Louisiana Books

I found Dr. Ancelet's collection and subsequent narrative very authentic and insightful into the Cajun experience. As an Acadienne myself, I have collected many items of this nature and have found his work to be particularly appealing. There are few ways to experience the genuineness and joie de vivre of the people of South Louisiana without being one of her own, and Dr. Ancelet's presentation is one of them.

Exceptional history and current description of Cajun, Creole, and Zydeco music. Will be appreciated both by tourists new to Louisiana culture as well as by serious connoiseurs of folk music and traditions and of French language. Barry Jean Ancelet is both a distinguished professor at the University of Louisiana (Lafayette), as well as being a Cajun "Garrison Keillor" (of Prairie Home Companion fame).

Well I don't know if you can consider this review biased, but anyway here we go. Alice Hughes is my aunt so I grew up reading this story over and over again. The main character Pierres' appearence is based off my Uncle Bob. This is an excellent twist on classic history and I would recommend it to anyone.

This is among the most creative and engaging pieces of Louisiana history I have encountered. It is billed as a 'pictorial history for kids of all ages," and that is true. It is so well-illustrated and clearly written that it would be accessible to most 8 year olds, but this grown up loved it.

I also learned a TON. Guy Faucheux is a true master of Louisiana French history, and his brother-in-law Wally Faucheux is an accomplished illustrator.

St. Roux's Press did a very fine job of printing this as well. The cover is very attractive, the paper quality is excellent, and the typeface is sharp. The glued binding is sturdy and appropriate to this brief book -- my copy has held up well to repeated readings.

Perfectly executed from start to finish.

P.S. For stuffier supplemental reading, I'd recommend Alcee' Fortier's various histories (written in the 1890s). Guy Faucheux credits Marcel Giraud's A History of French Louisiana and Carl Brasseaux's France's Forgotten Legion, both well-regarded works.

From Small Bits Of Charcoal: The Life & Works Of A Cajun Artist is the eye-catching artbook featuring the black-and-white charcoal works of Floyd Sonnier. The bilingual text (including the artwork captions) is in French and English. Heartwarming scenes of family life, and an involving personal biography presented combine with the illustrations to enable From Small Bits Of Charcoal to encompass the reader with a feeling for, and the flavor of, Cajun life.

I thought this book would be about the houses in Cajun Country. I was wrong. This book was about being a cajun. It explained many of the 'cajun words' mean (Boucherri for example) and with pictures and easy to read text gives a very good overview of the culture. The pictures are pretty and compliment the text well.
This is a bit simple for adults familiar with the cajun culture. However, it is a great book for children and a lovely book for a 'coffee table' book.

Enjoy.

I am a cajun living in Michigan, and I collect Cajun cookbooks. This one is acurate and fun. Thanks, Kathy Rajala

I was very close to my Grandfather and this Tommy Joe Breaux brings back a lot of the memories I had forgotten about. I can tell why his 2 books are titled Cajun Humor from the Heart and Stories my Granpa tole me because they are not only funny but show his work is nothing about selling books etc they are about his GranPa. Once you read the introduction in Cajun Stories my GranPa tole me you will want to buy everything this author has to offer.

These are short stories about Cajuns who live in the Bayou Country of Louisiana. Some of these stories could be called fireside tales. During long winter evenings many tales were told and retold by the light of a blazing fire from a moss chinked fireplace.

The fireplaces are gone now and so are most of the old ones who knew these multi-faceted bits of Cajun humor and pathos. Many of the tales are based on fact. Some are fantasy. Altogether they represent the Louisiana Cajuns as they were in their pioneer past and as they are today.

These stories provide a look inside of the Cajun community; a glimpse into the heart of one of the largest and least understood ethnic groups in America.
--- from book's introduction

I found this book very interesting. I am of Cajun decent. My father is originally from Vacherie and my mother's family is originally from Edgard. This is the history I wish I would have been taught in highschool when learning about Louisiana history. I had no idea about the deportation in Nova Scotia. The only thing I knew about was that my family was from france. My mom happens to have a book on the history of the Gravois family and after I read this book I went back and looked thru it. It mentions the same places and people. It was just cool to know why I am the way I am and the kind of people I came from. Makes me proud to claim my Cajun heritage.