Tom Piazza knows New Orleans. City of Refuge, his brilliant account of Hurricane Katrina and its effects upon two families - one black and one white - is a modern masterpiece. His anger is visceral, and he shows no mercy in exposing the ineptitude of local, state, and national officials who badly botched the situation, causing unnecessary human suffering. Although written as a novel, it rings true and is actually uncomfortable to read. Unforgettable scenes of devastation and frustration are vividly portrayed. The reader is an eyewitness to one of the worst contemporary disasters. It is a must read for caring individuals.

The black family in the novel includes widower SJ, a carpenter who lives in the ghetto in the Lower Ninth Ward, Lucy, his older sister who drinks heavily and uses cocaine, and her rebellious son Wesley. SJ takes great pride in his work and derives satisfaction from working with his hands. His is frustrated with his nephew Wesley who wants to hang with the wrong crowd instead of learning employable skills. Lucy is a constant worry to SJ, but she loves her son with a fierce, undeniable pride. SJ could never leave their neighborhood because his roots are there and because he has invested so much of himself in the renovation of his home.

The white family in the novel consists of Craig and Alice Donaldson and their precocious daughter Annie and their son Malcolm. Transplants from Ann Arbor, Michigan, Alice’s hometown, they argue over the wisdom of raising their child in a city such as New Orleans. Craig chronicles its unique flavors and cultural diversity as the editor of Gumbo magazine; Annie loathes it and longs for a return to a quieter, more stable, life. She struggles to find herself while he revels in his city of refuge. They live near the Tulane University campus, adjacent to Audubon Park, a world apart from the Lower Ninth Ward. SJ and his family and Craig and his family are at opposite ends of the social spectrum.

To find out what happens to these two families, read City of Refuge and delve into a world of horror and heroism. It will be one of the most worthwhile reading experiences of your life.

City of Refuge by Tom Piazza
HarperCollinsPublishers. 2008. 416 pp.
 

Recommended by Susie Nightingale

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