Review by Wacamato1961 -- Aftermath by Charles Williams
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Wacamato1961
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Review by Wacamato1961 -- Aftermath by Charles Williams
[Following is a volunteer review of "Aftermath" by Charles Williams.]
Ayyy-eeee! Dat good ol' boy club sure do be alive and well in New Orleans! Aftermath is a harsh look into "the way things get done down here." Author Charles Williams has lived in New Orleans and Baton Rouge and has cooked up a conte de poisson centering on three prominent (fictional) men in the New Orleans community. A tale of intrigue and corruption, Aftermath keeps the reader captivated and speculating until the very end.
In the destruction following Hurricane Katrina, federal grants and loans are available to help rebuild homes and communities, and everyone has their hand in the pot. Strong characters abound but three main players are highlighted as the game of intrigue unfolds.
Real estate banker Clint Johnson relocates to the Baton Rouge/New Orleans area from Baltimore in the "aftermath" of a bad decision made with good intentions. Clint flipped a penny and it landed on tails, and his only hope of redemption is to make a deal with the FBI to spy on and weed out the unscrupulous planners of a questionable development project. Prominent members of the community selfishly envision dollars in their own pockets instead of restoring the destitute neighborhood of Bacauptown. Their greed hangs on Clint's approval of a large loan. Has he hopped out of the poilon into the flame?
The biggest fish in the pond, real estate investor Joe Pacello, has fought his way up from poverty in the Bayou to wealth and prominence in the Big Easy; he is an expert in "the game as it has to be played." Ruthless, merciless, and devious in his quest for the big payday, his only real concern is repaying the large loan he owes to the local Mafia boss. Is he really such a bad guy, or is he just mal pris?
Reverend Clarence Washington, the senior pastor for Gethsemane Baptist Church, which is smack in the middle of Bacauptown, plans to use the federal funds to realize his vision of rebuilding the destruction caused by the hurricane. He seems to sincerely aspire to help his neighbors and parishioners get a fresh start and rebuild their lives as well. Is the Reverend motivated by sincerity and Christian love, or is he as corrupt as the rest of the dancers in this fais do-do?
Aftermath is packed with racism and sexism, and absolutely no one is apologizing. There is a definite division between black and white, and few cross the neutral ground. There are scads of outright racial slurs from every corner, although I don't recall seeing the no-no Cajun word coon-ass. Sexism is directed toward any woman, but especially toward real estate expert Tonya Whittington, who has been blessed with physical allure as well as intelligence and shrewdness. Everyone lusts for Tonya, bless her heart. There are a few sexually-focused scenes featuring prostitutes and what someone might want to do with them, and some mention of (wait for it) marital sex!
I loved the suspense of not being able to predict how this game of odds would play out. The characters have depth and interest; however, this is not a book for sensitive readers. The racism, sexism, and profanity are harsh and hard on the ears, yet I don't object to them at the expense of the story, as it aims to highlight the darkness, deceit, and desperation that rule la ville.
Aside from some disagreeable language, which is a big part of the tone, I didn't find anything to dislike about the tale or its telling. The writing and editing are professional, and the author successfully conveys the contrast between wealth and poverty, despair and hope, and love and hate, and demonstrates that for humans, honesty and honor can be subjective. Aftermath examines adult situations so kids should move on; also, those who are averse to racial slurs will find this book offensive. My rating is 4 out of 4 as it is so gripping as well as virtually error-free. Mais, c'est tout! I hope my attempt at Cajun/French is halfway acceptable and taken as light-hearted.
******
Aftermath
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Ayyy-eeee! Dat good ol' boy club sure do be alive and well in New Orleans! Aftermath is a harsh look into "the way things get done down here." Author Charles Williams has lived in New Orleans and Baton Rouge and has cooked up a conte de poisson centering on three prominent (fictional) men in the New Orleans community. A tale of intrigue and corruption, Aftermath keeps the reader captivated and speculating until the very end.
In the destruction following Hurricane Katrina, federal grants and loans are available to help rebuild homes and communities, and everyone has their hand in the pot. Strong characters abound but three main players are highlighted as the game of intrigue unfolds.
Real estate banker Clint Johnson relocates to the Baton Rouge/New Orleans area from Baltimore in the "aftermath" of a bad decision made with good intentions. Clint flipped a penny and it landed on tails, and his only hope of redemption is to make a deal with the FBI to spy on and weed out the unscrupulous planners of a questionable development project. Prominent members of the community selfishly envision dollars in their own pockets instead of restoring the destitute neighborhood of Bacauptown. Their greed hangs on Clint's approval of a large loan. Has he hopped out of the poilon into the flame?
The biggest fish in the pond, real estate investor Joe Pacello, has fought his way up from poverty in the Bayou to wealth and prominence in the Big Easy; he is an expert in "the game as it has to be played." Ruthless, merciless, and devious in his quest for the big payday, his only real concern is repaying the large loan he owes to the local Mafia boss. Is he really such a bad guy, or is he just mal pris?
Reverend Clarence Washington, the senior pastor for Gethsemane Baptist Church, which is smack in the middle of Bacauptown, plans to use the federal funds to realize his vision of rebuilding the destruction caused by the hurricane. He seems to sincerely aspire to help his neighbors and parishioners get a fresh start and rebuild their lives as well. Is the Reverend motivated by sincerity and Christian love, or is he as corrupt as the rest of the dancers in this fais do-do?
Aftermath is packed with racism and sexism, and absolutely no one is apologizing. There is a definite division between black and white, and few cross the neutral ground. There are scads of outright racial slurs from every corner, although I don't recall seeing the no-no Cajun word coon-ass. Sexism is directed toward any woman, but especially toward real estate expert Tonya Whittington, who has been blessed with physical allure as well as intelligence and shrewdness. Everyone lusts for Tonya, bless her heart. There are a few sexually-focused scenes featuring prostitutes and what someone might want to do with them, and some mention of (wait for it) marital sex!
I loved the suspense of not being able to predict how this game of odds would play out. The characters have depth and interest; however, this is not a book for sensitive readers. The racism, sexism, and profanity are harsh and hard on the ears, yet I don't object to them at the expense of the story, as it aims to highlight the darkness, deceit, and desperation that rule la ville.
Aside from some disagreeable language, which is a big part of the tone, I didn't find anything to dislike about the tale or its telling. The writing and editing are professional, and the author successfully conveys the contrast between wealth and poverty, despair and hope, and love and hate, and demonstrates that for humans, honesty and honor can be subjective. Aftermath examines adult situations so kids should move on; also, those who are averse to racial slurs will find this book offensive. My rating is 4 out of 4 as it is so gripping as well as virtually error-free. Mais, c'est tout! I hope my attempt at Cajun/French is halfway acceptable and taken as light-hearted.
******
Aftermath
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: The Neighbour At Number 18 (Reload) by Hawa Crickmore
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katmeynaj345
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"Aftermath keeps the reader captivated and speculating until the very end." Thank you for using these words. The title of the book caught my attention. Great review too.
