Jeannie H. (ilovebooksanddogs) -
I have very mixed emotions about this book. Maybe my expectations for this book were too high.
The subject of hurrican Katrina and the devastation of New Orleans has fascinated me since it happened and I've read quite a few other books about it but none like this. Phyllis is not a writer, that's evident from the way this is written, it's more her rambling and cussing and blaming everyone for what happened. I didn't feel all that was necessary, yes I feel her pain and her rage over the horribly lackluster response our government gave during this disaster, I have never believed (as many others did) that they got what they deserved for not leaving knowing Katrina was coming, New Orleans is their home!! I doubt I would have left either.
But the rambling and repetition eventually got on my nerves and that was about half way through the book (not good). Towards the end she did way too much preaching and talking of her faith, fine and dandy, but I don't want your beliefs forced down my throat!
This book seemed to be all about Phyllis. For example the Photo Insert photos were only of her, her family, their apartment, the inside of their apartment. Where were the photos of New Orleans, her neighbors, others impacted by this tragedy? I would have liked to seen what the FEMA trailers looked like (heard reports of how bad they were),but there was none of that, it was all about Phyllis.
The book was way too long and every time I hoped and prayed it was the end, there would be another section, one called "Phyllisopical Food for Thought" which was nothing but a repeat of everything she had already written and then a whole section of her poetry (which honey if that's poetry, well then I'm a poet too.)
I have nothing but empathy and sorrow for what New Orleans residents endured during this time, but this book didn't bring any of those emotions out in me. I found myself irritated with this woman, her cussing and religious views all thrown into one sentence, talking love everyone one moment and talking hate the next. Those words totally contradicted the other. I also found her to be racially biased. This woman is a mess in my opinion and so is this book. This is my review and these are my opinions, I know others might enjoy/love this book. If you think you are one give it a chance.
The subject of hurrican Katrina and the devastation of New Orleans has fascinated me since it happened and I've read quite a few other books about it but none like this. Phyllis is not a writer, that's evident from the way this is written, it's more her rambling and cussing and blaming everyone for what happened. I didn't feel all that was necessary, yes I feel her pain and her rage over the horribly lackluster response our government gave during this disaster, I have never believed (as many others did) that they got what they deserved for not leaving knowing Katrina was coming, New Orleans is their home!! I doubt I would have left either.
But the rambling and repetition eventually got on my nerves and that was about half way through the book (not good). Towards the end she did way too much preaching and talking of her faith, fine and dandy, but I don't want your beliefs forced down my throat!
This book seemed to be all about Phyllis. For example the Photo Insert photos were only of her, her family, their apartment, the inside of their apartment. Where were the photos of New Orleans, her neighbors, others impacted by this tragedy? I would have liked to seen what the FEMA trailers looked like (heard reports of how bad they were),but there was none of that, it was all about Phyllis.
The book was way too long and every time I hoped and prayed it was the end, there would be another section, one called "Phyllisopical Food for Thought" which was nothing but a repeat of everything she had already written and then a whole section of her poetry (which honey if that's poetry, well then I'm a poet too.)
I have nothing but empathy and sorrow for what New Orleans residents endured during this time, but this book didn't bring any of those emotions out in me. I found myself irritated with this woman, her cussing and religious views all thrown into one sentence, talking love everyone one moment and talking hate the next. Those words totally contradicted the other. I also found her to be racially biased. This woman is a mess in my opinion and so is this book. This is my review and these are my opinions, I know others might enjoy/love this book. If you think you are one give it a chance.
