Louisiana Books

It is the issues brought up in Fife's memoir which current publications are often bursting with haste to bury: war, the social impact of art, the mixing of art and social reality, how individuals can have influence on their locale and their times. Each and every one of these themes, as well as other illuminated briefly in Fife's text, are what most readers will not find readily available at their local newsstands and megalithic bookstores. Fife concerns herself with true grassroots publication: the story of one journal. It is fitting that another press, grassroots and from the same region, would publish a text honoring its literary parent. It is honorable and rare that such a press would do so just when we need to remember this history and just when corporate publishing is so intent on forgetting.

Let's see: A materialistic, smugly self-satisfied culture, spying on its own citizens; a nation stuck in a useless war; young people searching for meaning in a culture that discourages non-conformity. Sound familiar? It should because that was then (the period of this book) and NOW. Everything recounted in this book has a current parallel and after reading it, you will ask, as I did: Why haven't we, as a nation, learned anything? This is recommended for any Gen X and Y folks who have been brainwashed into thinking the 60s Counterculture was some kind of error or mistake. Read, Learn, Act!

The alarm sounded by babes just learning about life - The continued energy that was necessary to actually protest our involvement in Vietnam in a way that helped make the American people aware of what we were really doing while at the same time living, loving, searching, finding. This is life in the trenches comittment and FUN -The pictures - that's how it was -The cartoons - A brisk slap that says question question question -Honoring the lode stone within Bob's what's interesting - important to me now and in that there's a lesson for us all- The clearest moves come spontaneous for those with the courage to honor their way of thinking instead of buying the - this is the way it is - farm It's a little history that paints a clearer picture than most. It belongs on a lot of shelves.

Darlene Fife's new book "Portraits from Memory: New Orleans in the Sixties" in a Memoir in the finest sense of the word. It is refreshing to read someone who is so self-deprecatingly honest about her own feelings and thoughts during the time she was Editor of one of the most important "underground newspapers" in America. This is not a "history" book filled with data, facts and figures striving to make a past time more understandable. The book is a series of connected written snapshots of a Time and Place, highlighting some of the people that the author grew and evolved with. It does not matter if you think that the people portrayed in this book are multi-manically insane, depraved drug addicts, dangerous political operatives, or sainted hipsters. The strongly held beliefs and political passions of all of the characters shines through the writing. There were "cells" like Darlene's operating all over during the sixties, one wonders how candidly other writers would deal with theirs.

What a wonderful surprise to find this beautiful book while searching the internet for information on New Orleans during the period I lived there, 1970-72. I am writing a memoir about the Sixties, and this book is a real gem. Of course, I knew Darlene Fife, the author of "Portraits from Memory," and Robert Head as publishers of the notorious "NOLA Express" bimonthly, but I was a political radical and kept my distance from the counterculture. Reading Darlene's memoir, I realized how truly radical she and the paper were, and also remembered how supportive they were to me, however unappreciative I was at the time. I recommend the book to anyone who cares about literature, free speech, the sixties and the undereground press, early environmentalism, New Orleans, the nuts and bolts of community organizing, and anyone who appreciates a beautifully produced book from a small regional press that deserves support.

PATRICK RALEY is a Louisiana high school math teacher off to a great start as an author of suspense mysteries.

In PRECEDENT FOR JUSTICE we find a well-proportioned, action packed novel with three or four pots boiling all at the same time. It's a fast read and an absorbing one as a New Orlean detective joins forces with a beautiful, successful reporter for the TIMES-PICKAYUNE to solve the brutal murder of one of Louisiana's richest couples.

It seemed I could never read less than five chapters when I picked it up. When I put it down I couldn't wait to get back to it again. I predict we'll be hearing lots more from Patrick in the future. FIVE STARS
John W. Cassell

JOHN W. CASSELL has written seven novels including a mystery adventure DeVilliers County Blues: 1972. In 2006 he retired from a career in law enforcement that spanned from 1971. Cassell has recently published four guest editorial columns in Israel National News.

Precedent of Justice is definitely worth the read. I found that I couldn't put the book down until I finished. The story moves briskly as the relationships between characters richly develop. The who book was interwoven with honest heartfelt relationships and unexpected twists and turns that kept me in the pages. The ending was definitely a surprise I didn't see coming. Anyone who loves mystery does not want to miss out on this author. I just wonder when the next one will come out?

I consider myself an avid reader. In the process I've picked up many books and found the story lacking depth. Sometimes I wish the author would spend more time developing people instead of just plot twists.

I think that's why I loved this book so much. I felt like I knew each character as I read and learned about them. Also the story kept me guessing. The ending definitely blew me away. I thought I knew for sure how the story would end. It's scary to think that minor technicalities can set guilty people free, but I know it does happen. Now I understand just how easily criminals can abuse our justice system.

The story grabbed my attention from the very beginning. I found myself asking a thousand questions after just the first three pages. As I read and found the answers, many more questions replaced them. Definitely a quick page-turner. I hope they make a movie out of this one. It would be a blockbuster.

For anyone looking for something that breaks the mold of the regular old mystery/thriller, this is the book for you. Just don't take my word for it though, get it youself and see. I can't wait for the next one.

Raley's work, Precedent of Justice, takes you to a dark place that everyone fears to tread but so willing ventures. An emerging partnership within the story illuminates this dark place by turning suffering into human triumph. The story is filled with great detail. His characters have depth and a believability so intense that you feel like you may have met them in a past life. The struggle between good and evil, humanity, and suspense all weaving throughout the plot to create a classic murder mystery. Buy this book!

Suspense, mystery, a touch of romance, and a whole lot of murder and secrets are what this story is all about.

When the wealthy Lafleur couple's murder was committed, Detective Charlie Peppers' life and career drastically changed. He was put on the case to find the murderer and the motive. It seems a lot of people had financial or business ties to the Lafleur's; but who would go so far as to murder them in cold blood?

Nancy Raults a reporter for the Times wanted this brutal story more than anyone, it is a good thing she had an informant that supplied her with the information she would need to find the Lafleur home. After throwing up dinner on the Lead Detectives shoes upon seeing the bodies, Nancy had no idea how close later down the road they would become. It could possible cost them both of their hard earned careers.

An obviously guilty man knew which strings to pull and favors to call in when he was arrested and tried for murdering the Lafleurs. When the murder weapon along with the other evidence came up missing and Mr. Dizorno was proven innocent; at that moment the crap hit the fan. All the secrets that the guilty parties were harboring would soon leak out.

With the help of someone Charlie trusted most, the murderer would be brought to justice. The sad thing is the murderer was actually guilty of the first crime committed but innocent in the second accusation for another murder. How you ask? It is jaw dropping and heart pounding when the truth finally comes out.

Mr. Raley had my full attention from the very start. This story should be made into a movie, it would be topper on the box office charts for sure. Great detail and believable events proves that Mr. Raley has the skilled hands of a talented writer. When I got to the very last chapter of this book, my jaw literally dropped, a surprise ending caught me completely off guard. This is a 5 heart review all the way! Mystery/Suspense lovers out there need to add a copy of Precedent Of Justice to your library.

To learn more about Patrick R. Raley visit Blu Phier Publishing on myspace

The collaborative effort of Linda and Steve Bauer, "Recipes From Historic Louisiana" is a compilation of recipes drawn from the head chefs of forty-eight popular restaurants and dining establishments from Louisiana and ranging from Alexandria, through Evangeline Country, to venerable New Orleans. Embellished with fascinating stories combined with savory 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes that can transform ordinary meals into culinary delights, "Recipes From Historic Louisiana" showcases dishes that range from Bronzed Stake with a Gingersnap Gravy (K-Paul's Louisiana Kitchen); to Barbecue Rib-Eye (Dickie Brennan's Stakehouse); to Trout Meuniere Amandine (Galatoire's); to Gumbo Ya-Ya (Commander's Palace); to Spiced Butternut Squash Soup (Mabry House). For a 'kitchen cook friendly' collection of authentic Louisiana cuisine, add Linda and Steve Bauer's "Recipes From Historic Louisiana" to your cookbook shelf! Also very highly recommended is the Bauer's companion collection, "Recipes From Historic America: Cooking & Traveling With America's Finest Hotels".

Linda and Steve Bauer cooked up a big 'ole gumbo pot of the best of Louisiana cuisine. Their timing was a divine appointment as they may have unknowingly preserved precious cultural treasures in the wake of Katrina. Bravo!

This is one of the best cookbooks that I have ever bought It is full a great recipes and beautiful pictures. Linda and Steve Bauer had done an excellent job on this book.

Fara Raines

I recently received a couple of books, and Ms. Bauer's was in the stack. After I skimmed it, I called a friend and started talking about the recipes as well as New Orleans in general. An hour later I realized we were STILL talking about her cookbook!

Bottom Line: I consider Top Ramen a food group and I was enthralled. Anyone with even a slight interest in cooking or New Orleans will be extremely pleased with this offering.

New Orleans has always, until Hurricane Katrina, been first and foremost famous for its food and restaurants. Recipes from Historic Louisiana is a collection of 120 favorite dishes from chefs at 48 of Louisiana's most famous restaurants. The history, stories and 130 full-color beautiful photographs combine with the recipes to enable you to recreate this incredible cuisine at home. The book is interesting in of itself for its historical content and the recipes are great.

I served the Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Bananas and Vanilla from G. W. Fins restaurant at a recent dinner party and received several requests for the recipe.

The authors present easy-to-follow instructions for all the famous Creole and Cajun dishes that will bring back fond memories of New Orleans for those familiar with the Crescent City. And even if you've never been there, you'll have a hard time trying to decide which recipe to try first.

Some of my favorite recipes from the book are Bananas Foster French Toast, Pesto Cheesecake, Slow Roasted Brisket, and Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Bananas and Vanilla. If you've ever been to Louisiana, or are familiar with its cuisine, you'll love this book. I haven't been there in over 20 years and Recipes from Historic Louisiana was a real stroll down memory lane, in addition to being a cookbook that you'll want to have. The book is beautiful, the recipes are sublime, and a portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book will benefit the National Trust for Historic Preservation Hurricane Relief Fund.

While taking an African American literature course in college I was introduced to this novella written by William Craft. It is a must-read for American and African American history classes. The novella is a quick and easy read, with the capacity for great discussion and in-depth analysis. Humor, suspense, mystery and action is all provided in this wonderful tale of escape and hypocrisey.

Ellen and William Craft were a young (mid-20's) slave couple who made a daring escape to freedom. Light-skinned Ellen cut her hair short and dressed in the suit and tophat of a white planter. Since she was illiterate, her husband William made a sling for her arm, so she had an excuse not to sign hotel registers. And since she had a womanly voice, the couple devised a poultice tied around her jaw indicating she had a bad toothache and could not speak. William played the role of his white massa's slave. And the couple traveled by train, steamship, and wagon to their destination in the north. They soon became popular lecturers in the United States and Europe. This is a remarkable story of daring and bravery and should be read by everyone. Anyone who wants to introduce their children to good historical fiction should get them The Journal of Darien Duff, an Emancipated Slave, The Diary of a Slave Girl, Ruby Jo, and The Journal of Leroy Jones, a Fugitive Slave.

This book is a captivating account of the injustices of slavery and a amazing story of two fugitives running for there freedom. This book is a great story that should be taught in schools and should not be ignored in American History classes. It opened my mind to the horrors slavery actually caused. It represents a part of our history that should never be repeated. 5 plus stars.

I read this for a college history survey course before it was mistakenly announced that the book was out of print. The book was dropped from the syllabus, but I am glad I read it anyway.

The first and shortest part of the book is William Craft's powerful account of how he and his wife Ellen executed a daring escape from servitude in Georgia. Their plan was remarkable in its ingenuity: The almost white Ellen, outfitted with a master's clothes and a poultice on her face to prevent incriminating speech with strangers, and her husband William, disguised as a servant, escaped to freedom in the north. Travelling by rail, the pair exultantly crossed over into Canada and from thence headed for England.

The second part of the book is a third person summary of the couple's travels after their ambitious escape. It follows them from Georgia through the slave and free states, in which they were well received and protected (especially in Boston), up to Halifax and across the water to England. I found the final two thirds of the book the most enjoyable, as it treated of foreign travel, in which I have a keen interest. Both portions of the book are beautifully written and often gripping. I hope a few of my classmates read this before that announcement. This book is both pleasurable to read and historically vital.

Running a Thousand Miles for Freedom is a must read for all American history students and should be required reading at least at the high school level. This book gives the reader a first-person view of that "Peculiar Instition" known as slavery and to what lengths one will go to achieve personal freedom. This book will change your view of slavery forever.

I have read all but 2 of the books that r out & i stay up until 1;30 in the mornig to finish it in the 1st sitting! I totally recommend this book 2 EVERYONE! I u r looking for exciting reading than go from the 1st through the last ASAP!

This book is a thriller because there is suspense since it is hard to survive in a place full of alligators and snakes. This is the best Survival book of the series and it has one hilarious part: Phillip getting attacked by the "stick snake". This is Simon signing out.

It's kind of hard to say how much I would give this series two thumbs up, and FIVE STARS. I have read all ten that are out and they are totally cool. I would recommend these to the world if I could, and would sure hope that Karen and Kathleen get this. These books rock! I hope they can release the eleventh as soon as possible so I can read it.

This is the story of a wealthy twelve-year-old boy lost in the bayous of Louisiana in the 1850s and the poor Cajun girl who attempts to rescue him. It was a very exciting story filled with historical details. I also really liked the character of Lily. She was a very strong, determined girl who didn't let her handicap stand in her way!

This book is so exciting, as is all the other books in the Survival! series! I think Lily LeGrand was a great character, and her problems were very realistic. Paul is also a great character. Their problems, the setting, and everything else was very realistic. The details help me feel like I was really there with them. I hope Kathleen Duey and Karen A. Bale keep writing these books. They rock!

February 27, 1973. That's the day Avery was born. Nine months earlier, her mother and I spent a magical weekend at the Holiday Inn in New Iberia, Louisiana. We were both students at Tulane University in New Orleans.

Avery's mother and I didn't have much (any) money. We had heard that there was a very special place where they made Tabasco sauce and that one could tour the island and visit the salt mine for free.

So we drove from New Orleans to New Iberia, checked into the Holiday Inn and went on the (free) tour of the McIlhenny estate. It was magical: decades before it became politically correct to preserve wildlife such as the snowy egret (a bird), the McIlhenny family set aside an island paradise for anyone to see who bothered to make the (unadvertised) trip.

My wife and I named the wonderful girl conceived on our trip to Avery Island 'Avery".

Avery has married and has given me twin grandchildren, Anna and Jackson. I look forward to the day when I will walk Avery Island with them.

Wonderful photos, well written and a very thorough and fun to read history of our favorite hot sauce, Tabasco.

I purchased this book for several of my family members. It is so much more than a beautiful coffee table book, although, it is extraordinarily eye pleasing and informative! Not only are the recipes easy and delicious, they really represent a terrific display of authenic history of our Louisiana culture. The McIlhenny family history is as interesting as the story of how "Tabasco" became such a beloved icon of Avery Island and all of South Louisiana. I would reccomend it as a gift to your favorite "person who has everything"!

I have read both Rothefeder's book and Bernard's book. The former appears to be full of factual errors, some of them so ludicrous as to be laughable. The obvious anti-McIlhenny bias held by Rothfeder makes his work less believable, editorialized, and speculative. In contrast, Bernard's book is riveting, full of details, historical documents, and illustrations to which no one else has had access. The fact that the McIlhenny's have held their company together through ups and downs, profitably, is a testament to what is right about their business philosophy. Bernard's book was published by McIlhenny Company, but since he IS the company historian, you can bet that everything in there is accurate. It is the OFFICIAL history of Tabasco for good reason. If you're a fan of the sauce, you'll love this book.

I was fortunate enough to be selected as one of the archaeologists who worked on recovering the site of the first Tabasco factory. That is where I met the author of this book, who at the time (2000) was still a Ph.D candidate.
With that disclaimer mentioned, this book is a fantacstic, all-encompassing story about one of the most beloved American products of all times. From it's humble beginnings that pre-date the Civil War, to its survival into the modern age of manufacturing and production, this book offers facinating tidbits of triva and many "are you SERIOUS??" revelations throughout. I particulalry like seeing how Tabasco's advertising campaigns have evolved over the years. The book does a great job in tracking the rise of a truly original American invention.
The author has been the McIlhenny Company historian for many years now and is THE source on all things Tabasco. He brings a great style to this book and has included some of the more rare photos from the past to help tell the story. Truly a must-have if you love Tabasco, if you want to know more about how this American legend began, or if you just want see how they get so much heat into such a little bottle.

Ayyyyieee!!

I just finished Taxing Tallula and really had a few belly laughs.I identified with several of the characters and the abundant "Comfortable in Chaos" that many of them shared.The characters were "Real" and many I have met before.The authorwas able to paint a picture in words in many instances such as the holiday sights and scenes and the environmental amviance that goes with such.It would be interesting to see a sequel to this story to find out how T.J. manages or unmanages the rest of her life.

Taxing Tallula is a very entertaining book! T.J. Marino has many problems, and they all need to be dealt with NOW! A gambling habit she's trying to break. Three marriage proposals. A Mafia connection. What's a girl to do?

L.L. Lee does a marvelous job of weaving all of these aspects, along with the idiosyncrasies of small town life, into a believable, funny, enjoyable book.

I consider all of L.L. Lee's books in the "must read" category.

L.L. Lee's first novel will appeal to anyone who enjoys fast-paced farcical literature with an emphasis on eccentric characters. But it will especially appeal to anyone with small-town experiences. Having lived most of my childhood in Louisiana, I must say that Lee's Louisiana reflects the real one in the funniest and most bizarre ways. But gambling problems, the mob, and crooked politicians in the Pelican State? Can I believe all of that? Well, actually, yes.

One scene in particular epitomizes Lee's comic skills. When a hard-at-hearing man happens into the middle of a poorly timed break-up of two lovers, his attempt at comprehending the words somehow turns into a threat that causes him to leave all his money and take off running!

The main character, T.J. Marino, is a special treat who will stay in the minds of readers, even after they forget the details of the plot. Marino is one of those offbeat, lovable characters who manages to put herself into every bad situation possible! However, you can put yourself into a good situation by reading this delightful book!

Taxing Tallula is a delightful story which keeps the readerguessing and entertained through the events surrounding taxday....T.J. Marino is an interesting character who, combined with the delightful writing talents of L.L. Lee, makes us look forward to many more books by this new author.

Taxing Tallula was an excellent story entwining tax day emotions of a small town with the twists and turns of T.J. Marino's life. The various supporting characters are enchanting. Whether you're from the South or not, this book was a riveting read. It simultaneously keeps you in suspense and makes you laugh. I can't wait for more books from this wonderful writer!

I read this book several years ago and was in a bookstore a while back and recommended it to a friend. It's the classic plot of finding and setting up a dupe to kill and collect the life insurance. What was most perturbing to me about the book was not the plot itself, but the easy with which the detectives were going to close the case without investigating and that the insurance company was simply going to fork over hundreds of thousands of dollars no questions asked.

I READ UNHOLY MATRIMONY A FEW YEARS AGO AND HAVE BEEN IN LOVE WITH BOOK SINCE. BEING A NATIVE OF NEW ORLEANS I WAS FASCINATED BY THE STORY LINE. IT WAS A COMPELLING STORY OF EVENTS. MR. DILLMAN WROTE WITH SUCH COMPASSION THAT YOU CANNOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN.ABSOLUTELY EXTRAORDINARY.

Well-written true crime story of conspiracy to commit crimes for money - including conning a very naive girl into marriage (to an already married man), obtaining a large insurance policy on her life, and then murdering her in a horrific manner. Amazingly cold-blooder killers: however very little background history on them, which is probably why this book is a little brief. There was another story done, "The Girl, The Con Man, and the Massage Parlor King" by Gregory Curtis in Texas Monthly July 1976, and it is now in a book called Texas Crime Chronicles. This story gives a little more information, from a bit of a different perspective, if you are interested.

I searched for quite some time before I asked Amazon.com to find this Dillmann treasure for me. It was certainly worth the wait! Mr. Dillmann takes his readers through the dirty detective work of tracking down a killer in a way that just won't allow you to put the book down. Being a native of the New Orleans area made this thriller even more interesting to me, however, anyone would enjoy this well written tale. I highly recommend the book to anyone who enjoys a mystery or true crime.

If you love true crime, this is a book not to be missed. Although being a native New Orleanian adds to one's appreciation of the story, every true crime fan will become engrossed in the story of a con man and his co-conspirators, who take advantage of a young naive girl. The story of the investigation is fascinating. Dillman is a master storyteller, as evidenced by his other books. Highly recommended!

We as Freemen describes details and history of Plessy vs. Ferguson that my history books had overlooked,,,and I was an American history student in college. We as Freemen is an effective lesson in race relations, legal history, Supreme Court history, Reconstruction history. The reader knows the outcome of Plessy vs. Ferguson case, but the book reads with a compelling story up to the fateful decision. The characters don't know what will happen, and Mr. Medley describes the Supreme Court changes that they must consider,,,you almost forget the historical outcome and keep reading to find out what happened. A scholarly read that I recommend to anyone who enjoys history or period books. With the pending changes at Supreme Court right now,,,this is surprisingly relevant right now.

"We As Freemen" is a book that reminds us that the names impressed on our court cases were people with professions, families and all of the messy problems of ordinary life. The author draws on original documentation to illustrate the pains of the free and newly free Black populace as they watched their liberties curtailed or removed entirely. It was interesting to read the precise legal choices of the Comite des Citoyens as they moved to ensure that the charges against Plessy be properly drawn (This was reminiscent of Taylor Branch's "Parting the Waters"). The text is clear and dramatic. It could easily serve both as a warning of how freedom is lost and as encouragement for anyone seeking a roadmap for change.

We as Freemen captures the imagination of the reader from its wonderfully illustrated cover to the very end; and it just won't let go. Keith Medley reveals a great deal about the people, organizations,strategies and tactics behind Plessy vs.
Ferguson.

Well-written. Well-documented. Well done!

I enjoyed this book so much that I read it in about 6 hours. Medley provided tremendous insight that helped to explain the context in which the case unfolded. Oddly, the descendents of some of the players are still alive and well in Louisiana. Fortunately, so is the fight for equality and justice!

This book was the perfect read on the 50th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education.

Long before Rosa Parks refused the disrespectful order
to go to the back of the bus in Montgomery, Alabama,
came Homer Plessy, the young shoemaker who knew he'd be
arrested for refusing to leave the "whites only" car on
the New Orleans railroad. He refused to go to the
segregated car in order to make the point that the law
was cruel and unjust. A federal case was made of it,
and in the end, the US Supreme Court made segregation
the law of the land for the next 53 years. The high
court ruled that "separate but equal" was fair and
equitable but history has proven there was nothing fair
nor equal about that decision. History also proves
there was no justice in that high court opinion and no
wisdom or sense of human rights residing with the
Justices who issued it.

In "We as Freemen," Keith Medley uncovers the rich and
intriguing history of the personalities who fought for
equality 30 years after the Civil war ended, but
generations before U.S. rulers ended legal
discrimination based on skin color. In carefully
crafted prose, the author is apparently the first
researcher to explore the character, mores and lives of
the long forgotten men of the Comité des Citoyen
(Committee of Citizens) who planned and carried out the
peaceful challenge to Louisiana's Separate Car Act of
1890. Homer Plessy did not suddenly challenge
segregation. In a story well-told, Medley turned up
primary research found in dusty nooks and crannies, and
church, library and cemetery logs around New Orleans,
which is his hometown. He describes the efforts of
businessmen, lawyers, educators, and artisans to stop
segregation from taking hold in the South. They
conducted their campaign while the forces of reaction
were regaining political control after the Civil War.
The Comité aimed "to obtain a United States Supreme
Court ruling preventing states from abolishing the
suffrage and equal access gains of the Reconstruction
period that followed the Civil War."

Medley manages to summon Homer Plessy from the
obscurity Jeremy Irons identifies in his "A People's
History of the Supreme Court" (Penguin: 1999) with new
research that portrays Plessy as a quiet, hardworking
man anxious not to be treated disrespectfully because
of his heritage and skin color.

Like the U.S. Supreme Court's 1857 Dred Scott decision,
which barred slaves and their descendants from
citizenship, the high court's decision in Plessy vs.
Ferguson was demeaning and hurtful to millions of
people. The high court decision in Plessy divided the
population, causing widespread suffering. For this
reason, it is useful to recall the dark side of Supreme
Court history and to appreciate that the Justices are,
for better or worse, political appointees who often
press their own viewpoints, which tend also to
represent the narrow views of the class of politicians
who appoint them. Or as Irons put the Plessy decision
in context, amid growing strife "the Court remained a
bastion of conservatism, earning this banquet toast
from a New York banker in 1895: 'I give you, gentlemen,
the Supreme Court of the United States- -guardian of
the dollar, defender of private property, enemy of
spoliation, sheet anchor of the Republic.' "

In 1857 and again in 1896, the Supreme Court inflicted
upon the public the views of Southern plantation owners
and thuggish ideologues, a tiny but disproportionately
powerful part of the population.

In short order, the Comité "formulated legal strategy
while raising money from the neighborhoods of New
Orleans, small towns throughout the South, and in
cities as far away as Washington D.C. and San
Francisco" and published their views in the African-
American daily, The Crusader. Medley documents the
heroic role of The Crusader in the battle for human
rights in the humid South. The Comité held popular

rallies, and did all anyone can do within democratic
structures to organize resistance to the dark era of
ignorance spreading through the legislatures, town
halls and courtrooms controlled by rich white American
men across the South. (Women would wait another
generation to win the right to vote.) And, it would be
more than five long decades before the wrongs of the
high court's Plessy decision would be reversed, in part
due to arguments put forward by then lawyer Thurgood

Marshall to the high court sitting in 1954. Marshall
argued the case in conjunction with the re-awakening
across the land of the persistent struggle for Civil
Rights.

I highly recommend Keith Medley's "We as Freemen" and I
particularly like that he was able to locate
photographs portraying those who fought bravely but
lost a key round in the struggle for human rights.

I just finished reading The Year of the Sawdust Man and enjoyed it very much. The characters are vividly drawn and the feelings of Nissa after the departure of her mother are truthful and carefully examined.

I do have a couple of problems with the book, however. I doubt very much that LaFaye has spent any significant time in Louisiana. For example, almost all of the characters had moved in from elsewhere in the country or the world. Louisiana has the highest retention rate of its citizens in the US, and very little influx (especially from the areas the author makes her characters from), so it is doubly unlikely that the small town of Harper would get all of these "foreign" people. Things like that makes the novel ring more false than it should, at least for readers from Louisiana.

This would make a good book to use on an optional reading list for middle school students, however I would not recommend it to be required reading for one of their classes. The pace might be too slow to maintain students' interest (very little actually happens) and the portrayal of minorities is cursory at best.

Despite these detractions from the book (primarily from a pedagogical perspective) I enjoyed this book very much and thought it dealt with the issue of family separations very well.

The best book I have ever read this deserves a medal. But beware it makes you cry.

In year of the sawdust man Nissa Bergen (a smalltown girl from Harper Lousianna around depression times)'s fierce and dependent mother runs away from the gossipy mouths and ears of Harper. While her mother is gone she deals with her papa couritng and remarring a woman (Lara Ross-soon to be-Bergen) whom she doesn't care for.
It was intese at times on your emotions, but I loved the book. The writing had a strong flow to it and a great language.
5 stars LaFaye!
-Egg

The world of Nissa Bergen is like none other in fiction. Her mother, Heirah Rae, causes the people of their small town in Harper, Louisiana, to talk constantly. She's a free spirit, doing as she pleases and finding beauty in the most surprising places. Her daughter, Nissa, has some of that spirit, but she also has a good share of her father's calm way of looking at the world. When something goes dreadfully awry in their family, Heirah Rae leaves, and Nissa and her father are left trying to understand. A book that will be enjoyed by teens and adults alike, A. LaFaye writes with a one-of-a-kind voice that creates Nissa Bergen as a strong young girl for the ages.

This book is a heartwarming tale of a little girl who is trying to rise above the troubles of her life, and face them with grace and pride. I would recomend it to anyone who has ever faced adveristy or ever doubted the love that their parents felt for them- you are sure to relate to Nissa and all that she has been through. LaFaye has a writing style that is positivly unique- she has the ability to make you laugh and cry in the same sentence, and to cause you to relate to the characters no matter how different they may seem from you. This book is an emotional roller-coaster that is sure to be pleasing to everyone. It is a story that mirrors everyday life in its theme, actions, and characters. Once you read the first page- it is impossible to put it down until the last. I have never, in all the years that I have been reading, been so swept away by a book and it's verisimilitude. This is by far the best book that I have ever read.