I also love the sentinels of new orleans and there are many other books that i have read set there. The book is famous for its rich depiction of new orleans and the citys dialects. Essentially they did this survey of the music of new orleans from this era and if you want to understand what it consisted of and what it is now in the present this is the best book to read. Mardi gras or carnivale, whatever you call it, is a great setting for murder. How to write a novel about postkatrina new orleans the.
Book takes place in new orleans about a mother and young son who run a boarding house for the elderly. A debut novelists elegy for postkatrina new orleans the. The first two books in the series the long legged fly 1992 and moth 1993 are almost streamofconsciousness. Charles streetcar to uptown new orleans and visited a lovely independent bookstore, octavia books. To vote for the best of the best go to the goodreads board. As part of my research when going to a new place, i like to read some novels set there to kind of get into the spirit of the place. He was a photographer who made a pioneering effort to understand the traditions of the mardi gras indians, the spiritualist churches of new orleans and the social aid and pleasure clubs in other words, the tap roots of africanamerican and creole culture in new orleans. Im sure there are a bunch of more serious fiction and nonfiction that are set in the city of craziness but im looking at lighter fiction, romance, and mysteries. Interestingly enough, the city has also been mentioned in the plot of numerous novels which have been based upon new orleans and its citizen. A reading list for new orleans the new york public library. I just want to read something about characters from louisiana because it is such an interesting place with interesting backgrounds. So today im thinking of books set in new orleans while, appropriately enough, snacking on a praline bought on decatur street. In this book, his 16th featuring new orleans detective dave robicheaux, burke takes on new orleans postkatrina, setting a complex and everdarkening series of. Jan 22, 2019 for new orleans fans, the third book in the series, dark end of the street 2003, is perhaps the best as travers starts in new orleans and trawls through the south confronting the dixie mafia, a murderous elvis impersonator, and all the finery of americas southern underbelly.
This article in an ongoing effort to list the books, movies, television shows, and comics that are set or filmed, in whole or part, in new orleans. City of the dead by tony abbott, bite the dust by cynthia eden, voodoo on bayou lafonte by susan c. Busy streets, crowds, costumes, drinking mix it all together, and you have a. Well, most of anne rices books are set in new orleans if you can stand them i loved em as a kid, but cant tell you if theyve held up. The new orleans voodoo tarotbook and card set destiny books s by louis martinie and sallie ann glassman jul 1, 1992 4. Among various other family secrets that emerge from this discovery is the startling revelation that skid is a hoodoo word of ominous significance. Jun 17, 2011 it won the national book award for fiction in 1962 and is one of many walker percy novels set in or around new orleans. Historical romance novels set in new orleans fiction 24 books 11 voters new orleans trip 2012 books. In this book, his 16th featuring new orleans detective dave robicheaux, burke takes on new orleans postkatrina, setting a complex and everdarkening series of crimes against the disastrous effects of the storm. Best childrens books for a trip to new orleans kidstravelbooks. Many locals and writers think that it is the best and most accurate depiction of the city in a work of fiction. James salliss lew griffin series is all new orleans humidity and long, hot, steamy nights.
New orleans is featured in a number of works of fiction. The book is famous for its depiction of new orleans and the citys dialects, including yat. An africanamerican pi griffin drifts through the big easythe gothic cemeteries, cheap motels and barsseemingly with no plan beyond the next page. I hope every one is treating the city right at the conference. But dont think the city limits confine the detective. Dec 16, 2010 trying to find this book i read about 1980, it was the first book published by this man, his name was jonathan and i cannot remember his last name. A moody novel set in southern louisiana that will appeal to lovers of literary fiction, with a good ol mystery thrown in to boot. I read and loved it once years ago and had hoped to read it again before ala this year, but i couldnt quite work it in. New orleans is a city on the mississippi river, nicknamed as the big easy and known for its round the clock life. The new orleans voodoo tarot book and card set destiny books s by louis martinie and sallie ann glassman jul 1, 1992 4. Pages in category novels set in new orleans the following 50 pages are in this category, out of 50 total. New orleans, louisiana meet your next favorite book. And i know what you mean about the foreward bamayankee.
Five great books set in new orleans blog tripfiction. Larson is the author of the booklovers guide to new orleans and hosts the reading life on new orleans public radio. The most significant novel featuring the city may be the pulitzer prizewinning a. Kiernan, anne rice, james sallis, julie smith, and alexandrea weis. Busy streets, crowds, costumes, drinking mix it all together, and you have a recipe for the perfect crime novel. It covers the last months of boldens sanity in 1907, as his music becomes more radical and his behaviour more erratic. His novels drip with the atmosphere and grit of new orleans as his imperfect lead works his way through the crimes of a complex city. Crime fiction canada a database of canadian mystery fiction, movies and television shows. I just moved to new orleans and i was just wondering if theres any good fiction novels set here. The best books on new orleans five books expert recommendations. Dec 28, 2019 the book is famous for its depiction of new orleans and the citys dialects, including yat. Gilda is the badass queer black vampire superhero we all need.
For new orleans fans, the third book in the series, dark end of the street 2003, is perhaps the best as travers starts in new orleans and trawls through the south confronting the dixie mafia, a murderous elvis impersonator, and all the finery of americas southern underbelly. The 8 best movies to check out before visiting new orleans. Hambly takes us to the city circa 1835, when her detective benjamin january, a free man of color, is stabbed by an assailant going after the producer behind a theater company putting on a controversial new opera adaptation of othello. This is an intensive history of mardi gras in new orleans overall. A debut novelists elegy for postkatrina new orleans. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading murder in july. New orleans has long proven a notoriously difficult city to capture in prose, and gran, for all her talent, did not find it an easy task.
Breaking the race and gender barriers of the new orleans mardi gras tradition weaves together a comprehensive and important thread of new orleans history. The original post included tips about teaching kids about mardi gras and four book recommendations for books set in new orleans. Best historical novels about new orleans over the years i have loved the mystery and romance of old new orleans and read many novels about the city and even about colonial new orleans. The novel is a fictionalised version of the life of the new orleans jazz pioneer buddy bolden. Jan 05, 2018 the novel follows the members of a new orleans family immediately after hurricane katrina, alternating among their perspectives. This is one of the best, more recently published books, set in new orleans. The gilda stories is speculative fiction that takes place over 200 years in a variety of locations, starting at a brothel in new orleans in 1850. I do love to discover a new series writer and bonus if it is set in new orleans loopwhole i actually did read a confederacy of dunces after i saw it mentioned when i first started lurking around here.
One can hardly talk about crime novels set in louisiana without mentioning the plethora of books in the dave robicheaux series by james lee burke. As he unpacks the boxes after their move to eastern new orleans, the now sixteenyearold skid finds a diary which had belonged to his older brother frico. Historical mystery set in new orleans a benjamin january mystery book 15 kindle edition by hambly, barbara. The novel follows the members of a new orleans family immediately after hurricane katrina, alternating among their perspectives. Mysteries set in australia and new zealand this list is by readers advice. Since then ive started a series of books called best childrens books for a trip to which focuses on books to be used for getting kids excited about a trip.
Many locals and writers think that it is the best and most accurate depiction of the city in a. Jari jurgissomeone so broken she makes steig larssons lisbeth salander look wholeare found at all the best crime fiction. The best books on the music of new orleans five books. Baum reveals all the grit and glamour ok, mostly the.
While it deals with many things associated with the city, it does not trade on the tropes. So can anyone suggest some novels they have enjoyed that are set in new orleans. Some of the best fiction about the city comes from matthew c. Some of these have been hot favorites amongst their readers drawing attention. See more ideas about childrens books, books and new orleans louisiana.
There is tess, a white doctor who comes from money, and her husband. A novel of 1918 new orleans, with murder and all that jazz. The best mysteries set in new orleans criminal element. Piazza wrote his book in 2005, during five agonizing weeks.
Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. This book is a loving tribute, rich with detail, to the city, passionate on many fronts about why new orleans is such an important city. Happy to see jitterbug perfume is already on the list. Im wanting a fiction book preferably contemporary or romance that is based in louisiana or new orleans. Mystery books that take place in louisiana the cozy. This edition came out a couple of years ago and it was updated from the original book so they cover a little bit of the hiphop scene and bring it up to date.
Dec 24, 2019 one can hardly talk about crime novels set in louisiana without mentioning the plethora of books in the dave robicheaux series by james lee burke. Krists book reads like fiction as any good recounting of new orleans history should. Novels set in new orleans new orleans forum tripadvisor. Books on the table in new orleans books on the table. The classic pulitzer prize winning novel, a confederacy of dunces by john kennedy toole. Historical mystery set in new orleans a benjamin january mystery book 15. Sep 17, 2016 new orleans is the city that put the n in noir. Wolf,and a signed copy of why new orleans matters, by tom piazza. Trying to find this book i read about 1980, it was the first book published by this man, his name was jonathan and i cannot remember his last name.
Best romantic suspense novels set in new orleans 6. It would be hard to find another nonfiction book offering a more thorough tour through 40 years of new orleans sometimestragic recent history from hurricane betsy in 1965 to katrina. Before heading to new orleans, i compiled a giant list of all the best books about new orleans with the intention of reading several of them before and during the trip. Authors who have repeatedly or frequently used new orleans as a setting for their fiction include james lee burke, poppy z. I love books set in new orleans, i think it started for me with anne rices vampire chronicles and mayfair witches and my love has grown from there. Im currently reading a book called phantom evil by heather graham thats set in new orleans its supposed to have heavy romantic elements, i know not everyone likes that. See more ideas about new orleans, mystery and books. The chronicles of the new orleans carnival, errol laborde and michael osborne photog. Setting is the most important character in a book, she says. Another book that takes place in this time period is claire dewitt and the city of the dead by sara gran.