A Little Bit Ruined

To this day, this is the only novel that accurately portrays the landscaped of post-Katrina New Orleans, and I'm amazed it hasn't gotten more recognition. I grew up in New Orleans, but left before the storm, and in a way I felt a bit left out not being there during its transformative moment. This confirms the picture of it that all my friends related to me, but does so in a way that makes me feel like I was there. New Orleans is the most beautiful and unique city in America, and anyone who wants to understand it a little better should read this book.

This is the 1st Patty Friedmann book I've read and it makes me want to go out and buy all of her books. I loved it. Eleanor Rushing, the protagonist, is hysterical. Like most New Orleaneans, she's a real character. The publishers weekly review claimes that the self inflicted ruination of Eleanor isn't the right metaphor for the post Katrina ruined New Orleans, but I'm not so sure that is the author's intent. Perhaps Eleanor isn't supposed to so much represent New Orleans, as she is really more like the levee systems in which billions of dollars were spent to creat the perfect protection for New Orleans and yet they failed miserably. And the sleezy doctor who perfomed the plastic surgery was the levee board and the corps of engineers. And Tina was Houston. Naomi, now she might just be the metaphor for New Orleans, or at least the New Orleaneans who can't be fooled by anyone. In any case, Eleanor really proves her self worth in this book and I look forward to reading more about her.

I have to wonder why the reviewer from Publishers Weekly calls Eleanor "the wrong narrator to drop into post-Katrina New Orleans." Does that have anything to do with the literary merit of the novel? There are as many different kinds of people living in post-Katrina N.O. as there were living in it pre-Katrina, and each one has his or her own story. I am a N.O. native, as is Patty, and Patty got it right, all of it.