Since 2020's New Orleans Mardi Gras celebration is believed to have spawned up to 50,000 Covid cases, there will be no in-person celebration this year.
How about celebrating with a good book? How about with a good book set in New Orleans? Here are a few I suggest.
Jitterbug Perfume by Tom Robbins (novel)
The Awakening by Kate Chopin (novel)
Trombone Shorty by Troy Andrews (picture book)
A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams (play)
The Client by John Grisham (mystery)
Petite Rouge: A Cajun Red Riding Hood (picture book)
Zeitoun by Dave Eggers (memoir)
A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole (novel)
My favorite, the book that epitomizes New Orleans for me, is A Confederacy of Dunces.
No one who loves New Orleans should miss this one.
Have you read any of these?
If not, do any of these sound intriguing?
Do you have any other suggestions for me?
Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. Each Tuesday That Artsy Reader Girl assigns a topic and then post her top ten list that fits that topic. You’re more than welcome to join her and create your own top ten (or 2, 5, 20, etc.) list as well. Feel free to put a unique spin on the topic to make it work for you! Please link back to That Artsy Reader Girl in your own post so that others know where to find more information.
I know of one book, but I haven't read it. The Optimist's Daughter by Eudora Welty. Have you read that one? It is on my Classics List.
ReplyDeleteIt is a new book to me, though I know the author. I will add it to my possibilities list.
DeleteI think I’ve mainly only read paranormal romances set in New Orleans, like Suzanne Johnson’s Sentinels of New Orleans, Faith Hunters Jane Yellowrock, and Adrian Phoenix’s Hoodoo. Hmm Sara Gran’s Claire de Witt mystery series is set there too, and I’ve read Five Days at Memorial which is nonfiction and which I recommended for you if you haven’t read it.
ReplyDeleteYes, I don't know why I left that one off.
DeleteIt's been many years since I read The Client but I remember really enjoying it.
ReplyDeleteGreat take on today's topic! Thanks for stopping by!
ReplyDeleteColletta
I think the only books I've read set in New Orleans have been urban fantasy. I might read The Black God's Drums this week to celebrate.
ReplyDeleteSomeday I should read The Awakening
ReplyDeleteMy post: https://lydiaschoch.com/top-ten-tuesday-books-about-mardi-gras/
Great twist on the topic. I had trouble finding enough coloured covers for my TTT but managed in the end. Just. From your list, I only read "A Streetcar Named Desire" but some of the others also look very interesting. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard of many of these but I love the cover for A Streetcar Named Desire. It always manages to pull my attention! Great list :)
ReplyDeleteA Streetcar Named Desire, saw the film.
ReplyDeleteI have ten mystery novels set in New Orleans and Louisiana, many during Mardi Gras!
My favorite New Orleans novel is Dollbaby by Laura Lane McNeal... the audio version is excellent, too. I'll echo the suggestion above for The Optimist's Daughter. Really enjoyed that one, too.
ReplyDeleteThat one is entirely new to me. I'll look for it. And that's for your echo of Optimist's Daughter.
DeleteThe theme for this post is so unusual. Thank you for the links.
ReplyDeleteI love A Confederacy of Dunces, too. What a bunch of memorable characters. So quirky!
ReplyDeleteI love it, too.
DeleteAny post about New Orleans MUST include Phil Bildner's MARVELOUS CORNELIUS, a modern take on an icon of the city after Hurricane Katrina in Tall Tale format.
ReplyDeleteGreat suggestion, Sandy!
DeleteI've read The Awakening and The Client (both many years ago), but I still want to read Zeitoun. I started it when it first came out, but somehow got sidetracked and never got back to it.
ReplyDeleteThe Client is the only one I have read, but I have seen the movie and play of Streetcar Named Desire. I read a lot of cozy mysteries and there is a series I love by Ellen Byron called the Cajun Country Mysteries. It is a lot of fun and I have learned a lot about NO culture, cuisine and holidays.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read these but Petite Rouge looks fun! Here is my Top Ten Tuesday. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI forgot that The Client is set in New Orleans. I have another great book for you! The Axeman's Jazz by Ray Celestin. Was a really good read.
ReplyDeleteWWW is pre-scheduled for tomorrow as I have a bit of a hectic day ahead. But I will get to you somewhere!
Lots of Love,
I've read four of the books that you mention. We spent our honeymoon in New Orleans 46 years ago. It's a city that is close to my heart.
ReplyDeleteIt's close geographically, too, but I've actually never spent the night there.
DeleteI’ve read Streetcar and A Confederacy Of Dunces. I love that book. I found the main character relatable, even though he’s kind of insufferable.
ReplyDeleteAj @ Read All The Things!
Great idea of post! I read The Awakening a while ago, but forgot it was set there. I plan to read A Streetcar Named Desire.
ReplyDeleteI also read The Moviegoer, by Walker Percy. Very important book on the South I believe. I know I read it, about 15 years ago, but alas I don't remember much
I've always thought about reading The Moviegoer.
DeleteI forgot that some of these were set in New Orleans! Fun list of books.
ReplyDeletePetite Rogue sounds like an interesting read! Love the bead necklace setting for your blog! Great list!
ReplyDeleteHere’s my TTT!
Ronyell @ Rabbit Ears Book Blog
Great list! I've read THE CLIENT, but it's been a long time. Other than that, I haven't read any of these.
ReplyDeleteHappy TTT!
while i have not read any of these, i have watched the client and a streetcar named desire..
ReplyDeleteand the confederacy of dunces has been on my tbr for a long while now
I've read The Awakening and Streetcar Named Desire, of course, but I tried Confederation of Dunces and gave up on it. Is it worth a second try?
ReplyDeleteAlso, thanks to you I watched the Life in a Day You Tube film you recommended last time, and I loved it.TY