Wading Home: A Novel of New Orleans - Softcover

As the shadow of Hurricane Katrina looms, Simon Fortier knows how he plans to face the storm in his long-time home in the city's Treme neighborhood, just as he did through so many storms before. But when Katrina's waters rise and the city’s broken levees cause devastating floods, Simon disappears.
His son Julian, a celebrated but down-on-his-luck trumpeter, rushes home to the city he left years before, to search for a father with whom he'd been on difficult terms over preparing for the hurricane. Julian’s return to New Orleans brings him back in touch with figures from his past, loves and enemies both, and as his search for Simon takes him to the rural plot where Simon grew up, Julian is drawn deep into its troubles. As he comes to grips with his father's likely fate and struggles to regain his trumpet chops, Julian slowly gains a deeper, richer understanding of both his father and their shared heritage.
Wading Homeis an important book about one of America’s most important cities, veiled in the form of a captivating page-turner. Lyrical, accessible, compelling, and populated by a broad, fully realized cast of supporting characters, its timeless story tells how this son strives to save his father: shaken to the core by the devastation of a city, he discovers the true meanings of home, family, and history.

ROSALYN STORY lives in Dallas. Her first book, And So I Sing: African American Divas Of Opera And Concert, inspired the PBS documentary Aida’s Brothers and Sisters: A History of Blacks in Opera, in which she appeared as featured narrator. Her first novel, More Than You Know (Agate, 2004) garnered rave reviews and was an Essence bestseller. She is a violinist with the Fort Worth Symphony.
|Praise for Rosalyn Story's More Than You Know

Rosalyn Story's debut novel is a mystery at heart a page-turner enhanced by lyrical language and clever plot turns. Story, a violinist with the Fort Worth Symphony, knows how to play to a crowd, and she drives the narrative like a good straight-ahead quartet taking a pop standard and playing it with panache while adding fresh changes and tempos that give the well-worn tune a whole new sound. An engaging addition to the jazz-novel canon.”
Washington Post

Romantic, deeply sentimental redemption story of smoky jazz clubs, beauty salons crackling with gossip, and the intricate, wide-ranging community that holds it all together.”
Kirkus Reviews

Story weaves this tale of family ties and secrets back and forth between past and present, using finely drawn characters, jazz settings, and taut emotions to build tension toward reconciliation. The book's powerful evocation of love and family should appeal to a wide cross section of readers.”
Booklist

"More Than You Know is a moving grown-up read featuring well-drawn and familiar characters. This is the perfect choice for your next book club pick."
Essence

Story writes with the plot-twisting precision of a veteran and a lyricism reminiscent of James Baldwin’s novel-turned-serenade Sonny’s Blues .Well done.”
BIBR

Praise for Rosalyn Story's "More Than You Know"
Rosalyn Story's debut novel is a mystery at hearta page-turner enhanced by lyrical language and clever plot turns. Story, a violinist with the Fort Worth Symphony, knows how to play to a crowd, and she drives the narrative like a good straight-ahead quartettaking a pop standard and playing it with panache while adding fresh changes and tempos that give the well-worn tune a whole new sound. An engaging addition to the jazz-novel canon.
"Washington Post"
Romantic, deeply sentimental redemption story of smoky jazz clubs, beauty salons crackling with gossip, and the intricate, wide-ranging community that holds it all together.
"Kirkus Reviews"
Story weaves this tale of family ties and secrets back and forth between past and present, using finely drawn characters, jazz settings, and taut emotions to build tension toward reconciliation. The book's powerful evocation of love and family should appeal to a wide cross section of readers.
"Booklist"
""More Than You Know" is a moving grown-up read featuring well-drawn and familiar characters. This is the perfect choice for your next book club pick."
"Essence"
Story writes with the plot-twisting precision of a veteran and a lyricism reminiscent of James Baldwin s novel-turned-serenade Sonny s Blues.Well done.
BIBR
"