One of the pleasures of following a particular author is learning about that particular person.  For me, case in point are two excellent writers, father and daughter, James Lee Burke and Alafair Burke.  And both are truly fascinating people with their accomplishments to date.

James Lee Burke was born in Houston, Texas, but has made his permanent home for many years in New Iberia, Louisiana, the site of many of his books.  His career contained many ups and downs; working as a landsman, pipeliner, surveyor, newspaper reporter, college English prof in Wichita KS, social worker on skid row in Los Angeles, clerk for State employment service in Louisiana and an instructor in the Job Corps.

A graduate of the University of Missouri with both  BA and MA degree, he has battled alcoholism for a number of years, finally overcoming the addiction, but continued writing during the years it took.  He finished his first novel when he was in his 20’s, but it took over 20 years for it to be accepted for publication.

The majority of his books follow his main character, Dave Robicheux, a Sheriff in New Iberia, with his cohort, Clete Purcel, currently a PI in New Orleans, and fondly known as the “Bobsey Twins of Homicide” in New Orleans, a prior occupation.  Burke’s plots are developed to an extreme; occasionally very complex, but all beautifully coming together.  He is a master at descriptive paragraphs, whether developing the reader’s eyesight of the surrounding area or bringing in unusual portions of history applicable to that scene.  And when he is introducing a character, nice or somewhat nasty, the reader becomes completely acquainted.  However, the reader may find many of his books to be autobiographical as his latest is.

His last book and perhaps his most complex is entitled LIGHT OF THE WORLD, and takes place in Missoula, Montana, where Burke has another home.  Joining Dave Robicheux and his wife and daughter, Alafair, a lawyer and novelist, are Clete Purcel with his newly found daughter, Gretchen Horowitz, for a long-awaited family vacation.  The story begins with Gretchen dodging an arrow while hiking, and continues to a somewhat surprising ending.

Alafair Burke is the daughter of James Lee Burke and his wife, Pearl; a graduate of schools in Wichita, KS, she wanted to go West and was accepted into classes at Reed College in Portland OR.  The school is renowned for its high academic standards as well as many libertarian views, and high school graduates must maintain a minimum of a 3.99 in order to enter this school.

Alafair graduated with a degree in Liberal Science and then attended Stanford Law School in Palo Alto, CA; returning to Oregon following graduation to become an Assistant Prosecutor in Portland.  Evidently the bright lights of Manhattan, NY zoomed into her personality, and so she   became a part of that very vibrant city becoming a Professor at Hofstra Law School, while she started writing.

Ms. Burke has written two series; the first concerning a prosecutor in Portland, and second re Ellie Hatcher, a detective in New York City, as well as several stand-alone books.  Her latest IF YOU WERE HERE is really her best, and I heartily recommend it as well as her other books.  As with some fortunate writers, she has become much better with each book; more tighter with the plots and her characters literally leap off the pages.  I look forward to her next; it should be quite interesting if she is able to continue her previous success.

DON’T FORGET TO STOP BY HURRICANE JUNCTION ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26TH!  Hoop is repeating his success with the 5th Annual Chili & Gumbo Cookoff and it will again be a fun event.  And the Silent Auction at the conclusion of naming the winners of the cookoff is a sale not to be missed!  All proceeds come to the Library, and we certainly appreciate Hoop’s generosity to our Building Fund!

We have a number of books, both hard cover and soft cover, available for sale; at the prices of $1.00 for hardcover and $0.25 for the soft.  They make excellent companions when you go on a trip and don’t want to worry about a due date from our Library.  Do come and check them out!  You won’t be disappointed.

“When an old person dies, a Library burns down.” -Karin Gillespie