About this title: A New Orleans Hurricane Katrina survivor writes an astounding and poignant account of how she and her husband lived through one of the US's worst disasters, and continue to put their lives back together again. Includes a foreword by Spike Lee.
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Description: Good. Former Library book. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Description: Very Good. Former Library book. Great condition for a used book! Minimal wear. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Edition: 1st Atria Books Hardcover Ed
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Atria
Date Published: 2008-08-19
ISBN-13:9781416563464ISBN:1416563466
Description: Like New. May be shiny, in some instances dust jackets are not included, no missing pages, no damage to binding, may have a remainder mark. read more
Description: Good. 1416563466 Former library item may have library binding and show stamps, stickers or other marks. Items not meeting quality expectations may be returned. Due to the large scale of our operation, we do not have access to the specific contents/condition of our items. read more
Description: Good. 1416563466 Former library item may have library binding and show stamps, stickers or other marks. Items not meeting quality expectations may be returned. Due to the large scale of our operation, we do not have access to the specific contents/condition of our items. read more
Description: Good. 2009-Paperback----Used-Good-Hall Street Books proudly ships from Brooklyn, NY. All orders are processed and shipped within 24 hours, M-F. 100% money back No-Worry guarantee with expedited delivery and delivery confirmation available. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Atria
Date Published: 2009
ISBN-13:9781416563471ISBN:1416563474
Description: New. NEW, unread book, publisher overstock-FAST SHIPPING! Our savvy customers know Purple Turtle has BEST PRICES AND BEST SERVICE! Satisfaction guaranteed! read more
"PROs: -Her description of what she and her husband went through to get "rescued" were very vivid and disturbing. I kept think of concentration camps and then remember that this happened only 4 years ago in the United States! -Her ability to admit that she had a nervous breakdown and panic attacks and it was all "I was strong through the whole idea".
CONS: -The writing was attrocious. I felt like a needed a tranquilizer after just the first chapter. The grammar was awful and she was "cussing" in every other sentence. -There were a lot of things left out like what happened in the three months between the hotel and the trailer? What happened to her mother and sister and nephew? Why didn't she have a job? Couldn't the rest of her family (spread all over the country) help out at all? -There are pictures in the book of the damage done to her apartment but she never mentions going back there. -She got a bit preachy towards the end of the book."
"Upon starting, I loved this book. She writes the way she talks and when there's such crazy, intense stuff going on, it was refreshing to hear it like it is. Everything she wrote during Katrina was really interesting and horrible and real. The treatment of the people of New Orleans is just astounding. Everyone dropped the ball on this one. The mayor, the governor, the president, FEMA, EVERYONE. Things should have been better for these people when all of this went down.
It's when she starts to write about what happened AFTERWARDS that really begins to bug me. I don't presume for a second to know what it's like to go through this kind of ordeal. I have no idea how I or people I know would react. I can only speculate. I had a lot of problems with her reactions to things - but this is just based on my personal behavior and how I deal with issues myself. I come from a long line of fighters. No hysterics, no making yourself crazy, none of that nonsense. You can't function in fear. You do what needs to be done. Once everything is over, once everyone is safe, you can freak out.
I also believe in personal responsibility and gratitude when it's due. I don't understand waiting for someone to come save you. I feel like some of the people of New Orleans are still waiting for someone to come fix things for them. Things need to be fixed, don't get me wrong. But it's not in someone's best interest to wait around for it to come and do it for you. It's about going out, working as much as you can, earning what you deserve and going from there. It's about picking yourself up with the hands and feet you were given and fixing your own life. I don't agree with complaining that you're still living in a FEMA trailer 3 years later and things with money are just bad - when you don't have a job and your husband makes all the money for the household. I don't understand complaining about the first hot meal you've had in days and how it's "the cheapest thing they could make" and how you'd like a steak instead.
There's also a lot of poetry at the end of the book that I skimmed through or skipped - but that's because I don't really like poetry, I have no idea whether it was good or not.
I think this book is definitely worth the read. There are some parts of it that are golden. It would be wise to go in without judgement and take it as a part of someone's life and what happened as opposed to the voice of everyone involved."
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