by James Gill, The French Quarter An Informal History of the New Orleans Underworld by Herbert Asbury.

James Lee Burke is one of my favorite authors... the lastest book had me going for sure. I kept calling one of my friend in NOLA, who was also reading it and we'd be screaming over the phone...OMG, did you read this yet? and we'd be hoping that Clete was going to change... but...

His next book is due out in June or July of this year... supposedly about Dave and dealing with the aftermath of the thing.

[Zydekitten]

I was fortunate enough to be able to meet both Chris Rose and Tom Piazza last year at Jazzfest and get them to sign my copies of their books - both wonderful guys and authors!

I also heartly endorse New Orleans Fiction, as well as the Chase street name book; these are older and sometime harder to find, but also good:

Twelve Bar Blues by Patrick Neale (fiction about jazz and much of it is set in New Orleans)

Shrovetide in Old New Orleans by Ishmael Reed (which has a couple of great essays by the author about New Orleans)

The Moviegoer by Walker Percy (a fiction classic, although it's not as much about New Orleans as some of the others mentioned in this thread)

Queen New Orleans, City by the River by Harnett T. Kane - a great non-fiction book from the same era as the Chase book.

[BillericayDicky]

I too am a huge fan of James Lee Burke and have read all the Robicheaux books. A new novel is due out July entitled "The Tin Roof Blowdown".
There is a movie in the pipeline of "In the Electric Mist with Confederate Dead".
Interesting to see who the cast to play Dave and Clete.
I am currently reading "White Doves at Morning" by JLB. It is set in the Civil War but uses the usual backcloth of Louisina particularly New Orleans and New Iberia.

[NeenAtlanta]

They made a movie of Burke's "Heavens Prisoners" in 1996. It starred Alec Baldwin as Robicheaux. He did a surprisingly good job.

[funkkjunkie]

another bump for lester

[Jaypee]

Well, my little New Orleans library has been covered here, but I'll add another plug for Offbeat. Just received the first edition of my new subscription...time to go find the damned reading glasses now.

[funkkjunkie]

Pulling this thread back to the top for all us summer readers!

[McGregor]

Confederacy of Dunces is a classic. I remember I once loaned it to a friend, and he said that he got to hating Ignatius J. Reilly so much, he couldn't finish the book. How good is an author that can develop a character like that. That book is shear genius.

That was the exact same thing my g/f said about the book, funny.

I'm about half way through it now and loving it.

[jonnygospeltent]

Since it's the 50th anniversary of being published I'm re reading "On The Road" by Jack Kerouac for the zillionth time.No matter how many times I read it I still pick up new insights every time.

[MzJoey]

Yes JohnnyG! I used to work in a Special Collections Library at the Big U wehre I work....it had a great collection of manuscripts, diaries, letters as well as a generous holding of Jack K and his contemporaries. It's a closed stack library where you can only page one item at a time and sit ina glass walled room w/ white gloves to read where only pencils and laptops (no scanners) are allowed. but as a staffer i could wonder the stacks at will...of course i was glued to the culinary collection donated to our library from JBeard and Julia Childs ...BUT...i loved browsing the beat stuff too...
NOW ....does anyone know how to print out this thread?

[NeenAtlanta]

I picked up "CNN Reports - Katrina State of Emergency" this year during Fest. It's copies of interviews and reports for each day leading up to and after Katrina hit. It's pretty fascinating - seeing who was saying what, when.

[NeenAtlanta]

I've got three other NOLA books on my stack of books to read by my bed:

A Song for My Fathers - A New Orleans Story in Black and White
- by Tom Sancton

Louis Armstrong's New Orleans
- by Thomas Brothers

Chasing the Devils Tail - A mystery of Storyville
- by David Fulmer

[Lester_leaps_in]

A Song for My Fathers - A New Orleans Story in Black and White
- by Tom Sancton



Let me leap in and second the recommendation for this one. I consider it must reading for anyone interested in Preservation Hall and the quarter in general. It's a memoir, not a definitive history, so it gives a very personal point of view and makes compelling reading.

[freebo]

And I'm going to second that Fats Domino biography:

'Blue Monday' by Rick Coleman

I mean, we all know who Fats is, but when you read his story, you will be amazed.

One of those classic "You think you know something until...." moments.

Now, I'm off to go find my dog-eared copy of 'On The Road'...

Peace yall!

[breambob]

Just finished my annual reading of TKAM, Harper Lee. Next is The Moviegoer.
On the stack is The Fool's Progress by Edward Abbey and On The Road.
Tennessee Williams' Collected Stories is in there too, wonderful southern slush. Somebody gimme something new (and worthy) please :)

[jolie]

A Love Song for Bobby Long (with Scarlett Johansson & John Travolta).. a GREAT New Orleans Movie based on the novel "Off Magazine Street" by Grayson Capps father Ronald Everett Capps. If you haven't seen it, find it!

[glinda]

YYR Jolie. I watched that just before fest this year and really enjoyed it, really conveys the feel of the city. And who can resist John Travolta?