White Doves at Morning

I have been reading James Lee Burke's books for the past year. Gone through them like a great meal. In general they blow my mind. Burke combines fascinating characters that motivate interesting plots with prose that whistles off the page. Often in Burke's books there is either references to the Civil War or actual reminisces. Finally a full blown novel of the War. Every page feels like Burke must have relished finally writing his Civil War novel. I haven't dared writing a review of any of Burke's books because he is just too damn good to review. White Doves somehow has moved me to write. Usually I am not interested in historical novels. White Doves makes books like Gone With The Wind an embarrassment. Do yourself a favor read James Lee Burke. Take a trip back in our countries history.

James Lee Burke Brings the beauty of the South Louisiana town of New Iberia to the reader with extreme accuracy. I live in the area and have family ties to New Iberia. Now thanks to Mr Burke I can envision what the area around Spanish Lake and where Camp Pratt was located as it was during the Civil War period each time I visit. Mr Burke also give an accurate account of the attitude of the people of the area back during that time period. I enjoyed this book very much and would recommend it to all.

This review is based on the audio book, NOT the written word. I thought it might make a good companion on a long trip to visit relatives. Everything you look for in the writing of James Lee Burke comes through--AND MORE. Will Patton is the most amazing reader of audio books I have ever listened too. After several hours in the car as we approached our distination I found myself slowing down and avoiding the direct route to try to finish listening before arriving--sadly, my wife caught me, so the conclusion had to wait until after the visit. Even if you've read the book, Patton makes it worth a listen, too. His accents are dead on the Louisiana dialect Burke writes!

This is one of the best novels I have ever read. Burke's writing is excellent and the plot development is really perfect. For anyone who is interested in the same themes of mystery I suggest reading Descent into Illusions. A very good, but not very well know known novel by Paul Omeziri published by PublishAmerica.

"White Doves at Morning" ia stunning, hypnotic departure from James Lee Burke's detective series. The characterization is vivid and the decaying upper crust of New Iberia, Louisiana society is depicted in unrestrained passages which will captivate the reader. The main protagonist, Willie Burke is born of impoverished Irish stock, yet enlists in the Confederate to uphold states rights issues, not disguising his unrequited passion for a confirmed abolitionist woman. Flower Jamison is the illegitimate daughter of Ira Jamison, a sadistic businessman, whose gentile demeanor conceals a soul besotten with carnality and an insatiable desire to exploit the unfortunate. Through Willie, Flower becomes literate and allies with Abigail Dowling, whose fiery abolitionism causes her to be a focal point in the Underground Railroad. Against the tragic backdrop of the Civil War, these characters live are inexorably entwined and their individual ordeals are harrowing and their survival miraculous. Mr Burke presents to the reader a deliberate polarization of good and evil and his characters are illustrative of the dividing line between humanity and depravity. "White Doves at Morning " will convey to the reader how an individual emancipation can take place within the soul of each person involved and how present choices will inevitably have repercussions in future courses of action. Mr Burke's prose is lyrical and devoid of any superficial, sugar-coated phrases which would demean this striking epic. "White Doves at Morning" is immensely perceptive in that it offers the reader a panoramic scope of the Civil War and does not apologize for its commentaries on the unpredictability of human nature.