#BookReview: Crawfish Dreams - Nancy Rawles

I picked up Crawfish Dreams on a recent trip to the local, indie bookstore.  I love exploring their used book section, because you never know what gems you'll find.  And though I didn't think the story was terribly exciting, I loved the recipes interspersed throughout the book.

Camille Broussard is a Creole transplant from a small town in Louisiana to Watts.  Moving from the south in the 1940s, she remembers a thriving community that changed with the Watts Riots in 1965.  One of the last homeowners on her block, Camille refuses to leave the block she loves.  Convinced that her cooking will pay off in a big way one day, she's constantly coming up with new side hustles.

Camille's adult children are a motley bunch.  From her practically virginal, yet married, 40something daughter to her overly Christian, in words but rarely actions, son to her confused and lazy lesbian daughter, and all of the kids in between, Camille hasn't got a leg to stand on.  While her sons debate about which one should take their ailing mother in, and it certainly won't be the son that "made it," she's plotting to open a restaurant...in Watts...in her home.

Rawles touches on a lot in Crawfish Dreams: the abandonment of whole communities; father-son relationships; recidivism; religion; self-esteem; families and starting over.  Although I enjoyed the story line overall, the book had a tendency to drag.  I think toward the end I had to force myself to finish it just so I could say I was done.  It's not that the book was predictable, but there were sections and some stories that I felt could have been cut to make this a more compact read.  I do, however, plan to try a few of the recipes listed in the book.  I'll be sure to let you know how that works out.

368pp
Published: February 2004



Theme: Jambalaya (on the Bayou) by Del McCoury Band and Preservation Hall Jazz Band

#BookReview: If Sons, Then Heirs - Lorene Cary

"In Christ you are not slaves, but sons, and if sons, then heirs." Galatians 4:7

It's impossible to read the latest from Lorene Cary and not reflect on your family's legacy.  Whether it be physical property or simply your family history, there are things passed down through the generations for which no monetary compensation will suffice. If Sons, Then Heirs touches on both of these.

It's the story of Alonzo Rayne, a man struggling to become a parent to his girlfriend's son, an especially difficult task because he was abandoned by his own mother.   It's the story of Jewell Thompson, who abandoned not only her son, but her identity as a black woman, in a quest for a better life.  And it's the story of Selma Needham, widow of the family patriarch, King, who has held on to the family's land, legacy and secrets in South Carolina while everyone else migrated North.

Cary manages to weave several messages into the story so skillfully, that you may not recognize all of them until well after you've finished the book.  For example, how can one be successful in a relationship (as a partner or parent) when you've never seen one?  Is there such a thing as too late when it comes to re-establishing a relationship with someone? Is walking away from your child ever justifiable? And can a family  that's been scattered across the country come back together for one purpose and form a united front?

What did you like about this book?
Lacking a good example of what a stable family looks like, it's understandable that Rayne is hesitant to commit to his girlfriend, Lillie, and her son, Khalil. As Rayne grows more and more throughout the book, the relationship between Rayne and Khalil grows and it's such a wonderful thing to watch unfold.

What didn't you like about this book?
Nothing. So let me tell you what else I liked about it.  I was absolutely fascinated with the concept of heir property.  It's not uncommon for people "up north" to lay claim to family property in the south.  Depending on how that land has been passed down, it's not as easy to sell that property as some may think.  So If Sons, Then Heirs deals with the problem of what happens when one person wants to sell and has to get the approval of all the heirs.  My grandmother had twelve children.  I can't even begin to imagine how difficult it would be to wrangle all of her kids and their kids and their kids together.  Now imagine if the land belonged to my great-grandmother.  So not only would all of my grandmother's lineage have to come to an agreement, all of her siblings offspring would as well.  Just thinking about it is a daunting task.  But if you think of it as an opportunity to reunite your family and to connect with family members you never knew, it becomes an exciting prospect.

What can the author do to improve this book?
I can't think of a thing.






320pp
Published April 2011

Theme: Beach Chair by Jay-Z featuring Chris Martin

The Warmth of Other Suns lecture, Isabel Wilkerson

I've been reading The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson for months.  It's an intriguing story, but I always seem to put it down in favor of fiction.  After attending Wilkerson's lecture at the Missouri History Museum today, I'm encouraged to keep reading.  Check out a few excerpts from today's lecture. (Note: Please excuse the picture quality, I videoed from my phone.)