Prisoners of Katrina

[Matt Taylor]

A friend of mine wrote a book about his experiences working as a nurse in Orleans Parish Prison during Hurricane Katrina. He was right in the middle of things when the shit hit the fan.

I read an early copy of it and found it fascinating. It's on Amazon if you think you'd be interested.

The author is a really good guy who is trying to sell some books real grassroots-like. So I figured I'd let some folks know about it. His aging father had no place to go for the storm, so he went to work with my buddy -- turned out to be a pretty miserable experience. Th e book is a good look at what things were like in New Orleans during and a few days after the storm -- it really captures the uncertainty and fear that people down here experienced.

Anyway, here's the link:

http://www.amazon.com/Prisoners-Kat...6909748?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1178654755&sr=8-1

 

[p m]

Thanks, Matt!

 

[Roverlady]

Just another plug (Matt, I'm going to get a copy of the book you mentioned)...

I picked up this in the airport in NoLA last time I was home and really enjoyed (although it brought back a range of emotions) the pieces and his perspective.

 

[Matt Taylor]

The Chris Rose thing is pretty cool -- everybody was talking about those articles during the first four months. They were popular.

The Prisoners of Katrina thing is much different -- the writer is by no means a professional writer. It's just a story of one guy's experience in his own words, and from what I read of it, his experience was pretty crazy. I can't think of a more hectic place to be during Katrina than Orleans Parish Prison. That place is a nightmare on regular days.

 

[Roverlady]

Good point--it's much different reading a personal, un-edited (not in the literal sense) account of the experience. Viewed through the eyes of one unaccustomed to "reporting the story."

 

[montego]

Hmmm....I would like to pick up a copy. Matt, is there any local store carrying the book?

thanks,
-josh

 

[Matt Taylor]

Not yet, I don't think. It's apparently much harder to get your books in the bookstores than it is to get it on Amazon. He's working on getting them in stores, and he's made some good headway, but it might be a few months.

You'll notice when you read the book that it wasn't written by a professional writer. But the story is worth it, I think.