{"product_id":"nine-lives-mystery-magic-death-and-life-in-new-orleans-9780385523202","title":"Nine Lives: Mystery, Magic, Death, and Life in New Orleans","description":"\u003ch2\u003eNine Lives: Mystery, Magic, Death, and Life in New Orleans\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe hidden history of the haunted and beloved city of New Orleans, told through the intersecting lives of nine remarkable characters.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\"\u003ci\u003eNine Lives\u003c\/i\u003e is stunning work. Dan Baum has immersed himself in New Orleans, the most fascinating city in the United States, and illuminated it in a way that is as innovative as Tom Wolfe on hot rods and Truman Capote on a pair of murderers. Full of stylistic brilliance and deep insight and an overriding compassion, \u003ci\u003eNine Lives\u003c\/i\u003e is an instant classic of creative nonfiction.\" \u003cb\u003e--Robert Olen Butler, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of \u003ci\u003eA Good Scent from a Strange Mountain\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eNine Lives\u003c\/i\u003e is a multivoiced biography of a dazzling, surreal, and imperiled city, told through the lives of nine unforgettable characters and bracketed by two epic storms: Hurricane Betsy, which transformed New Orleans in the 1960s, and Hurricane Katrina, which nearly destroyed it. Dan Baum brings this kaleidoscopic portrait to life, showing us what was lost in the storm and what remains to be saved.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eA Portrait of New Orleans Through Nine Lives\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis work of creative nonfiction captures the essence of New Orleans by following nine distinct individuals whose lives intersect with the city's most defining moments. From the transformation brought by Hurricane Betsy in the 1960s to the devastating impact of Hurricane Katrina, Baum weaves together personal narratives that reveal the soul of this haunted, beloved city.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat Makes This Book Essential Reading\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFormer \u003ci\u003eNew Yorker\u003c\/i\u003e staff writer Dan Baum spent years immersing himself in New Orleans culture, documenting the stories that define this unique American city. Through intimate character portraits, readers gain access to the hidden history, social conditions, and cultural traditions that make New Orleans unlike any other place in the United States.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe narrative structure allows readers to experience New Orleans from multiple perspectives, creating a comprehensive understanding of the city's complexity, resilience, and transformation across decades. Each character's story illuminates different aspects of New Orleans life, from its celebrated culture to its ongoing struggles.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBONUS: This edition contains a \u003ci\u003eNine Lives\u003c\/i\u003e discussion guide.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDan Baum is a former staff writer for \u003ci\u003eThe New Yorker\u003c\/i\u003e, and has written for numerous other magazines and newspapers. He lives in Boulder, Colorado.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Random House","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50680565104914,"sku":"9780385523202","price":14.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_f0cc5aed-3af0-4ebf-8eea-821f4fe2ad77.jpg?v=1734922874","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/nine-lives-mystery-magic-death-and-life-in-new-orleans-9780385523202","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}