Jesus Out to Sea: Stories

I couldn't help thinking this is Ray Bradbury from the wrong side of town, what happens to children who don't live in that pure middle-American country idyll that Bradbury made so much his milieu. Childhood fancy struggling through the real shit of American life, the violence, poverty, ignorance that are at least as much American life as that which Bradbury chronicles.

Not only about childhood, but it is a theme.

And throughout it all, the poetic lilt that is Burke's own in the way Bradbury has his. I found myself reading passages out loud - especially conversation - it demanded to be heard as well as looked at. It's been quite a while since I visited Burke's world, but I'm so glad I did.

I couldn't help thinking this is Ray Bradbury from the wrong side of town, what happens to children who don't live in that pure middle-American country idyll that Bradbury made so much his milieu. Childhood fancy struggling through the real shit of American life, the violence, poverty, ignorance that are at least as much American life as that which Bradbury chronicles.

Not only about childhood, but it is a theme.

And throughout it all, the poetic lilt that is Burke's own in the way Bradbury has his. I found myself reading passages out loud - especially conversation - it demanded to be heard as well as looked at. It's been quite a while since I visited Burke's world, but I'm so glad I did.

I couldn't help thinking this is Ray Bradbury from the wrong side of town, what happens to children who don't live in that pure middle-American country idyll that Bradbury made so much his milieu. Childhood fancy struggling through the real shit of American life, the violence, poverty, ignorance that are at least as much American life as that which Bradbury chronicles.

Not only about childhood, but it is a theme.

And throughout it all, the poetic lilt that is Burke's own in the way Bradbury has his. I found myself reading passages out loud - especially conversation - it demanded to be heard as well as looked at. It's been quite a while since I visited Burke's world, but I'm so glad I did.

I think James Lee Burke is an amazing writer. They call him the Faulkner of crime fiction, and if you've ever read him, you'll know just how apropos that analogy is. This book is a collection of his short stories. They're both brilliant and devastating. The title story is about two men in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and it killed me.

Burke is so very good at atmosphere. His descriptions of East Texas and Louisiana are so vivid and accurate, you feel as if you're there. Even if the "there" was sixty years ago. And even in short stories, he draws you into his characters' lives, makes you care about their poor sorry asses, and you can't help but grieve their losses. And these stories are all about loss. Don't pick the book up if show more you're looking for uplifting sunshiney tales of happiness. But if you want a good solid read, one with an emotional wallop that will stick with you for days, this is a good choice. show less

Short fiction by one of my favorite contemporary novelists, the author of the Dave Robicheaux detective series set in south Louisiana. Burke is always on the raw and grim side, but with themes of redemption and the triumph of Right over Wrong-doing that make his novels rewarding to read. These short stories (some of which are extracts from his novels) are equally tough, and not quite as satisfying, although the series of related stories about boyhood friends Charlie and Nick set in pre-and post-WWII Texas are extremely moving in their exploration of what friendship is all about.
Review written in 2010

Burke's tales depict the American scene, particularly in his native bayou country and also in the mountain Northwest of his more recent life, in vivid and often searing detail. The stories range from mostly humorous memories of boyhood encounters with colorful characters to dark accounts of corrupt, brutal and quasi-fascist elements seemingly triumphant. This collection, published soon after Hurricane Katrina devastated his beloved home region, is primarily a lament for the suffering of a people struggling for generations to survive in a cruel, but often fertile and even festive, environment. Despite the themes of poverty, ignorance and violence, Burke celebrates those brave and lonely souls who put up a fight against the darkness.

This is a book of short stories with 11 stories in 240 pages. A few of them have the same characters and all but two are set in the South. They are all very well written. The author uses understatement to portray the world with a blue collar point of view; realistically hard and painful with enough humor and humanity to make life worthwhile. I particularly like the details in his descriptions of the scenery and the world around the characters such as the crackle of lightning and its course across the sky or the crunch of dead leaves underfoot.
There are several stories centered around two boys growing up. They seem to go from ages 8 to 16 for the older boy. They are well done vingettes about growing up in the South. I enjoyed all of the show more stories with the title story as a slim favorite. It is set in New Orleans Ninth Ward after Katrina. There is a poignant contrast of beautiful memories with the destruction that will forever change the city. This deepened my understanding of the impact of the disaster and the passing of the New Orleans that used to be. I look forward to reading some of the author's other books which are primarily detective stories. show less