Synopses & Reviews
As the shadow of Hurricane Katrina looms, Simon Fortier knows how he plans to face the stormin his long-time home in the city's Treme neighborhood, just as he did through so many storms before. But when Katrina's waters rise and the citys broken levees cause devastating floods, Simon disappears.
His son Julian, a celebrated but down-on-his-luck trumpeter, rushes home to the city he left years before, to search for a father with whom he'd been on difficult terms over preparing for the hurricane. Julians return to New Orleans brings him back in touch with figures from his past, loves and enemies both, and as his search for Simon takes him to the rural plot where Simon grew up, Julian is drawn deep into its troubles. As he comes to grips with his father's likely fate and struggles to regain his trumpet chops, Julian slowly gains a deeper, richer understanding of both his father and their shared heritage.
Wading Homeis an important book about one of Americas most important cities, veiled in the form of a captivating page-turner. Lyrical, accessible, compelling, and populated by a broad, fully realized cast of supporting characters, its timeless story tells how this son strives to save his father: shaken to the core by the devastation of a city, he discovers the true meanings of home, family, and history.
ROSALYN STORY lives in Dallas. Her first book, And So I Sing: African American Divas Of Opera And Concert, inspired the PBS documentary Aidas Brothers and Sisters: A History of Blacks in Opera, in which she appeared as featured narrator. Her first novel, More Than You Know (Agate, 2004) garnered rave reviews and was an Essence bestseller. She is a violinist with the Fort Worth Symphony.
Review
"New Orleans natives struggle to recover their lives as well as their property after Hurricane Katrina.... Storys musical background infuses her novel with a lyrical rhythm...as engaging characters rebuild their relationships and their city. The current oil-spill crisis only makes the hopefulness of this novel more moving, if heart-wrenching."
--Kirkus Reviews
Synopsis
On the eve of the biggest hurricane of the century, Simon Fortier, retired chef and widower, prepares to wait out the storm in his home in New Orleanss Treme neighborhood. His refusal to evacuate has put him at odds with his beloved son, Julian, a trumpeter and rising star of the jazz world. When the levees break and waters flood most of the city, Simon is missing and feared dead. Julian rushes back to the city he left years before to launch a desperate search for Simon. There he reconnects with Sylvia, Simons companion of many years; Parmenter, his fathers former employer; and Velmyra, Julians former beloved. The search leads to Silver Creek, an extravagantly beautiful piece of family land in rural Louisiana thats been handed down from father to son since slavery. Even as the flood threatens New Orleans, the Silver Creek land is also in danger of being lost forever. Caught in the throes of an effort to save Silver Creek, and forced to confront the devastation of New Orleans, Julians search uncovers the true meaning of home, family, and history.
Synopsis
When Hurricane Katrina hits New Orleans, chef and widower Simon Fortier knows how he plans to face the storm--riding it out inside his long-time home in the city's Treme neighborhood, just as he has through so many storms before. But when the levees break and the city is torn apart, Simon disappears. His son, Julian, a celebrated jazz trumpeter, rushes home to a New Orleans he left years before to search for his father. As Julian crisscrosses the city, fearing the worst, he reconnects with Sylvia, Simons companion of many years; Parmenter, his father's erstwhile business partner and one of the most successful restaurateurs in New Orleans; and Velmyra, the woman Julian left behind when he moved to New York. Julians search for Simon deepens as he finds himself drawn into the troubled history of Silver Creek, the extravagantly beautiful piece of land where his father grew up, and closer once again to Velmyra. As he tries to come to grips with his father's likely fate, Julian slowly gains a deeper, richer understanding of his father and the city he loved so much, while unraveling the mysteries of Silver Creek.
Synopsis
Praise for Rosalyn Story's
More Than You KnowRosalyn Story's debut novel is a mystery at hearta page-turner enhanced by lyrical language and clever plot turns. Story, a violinist with the Fort Worth Symphony, knows how to play to a crowd, and she drives the narrative like a good straight-ahead quartettaking a pop standard and playing it with panache while adding fresh changes and tempos that give the well-worn tune a whole new sound.
An engaging addition to the jazz-novel canon.”
Washington Post
Romantic, deeply sentimental redemption story of smoky jazz clubs, beauty salons crackling with gossip, and the intricate, wide-ranging community that holds it all together.”
Kirkus Reviews
Story weaves this tale of family ties and secrets back and forth between past and present, using finely drawn characters, jazz settings, and taut emotions to build tension toward reconciliation. The book's powerful evocation of love and family should appeal to a wide cross section of readers.”
Booklist
"More Than You Know is a moving grown-up read featuring well-drawn and familiar characters. This is the perfect choice for your next book club pick."
Essence
Story writes with the plot-twisting precision of a veteran and a lyricism reminiscent of James Baldwins novel-turned-serenade Sonnys Blues
.Well done.”
BIBR