Rating: 
Summary: Marie, Marie, Marie
Review: Jewell Parker Rhodes, is an excellent writer. I really enjoyed reading about the Marie(s) (Grandmother, daughter and granddaughter). I look forward to reading more of Ms. Rhodes books.
Rating:
Summary: Marie, Marie, Marie
Review: Jewell Parker Rhodes, is an excellent writer. I really enjoyed reading about the Marie(s) (Grandmother, daughter and granddaughter). I look forward to reading more of Ms. Rhodes books.
Rating:
Summary: New Orleans, money, and voodoo
Review: Just in time for the Halloween "holiday" celebrated by real and replica ghosts, witches, and goblins, an old story of New Orlean's most renowned Voodooienne, Marie Laveau is a perfect read. Rhodes takes great detail to write a historical sketch on the lives of three generations of Voodoo Queens; Grandmere`, Maman, and finally Marie. All three women are named Marie, but the most revered of them is the last one born. The money hungry and foul tempered John and Marie's sweetheart of a husband, Jacque, serve as love interests to add an interesting twist to the storyline once Marie answers the call of Damballah, the ultimate god in the African spirit world who would only possess the body of a voodoo priestess. Characters like Ziti, Nattie, Bridgette, Louis and Ribauld add spice to the mix of the story line as the reader delves into Marie's life story from childhood to the end of her long "career" as a spiritual healer/vessel for African spirits.
Though the book may appear daunting in length, once I opened up the book, Rhodes weaved a spell on me from start to finish by making me wonder where the history ended and where the fiction began in this book. There are so many mysteries surrounding Marie Laveau's life that I was pleased to have a few questions answered and simultaneously be schooled on some of the history of the religion brought over from the African American homeland. Was/is voodoo just a way for blacks to make money by praying on the hopes of those who believed in voodoo's "dark powers" during a time period when job opportunities were scarce for freed blacks in the late 19th century? Exactly how long did Marie live? These were just a few of the questions that I wanted answered when I picked up this book ... and in the true nature of this mysterious religion, I was given just enough information to whet my appetite as I flipped from page to page looking for more answers.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is as enthralled as I am with the history of the city full of spirits, mysteries, and an American history that could rival the Egyptian hieroglyphics in its complexity. Looking for more than just a good book to read at the beach? Pick this one up. Faint of heart or a scaredy cat of this highly notorious religion? Read the book anyway. You just might be surprised at how much fear can be dispelled by learning what the "unknown" is all about.
Anna
R.E.A.L. Reviewers
Rating:
Summary: New Orleans, money, and voodoo
Review: Just in time for the Halloween "holiday" celebrated by real and replica ghosts, witches, and goblins, an old story of New Orlean's most renowned Voodooienne, Marie Laveau is a perfect read. Rhodes takes great detail to write a historical sketch on the lives of three generations of Voodoo Queens; Grandmere`, Maman, and finally Marie. All three women are named Marie, but the most revered of them is the last one born. The money hungry and foul tempered John and Marie's sweetheart of a husband, Jacque, serve as love interests to add an interesting twist to the storyline once Marie answers the call of Damballah, the ultimate god in the African spirit world who would only possess the body of a voodoo priestess. Characters like Ziti, Nattie, Bridgette, Louis and Ribauld add spice to the mix of the story line as the reader delves into Marie's life story from childhood to the end of her long "career" as a spiritual healer/vessel for African spirits.
Though the book may appear daunting in length, once I opened up the book, Rhodes weaved a spell on me from start to finish by making me wonder where the history ended and where the fiction began in this book. There are so many mysteries surrounding Marie Laveau's life that I was pleased to have a few questions answered and simultaneously be schooled on some of the history of the religion brought over from the African American homeland. Was/is voodoo just a way for blacks to make money by praying on the hopes of those who believed in voodoo's "dark powers" during a time period when job opportunities were scarce for freed blacks in the late 19th century? Exactly how long did Marie live? These were just a few of the questions that I wanted answered when I picked up this book ... and in the true nature of this mysterious religion, I was given just enough information to whet my appetite as I flipped from page to page looking for more answers.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is as enthralled as I am with the history of the city full of spirits, mysteries, and an American history that could rival the Egyptian hieroglyphics in its complexity. Looking for more than just a good book to read at the beach? Pick this one up. Faint of heart or a scaredy cat of this highly notorious religion? Read the book anyway. You just might be surprised at how much fear can be dispelled by learning what the "unknown" is all about.
Anna
R.E.A.L. Reviewers
Rating:
Summary: A COMPELLING HISTORICAL NOVEL
Review: Kudos to Jewell Parker Rhodes for an extraordinary piece of fiction based, in part, on fact. While some might argue that the picture Ms. Rhodes paints of the three Marie Laveaus is not entirely born out by the historical evidence, let's set the record straight. Take a close look at the title on the cover ... Ms. Rhodes clearly acknowledges that this amazing book is a NOVEL and never claims herself to be the definitive biographer of the REAL Marie Laveau or any of Marie's decendents.That said, there are several reasons why I believe this book deserves 5 stars. First, the vivid imagery used so eloquently by Ms. Rhodes harkens back to the days of old when ALL history was oral history and story-telling was an art. What she has given us is a passionate tale of female courage in the face of injustice, triumph, tragedy, adventure, mystery and faith -- all packaged in a format that is superbly written and masterfully structured. In my opinion, with VOODOO DREAMS, Jewell Parker Rhodes shines where most of the current best-selling authors fail. She leaves you begging for more, NOT wishing you'd spent your money at Starbucks.
Rating:
Summary: marie is good book
Review: My family originated from lousiana and we always heard about her
and when I read the book it really opened my eyes to her.
Rating: 
Summary: Fascinating!
Review: The first chapter of "Voodoo Dreams" made it difficult for me to become interested in the story. But once Marie Laveau and her grandmother reaches New Orleans, I felt as if I was entering the exotic world of early nineteenth-century New Orleans and voodoo. Very interesting!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Tale of Historical Fiction!!!!!!
Review: This book is a must read for lovers of historical fiction. The book takes you to a time of magic and mystery! The details of the story are so sharp and the images are so vivid, that you can feel yourself being transported to New Orleans of yesteryear.
Rating: 
Summary: Historically inaccurate & Demeaning
Review: This book was an insult to Marie Laveau and all that she managed to achieve with her life. What we DO know historically about Marie was that she was an intelligent women who succeeded when literally everything was stacked against her. This author reduces her to a steotype of 'woman as inevitable victim of men in life' for some contemporary whim despite all historic evidence to the contrary. Any free New Orleans visitors guide has more accurate information about the Marie Laveau.
Rating:
Summary: Powerful Imagery
Review: This book was very moving from start to finish. The vivid characters told a story that was much more than just a biography or a novel. It was a deep exploration into the human condition. This book wasn't merely about what Marie Laveau's life may have been like, but about how circumstances shape how we are.
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