Historical Fiction book recs for New Orleans?

[sunshineandpinot]

Spending about 5 days in New Orleans in 2 weeks for a family wedding and sightseeing. You gals always give the best travel advice. I used the nice little search feature and came up with lots of restaurants! So thanks for that
We're visiting Oak Alley and Laura Plantation, possibly doing a bike tour, cemetery tour and an aunt would like to do a ghost tour at night. 
I think we'll do 1 lunch at Commander's Palace- $0.25 martinis, holler!! btw, what does turtle soup taste like? 
Need to come up with 1 dinner spot for just my mom and I (we're arriving early) and 2 more lunch spots. Rehearsal dinner is at Le Foret; looks yummy!

We've got about an 8 hour drive and my mom and I would like to listen to a book. Any recs for that? 

I also have a trip in between and would love a book to read so I'll take any and all recs. I particularry love historical fiction. 

Thanks!!!

[elcjet]

Have you read any Susana Kearsley? My favorites are The Shadowy Horses, Mariana, and A Desperate Fortune -- she's a dual time period author and I think she does it very well. The last one is the only one that isn't a little....magical.

[monsterz]

I just finished Paris by Edward Rutherford

Other good books I like:
The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff
Fall of Giants Trilogy by Ken Follett
In The Unlikely Event by Judy Blume

[sfy]

Cane River - Lalita Tademy

Eta - forgive me for the skimming. I thought you wanted historical fiction based in New Orleans lol (this is actually just based on Louisiana, though).

[v]

All the Light We Cannot See?

[Deleted]

Not historical fiction, but I love books by Nevada Barr. She wrote one called 13 1/2 about New Orleans that I couldn't put down.

[sunshineandpinot]

Oct 1, 2015 17:09:25 GMT -5 v said:

All the Light We Cannot See?

Read and loved it! But isn't it based in France?

[everafter07]

I liked Dollbaby a lot, historical fiction set during civil rights era.

[everafter07]

Three Muses is a great bar and has really good food.

[alare]

Well, since you're going to New Orleans I have to recommend The Feast of All Saints. Anne Rice historical fiction - no vampires, I promise.

[turkletsmom]

My high school is in New Orleans and one year we read Night Jasmine by Mary Lou Widmer. It was one of my favorite books for years. It's a forbidden romance that takes place in Uptown NOLA during the 1900's. Nothing gets a class of Catholic school girls in honors English going like some mild erotica- lol.

Also, the turtle soup at Commander's is a must. They will give you a little sample if you ask.

[Deleted]

www.amazon.com/Last-Madam-Life-Orleans-Underworld/dp/0306810123/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1443757030&sr=8-1&keywords=The+last+Madame

The Last Madame - New Orleans

[alexis]

Oct 1, 2015 19:52:47 GMT -5 operagirl said:

Turtle soup is my favorite. It tastes like beef consommé with lots of sherry in it, to me.

Your turtle soup was clear with no chunks?

I had dinner at Commander's Palace a couple of weekends ago and had the turtle soup. It was like a stew and definitely Creole in flavor. It seemed to share some of the flavors of gumbo but different. I've never had anything quite like it, but I enjoyed it.

Have fun! The food at Commander's Palace was fantastic.

[niq]

I suspect the truth about New Orleans is more entertaining than fiction.

I really liked The Last Madam: A Life in the New Orleans Underworld

[v]

Oct 1, 2015 17:34:33 GMT -5 sunshineandpinot said:

Oct 1, 2015 17:09:25 GMT -5 v said:

All the Light We Cannot See?

Read and loved it! But isn't it based in France?

I'll admit that I'm a bit confused by this thread -- she wants suggestions of historical fiction to read on her trip to New Orleans, and not necessarily books *about* New Orleans, right?

[sunshineandpinot]

Oct 2, 2015 5:34:30 GMT -5 v said:

Oct 1, 2015 17:34:33 GMT -5 sunshineandpinot said:

Read and loved it! But isn't it based in France?

I'll admit that I'm a bit confused by this thread -- she wants suggestions of historical fiction to read on her trip to New Orleans, and not necessarily books *about* New Orleans, right?

Sorry- going to New Orleans. I really don't know much NOLA history and I like reading historical fiction books; I find it an easy and enjoyable way to gather knowledge. So I want historical fiction books set in or around New Orleans. 

Like I read every book on the Tudor's when I was going to England, books on Marie Antoinette when going to France... I even read The Thornbirds before my Australia trip. 

[sunshineandpinot]

Oct 1, 2015 19:52:47 GMT -5 operagirl said:

Turtle soup is my favorite. It tastes like beef consommé with lots of sherry in it, to me.

You and your Mom might like dinner at Le Crepe Nanou, Clancy's, Le Petite Grocery, or Brigtsens - very local.

Have lunch at a local PoBoy restaurant like Parkway Bakery or Liuzza's.

I'll second Edward Rutherford or Ken Follett for books.

Where is the wedding? New Orleans weddings are Fun!

Great tips, thanks!!

The wedding is at Il Mercato on Magazine St. 

[sunshineandpinot]

operagirl, YUM! Thanks for the information. I was worried it was fishy and I'm not a fan of fishy flavors
That sounds delish! Sounds like Commander's Palace is a must!

[sunshineandpinot]

Oct 1, 2015 20:35:13 GMT -5 turkletsmom said:

My high school is in New Orleans and one year we read Night Jasmine by Mary Lou Widmer. It was one of my favorite books for years. It's a forbidden romance that takes place in Uptown NOLA during the 1900's. Nothing gets a class of Catholic school girls in honors English going like some mild erotica- lol.

Also, the turtle soup at Commander's is a must. They will give you a little sample if you ask.

Oh my gosh this looks so good but is very hard to find!!!! 

[sunshineandpinot]

Oct 2, 2015 11:57:18 GMT -5 operagirl said:

One of my neighbors, Laura McNeal is the author of Dollbaby, set in New Orleans in the civil rights era.  I haven't read it, but it as an award nominee. p://www.nola.com/books/index.ssf/2014/07/new_orleans-set_dollbaby_looks.html

A Confederacy of Dunces is often cited as the quintessential New Orleans novel, but personally I hated it.  

YAY! Dollbaby is available at the library, eAudio! I think we'll listen to it on our drive. Thanks for the rec

[turkletsmom]

Oct 2, 2015 11:57:18 GMT -5 operagirl said:

One of my neighbors, Laura McNeal is the author of Dollbaby, set in New Orleans in the civil rights era.  I haven't read it, but it as an award nominee. p://www.nola.com/books/index.ssf/2014/07/new_orleans-set_dollbaby_looks.html

A Confederacy of Dunces is often cited as the quintessential New Orleans novel, but personally I hated it.  

I started reading Confederacy two different times and both times quit 50 pages in from disgust.  I hate the main character.  I can't think of another book where I've had that kind of emotion.