On the Southern Literary Trail discussion

This is where we begin our discussion. Questions and general comments, but no spoilers please.

This is on my list for June. Sure to be a good one.

I have started already, and it is great. Very involved plot, so you should love it, Laura. So far a cross between a mystery and a thriller, and I've been on the edge of my seat a few times.

Oooh, sounds like a goodie!

I've just begun!

This book has layers upon layers. Twists and turns. I'm having to take rest periods, and I can't tell you how much I love the main character, Sam Simoneaux (otherwise known as Lucky). I think it's interesting that Simoneaux and Gautreaux share the last 5 letters. Maybe it only means that that's a common spelling in New Orleans, but still.

I would actually read this again if I had the time. It is complex, deep in plot and in character development. Hope everyone here enjoys it. I will be following the discussion.

I am hoping to get to this one next month.

Diane wrote: "This book has layers upon layers. Twists and turns. I'm having to take rest periods, and I can't tell you how much I love the main character, Sam Simoneaux (otherwise known as Lucky). I think it's ..."

They are French names so would fit the New Orleans area. I got the book from the library, and hope to start it in a week.

Sam is from West Louisiana, and French was spoken at home as well as English, but was considered a backward language, and they were punished in school if they spoke it. There are a lot of French phrases throughout the novel, and a mule that will only respond to French.

I am about 40 pages from the end and have a question. Why in the world has this man only written 3 novels? I have also read The Clearing, which was excellent as well, but this was written in 2009, and he's only written short stories since then. I have checked numerous sources online, but see no "works in progress" except short story collections.

That is how I felt, Diane. He is a superb writer. Hopefully he will get back to writing novels eventually.

I'm finished, and will move over to the final impressions thread. I have about decided that, as complex as this one was, it could well take him 10 years to write another book.

I started this book last night and read ten chapters because I could not put the book down. I have never heard of this author, but this is exactly what I love about GR— finding new authors to love.

I almost envy you, Connie. You may as well put everything on hold til you finish.

Diane, I find myself desperate to put annoying everyday responsibilities on hold and get back to this book. It is so great that I know I will be sorry to finish.

I know what Diane is feeling, Connie. When you have finished this, go read The Clearing, just as good.

Diane wrote: "This book has layers upon layers. Twists and turns. I'm having to take rest periods, and I can't tell you how much I love the main character, Sam Simoneaux (otherwise known as Lucky). I think it's ..."

Here's the scoop on those Cajun names ending in "eaux."

"Louisiana judge put the ‘x’ in Cajun names

Breaux is among the top ten French surnames listed in the telephone books of Acadiana, but it wasn’t always spelled that way.
Looking through old Louisiana records, you can also find it spelled Breau, Brau, Braud, Braut, Braux, Breaud, Brot and Bro, and probably a few other ways. In France and Canada, you will also find it spelled Brault, but you will seldom find that spelling in Louisiana (or the Breaux spelling outside of Louisiana).
Nobody took much notice of the variant spellings until it came time to count how many Breaux's there were for the Census of 1830.
Judge Paul Briant of St. Martin Parish was in charge of the census for this area, and he decided that it was time to set down one spelling for all the Breaux's (and for the Boudreaux's and Comeaux's and others who spelled their names as the whim struck them on any given day).
He’s the one who put the “x” on the end of Cajun names. The old myth that it came from the mark signed by illiterate Cajuns is just that... a myth.
Judge Briant recognized that there were more than a dozen ways to form the “o” sound in French surnames and arbitrarily selected the “eaux” ending because he thought it was the one most used in the Acadian ancestral lands in France.
That’s the way he wrote the names on the census record and that’s the way they’ve generally been spelled since.
Practically all the Breauxs of south Louisiana trace their ancestry to Vincent Brault, who sailed to Acadie from La Chaussée, France, sometime before 1661, the year he married Marie Bourg in Port Royal.
Several Breaux families made their way to Louisiana after the great exile, the first of them probably being the families of Althanase Breau and his cousin Jean-Baptiste. A young batchelor named Fermin Brau probably came to Louisiana with those families, all of them settling on the so-called Acadian Coast (St. James, Ascension and Iberville parishes) of the Mississippi River."--From Acadian genealogy:

https://acadian.org/cajunx.html

Just fascinating, Mike! I love history. Interestingly enough, the spelling of my mother's maiden name was changed via the census as well, an "r" was dropped by the census taker and the name was forever after missing an "r". It makes tracing family history interesting.

Thanks, Mike. Judges have a lot of power to change things, then and now. Looks like this decision was based on a common sense need for consistency.

Diane wrote: "Thanks, Mike. Judges have a lot of power to change things, then and now. Looks like this decision was based on a common sense need for consistency."

Sara wrote: "Just fascinating, Mike! I love history. Interestingly enough, the spelling of my mother's maiden name was changed via the census as well, an "r" was dropped by the census taker and the name was for..."

Y'all are most welcome. It's just one of many things that Tim Gautreaux wove into this novel that created such an authentic setting in time, place, and culture. I was also fascinated by his use of authentic Jazz music being played by a predominantly black orchestra aboard the steamboat. This novel is the essence of Southern literature. 😊

A few chapters in. Engaged with the mains character, Sam Simoneaux,a plot that’s suspenseful, and the author’s descriptive narration.

I'll be very surprised if you don't love this book, Libby. It reels you in.

Diane wrote: "I'll be very surprised if you don't love this book, Libby. It reels you in."

I am definitely reeled in, Diane. Enjoying immensely.

Thanks for the explanation. I am a yankee transplant and have lived in central or northern Louisiana for 38 years and did not know the origin of the “eaux” although I often wondered. My coworkers laughed at my first attempt to pronounce “Gauthier” in 1981. I quickly learned this is pronounced “Go-cha” (long A).

I'm a born and bred Southerner, Vicki, and I would have gotten that one wrong. I would have said, Go-Tea-A (long A). Louisiana is really a world unto itself...and so very, very interesting.

I just finished the first two chapters and I can tell already this is going to be a great read, however not for the faint of heart. I have read a couple of his collections of short stories and enjoyed them immensely. Thanks for selecting this book.

It just gets better as you go on, Vicki. I've read his short stories too, and prefer his novels, but he's only written three so far. The Clearing is also very good.

I have a collection of his short stories on my Kindle...hope to get to it soon.

I’m up to Chapter Eighteen and totally engrossed in this story. Several of my to-do items have fallen by the wayside the past few days because, as others have mentioned, this book is incredibly hard to put down. What a superb cast of characters, and the steamboat descriptions are particularly fascinating for me. The cover art for my edition is perfect. Outstanding read so far.

Uh huh, uh huh! Exactly.

I wasn’t sure Gautreaux could possibly write a better book than The Clearing, but maybe (?). We’ll see. There’s a long way yet to go in this one.

Six of one, half-dozen of another for me. I loved them both.

I love Sam. His wife is rubbing me the wrong way. I'm only at chapter 4 but this is going to be a good one.

The mark of a great writer--you love someone within only a few chapters of meeting them.

You might change your mind about his wife, Laura. She grows on you.

Yeah you are probably right Diane. I’m an easy emotional prey for authors, haha!

Interesting how Vessy's family died. I like when an author throws in unique tidbits in the plot. Fourth of July Creek had an interesting death scene as well that involved an old freezer.

Diane wrote: "I have started already, and it is great. Very involved plot, so you should love it, Laura. So far a cross between a mystery and a thriller, and I've been on the edge of my seat a few times."

Goody, I’ve just read the first few pages. Looking forward to seeing this book unfold.

Tina this one is going to be a good one for you. I’m not to halfway point yet and it’s very good.

I've read the first 8 chapters and am completely engrossed in this one. I love the mystery, the culture, and the steamboat! Coincidentally, I had to set this one aside this evening to go attend my son's last high school jazz concert before graduation. Seemed quite fitting ;) I know what you all mean about not wanting to set this one down!

This is my second Gautreaux novel, after having read The Clearing - I became an instant fan after that one. I agree that I never would have happened upon this author if not for this group. I'd love to read some of his short stories next.

I’ve read all his novels and this may end up being my favorite. But I’m not half way through yet, so we will see.

I liked this one better than The Clearing, but it's a fine line which one is best. His short stories are good too, but I really wish he'd write more novels.

Sara wrote: "I know what Diane is feeling, Connie. When you have finished this, go read The Clearing, just as good."

Thanks for the recommendation. I am off to find a copy. I still cannot get The Missing out of my mind. Such a fantastic book.

I was reading in bead last night where one character mentioned a Coats and Clark Thread dispenser. I chuckled about that, then turned out the light and set the book down on my makeshift bedside table, a Coats and Clark Thread cabinet.

Tom, how cool is that!

I had to translate this line on page 312. It's great.
"The only thing sadder than a sad song is no song at all."

I agree, Tom. That was a great line, comparable to "Its better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all".