Hearsay from Heaven and Hades: New Orleans Secrets of Sinners and Saints

Keep Hearsay from Heaven and Hades on your office desk. Dip into it daily. Read a little at a time and let it sink in. Everyone has a good, bad, sad, sour, dark, light side. Real life is cruel and kind. This book captures the realities of life, love and sorrow and the complex human drama of being alive.

New Orleans is one of America's most intriguing and enigmatic cities. "Hearsay from Heaven and Hades: New Orleans Secrets of Sinners and Saints" is a guide to the countless secrets that cover the city in shadow for its entire existence of over three hundred years. New Orleans is a huge mixture of traditions- the pirates of the seas, the Christian influences, the Haitian VooDoo influences, The Cajun Country influences, the event of Mardi Gras, and so much more. "Hearsay from Heaven and Hades: New Orleans Secrets of Sinners and Saints" is a deftly compiled guide to the many, many eccentricities of this city and is highly recommended for anyone who would learn more of New Orleans.

A late-night companion with gusto, a book for deep thinkers. Keep it nearby, on the nightstand, in the bathroom, or on the cocktail table. Dip into it daily. This work reads like sort of a new literary form. It is easy to thumb through. Entertaining, lyrical, ironic, esoteric, filled with dark humor. New Orleans makes a great twisted-sister muse and alter ego for freeing the little voice inside. Read slowly, don't rush, and absorb the thoughts. Many of the unexpected comments are sardonic, teasing, and tongue-in-cheek. Hearsay from Heaven and Hades is recommended reading for those who like to stray, and straddle the line between being real good and real bad. It is not a work for pious people. Keep this book handy if you have come to detest a steady and wholesome diet of fake sweetness and insulin ODs of sugary self-affirmations. Cool gift!

Intense literal and allegorical observations. Entertaining viewpoints and metaphors. Traces of confessional poetry. No taboos. From beyond the post-Katrina watermark: "A collection of provocation sayings for unquiet minds."

I received an advance review copy of this persuasive title. The accompanying note said, "Do you know what it means to live like you're from New Orleans?" Hello. Clever question! Does this mean, "Do we know what it means to deal with the plight of being alive?" How do we tow the line between good and evil? Can we reconcile the flip side of tragedy and comedy? Can we accept that the hilarious can be devastating? And vice versa? As a longtime fan of the Crescent City, I "got it" right away. It is a unique book. A very thought-provoking crazy jumble that is excellent. Not for the faint of heart or those who are afraid to face emotions, deep connections and strange contradictions. This is real life, whether we want to admit it or not. One must accept that that bizarre often becomes the ordinary. These intense, wry, rebellious and black humor aphorisms are life's lessons learned, fantastic and irreverent advice called "French Quarterisms." The dark/light theme shines through. I believe many people think similar thoughts but never have the nerve to voice it. In an increasingly featureless world flawed landscapes and colorful characters appeal to us. Flamboyant New Orleanians are unafraid to say and do and live their lives in an edgy way that most cannot. They live with risk, menace, catastrophe and betrayal - and yet with history, joy and celebration - all around them. Their world is slowly sinking below their feet. But they survive the struggle in interesting ways. Hearsay from Heaven and Hades is a book to love or hate with a passion. I love it! I see the fresh and yet age-old wisdom, warning and insight. I really like the book's sketches as well; they paint and bring to life a special portrait of the city. This is a guidebook of real feelings from a controversial city that has more shocking contrasts and in-your-face citizens that most any other place. Do we really want to live in New Orleans? No. Do we wish we did? Yes. We love you New Orleans. Carry on. Kudos. Cheers. Well done.