Half of Paradise, James Lee Burke
Half of Paradise, James Lee Burke
2 Rating(s)
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Half of Paradise

Author: James Lee Burke

Narrator: Mark Zeisler

Unabridged: 9 hr 35 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 12/03/2013

Synopsis

Discover James Lee Burke’s debut novel—before the creation of his now-famous Cajun detective Dave Robicheaux—as he follows the lives of three very different young Louisiana men, each of whom finds himself in desperate circumstances.

Toussaint Boudreaux, a black longshoreman in New Orleans, tolerates his co-workers’ racism because he has to, and moonlights as a heavyweight boxer. J.P. Winfield, with his gift for twelve-string guitar, finds his break into showbiz, which ultimately leads to the flipside of the American dream. Avery Broussard, descendant of once-prosperous land owners, has a weakness for alcohol and succumbs to his demons when what remains of his land is repossessed...

The intertwining stories of these three men are a testament to the realities of life in 1950s Louisiana, their destinies seemingly fixed by fate. Yet each hopes for redemption...

About James Lee Burke

American mystery author, James Lee Burke, was born in Houston, Texas, explaining why most of the lead characters in his novels are Texan. He has won two Edgar awards, which is a very rare experience, and is a bestselling author of two short story collections and over thirty novels. Burke is best known for his Dave Robicheaux series. His Edgar Awards were for Black Cherry and Cimarron Rose. Two of his series were made into screen plays with each movie having a-list actors playing the Robicheaux character (Alec Baldwin - Heaven's Prisoners, and Tommy Lee Jones- In the Electric Mist).

A writer must usually hold down other employment while they attempt to gain a degree of following readers. Burke's various jobs included.......truck driver, newspaper reporter, social worker, land surveyor, unemployment system employee, Job Corps worker, teacher, and finally, novelist.

Burke lives in Montana with his wife, Pearl, two daughters, and four grandchildren. His favorite advice was given by Irving Stone, when Burke was nineteen.......... "Never write a story to pay your gas bill......if you do, be assured your utilities will be turned off".

Reviews

Goodreads review by Frank on February 25, 2009

This is James Lee Burke's first novel. Great characters, strong description, and mostly interesting situations. BUT. . . it is one of the most depressing books I ever read (just finished it), and some of the dialog and situations go nowhere for pages and pages - just lots of back and forth between d......more

Goodreads review by Jim on January 16, 2012

It is quite interesting to read the first book by an author you enjoy, to see how their writing has developed and progressed, especially if they have acquired a following, such as Burke definitely has. The story itself is less than satisfying, but interesting enough (though I much prefer Pierce's Co......more

Goodreads review by Chris on June 07, 2011

A very predictable and tiresome read. At times, the prose was excellent, particualary the descriptions of the nuances of Louisiana culture. But there little to look forward in reading about three two-time losers systematically destroying their lives through their own poor decisions. The only saving......more

Goodreads review by Aditya on January 26, 2019

Three down on their luck young men self destruct in Burke's debut novel due to a heady mixture of bad decisions and misfortune. Avery Broussard, the last heir to an aristocratic family that stopped being aristocratic three generations back drifts to a life of petty crime. JP Winfield, up and coming......more

Goodreads review by Mark on March 06, 2020

James Lee Burke is a great writer, but this stand alone was NOT a joy to read...You can sense the talent, but the characters evoke NO sympathy...We have a tragic interwoven tale involving three men in the post-WWII Louisiana ...the last scion of of a planter family whose land has been lost to the ec......more

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