🌕🐊 "Under the Bayou Moon" (2021) 🐊🌕 - Book Review

MY REVIEW

 

Paperback: 352 pages

Publisher: Revell (August 3, 2021)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0800737512

ISBN-13: 978-0800737511

⬅️ Click Photo for Purchase Information

 

“Restless with the familiarity of her Alabama home, Ellie Fields accepts a teaching job in a tiny Louisiana town deep in bayou country. Though rightfully suspicious of outsiders, who have threatened both their language and their culture, most of the people in tiny Bernadette, Louisiana, come to appreciate the young and idealistic schoolteacher as a boon to the town. She's soon teaching just about everyone--and coming up against opposition from both the school board and a politician with ulterior motives.

 

Acclimating to a whole new world, Ellie meets a lonely but intriguing Cajun fisherman named Raphe who introduces her to the legendary white alligator that haunts these waters. Raphe and Ellie have barely found their way to each other when a huge bounty is offered for the elusive gator, bringing about a shocking turn of events that will test their love and their will to right a terrible wrong.

 

A master of the Southern novel, Valerie Fraser Luesse invites you to enter the sultry swamps of Louisiana in a story that illuminates the struggle for the heart and soul of the bayou.”

 

Thank you in advance to the publisher, Revell (a Division of Baker Book), for providing a complimentary review copy of the book through their Revell Reads blogger program. A positive review was definitely not required or requested in any way; all words are my own.

 

I had heard some good things about this book from those who had reviewed and ARC of it. As soon as I saw it was available for review, I JUMPED at the chance to get it.

 

This is more “historical” to me than “general fiction”. The timeline is set for most of the book from 1947-1950, so about 71-74 years ago. Though I am sure there will be some debate as to the true meaning of “historical” fiction.

 

This is also the first book I’ve read by the author, and I was really impressed by it. I honestly couldn’t put it down.  

 

The cover is simple, yet captures the charm of the Louisiana Bayou. And, I could’ve sworn if I stared long enough I’d heard the frogs and the crickets.

 

The characters were as complicated as the bayou at night. Raphe, Ellie (Juliet), Remy, Gabby, Heywood, Boone, Big Roy. Each supporting character is crafted as if they’re your neighbor, or an enemy you’ve known most of your life. The villains are definitely not subtle. They’re very much open and blatant with their twisted version of justice. And, Luesse emphasizes this with authentic dialogue and inflections.

 

Speaking of the dialogue, some readers might take issue with the term “colored” as it refers to African American/Black characters. This was the term of era and brings authenticity to the story along with highlighting the challenges that African American/Black people faced back then. One in particular was denial to education which is mentioned by Ellie.

 

Luesse’s writing style is very descriptive and she moves the story along naturally with short chapters and multiple POVs – Raphe, Ellie, Big Roy. Luesse makes the reader feel like they’re right there in the bayou with the characters.

 

Like the bayou – the overall plot is intriguing, familiar, lovely, engaging, mysterious, and poignant. Some readers might be disappointed by the plot. I truly enjoyed the story, but honestly do feel there was opportunity for a more complex story as there were a few subplots that could’ve been expanded.

 

I was drawn in by the end of the prologue with the tale (pardon the pun) of the white alligator – L’esprit Blanc. And, it is this white alligator that also sets the stage for the story that takes place 2-4 years after WWII.

 

Juliet (Ellie) is in New Orleans on her way to Bernadette to take up a teaching position in a two-room schoolhouse, but it will eventually be the entire school when the one teacher dies from old age before Ellie can start. She is looking for purpose after leaving Alabama.

 

There in New Orleans, Ellie meets Heywood, a real character. He is an aspiring photographer but currently works on an oil rig. He claims to be engaged and offers to show her around before she heads to the bayou. One little scene involves a bookstore, beignets, and chicory coffee. I was feeling the Café du Monde vibes there.

 

Note: never been to New Orleans, but I know about the café from TV shows, and buying some goodies online. Chicory coffee is the ONLY coffee my mom drinks and I love it as well.

 

Moving on …

 

When Ellie arrives in Bernadette, she learns of another challenge – the kids and their distrust of teachers.

 

One thing is clear – the governor, Big Roy Strahan, wants to stamp out the French the Cajuns are speaking – using any means needed. More specifically he’s trying to eradicate it from everyone’s daily life. And, as a result, the kids hate school.

 

Ellie is on a mission to make learning fun. I had to laugh when Leo told Raphe to say he forgot his ABCs so Ellie could teach him.

 

But, there is also the matter of a pastor who sees the carvings of the white alligator as the Cajuns worshipping it, along with a disdain for their Catholicism.

 

Ellie agrees to stress the importance of English, but won’t punish the kids as it is cruel and stupid.

 

Her relationship with Raphe begins early on as he helps her get the schoolroom ready. She also solicits him for stories for the kids, one surrounds a legend known as the Rougarou. I already knew about it from an episode of NCIS: NEW ORLEANS (“Predators”, 4/19/2020). In short – the Rougarou most often is described as a creature with a human body and the head of a wolf or dog, similar to the werewolf legend.

 

The best legend of course is the white alligator story. This actually endears her to Raphe’s nephew Remy. Raphe is taking care of him after losing most of his family in the storm, or rather a hurricane.

 

In order to help Ellie with teaching, she’s given two assistants – Gabby and Bonita. Though it is Gabby who becomes more prominent as the story goes along.

 

Ellie begins teaching the kids by explaining their past to them and getting them to see that English is to help them if they’re outside the Bayou. Though keeping their French roots is good as well.

 

The readers meet the “baddie” or rather three of them in chapter 11 (about 36% in). Lura, Big Roy’s secretary; Gig Luetrell, a “goon”; and of course, Big Roy. This is another plot point going on – the search for a particular “resource”.

 

As Heywood points out – the good ones want the resource and to protect the land, bad ones don’t care.

 

And, Raphe finally shares the secret of the white alligator with Heywood and Ellie in a moment that binds the three together.

 

By almost halfway, Raphe realizes he loves Ellie but wonders where love ends and selfishness begins. He loves the bayou, but feels Ellie deserves more.

 

At one point, Big Roy’s son Boone (superintendent for the school) visits and is a bit shocked at the treatment of the kids who accidentally speak French. Of course, the punishment is a ruse. But, Boone is conflicted. I had to laugh at Gabby’s ingenuity.

 

The Raphe/Ellie romance took a shocking turn about page 217 and seemed more like that should’ve been the end rather that where it was.

 

And, it is at that same time that Big Roy sets out another plan.

 

When the reward for the alligator goes up, Heywood has a feeling that if Luetrell is involved no one would see the reward and there is also something sinister going on. Something beyond the alligator hunt.

 

There were times I couldn’t put this down and wanted to read right through it, though I also wanted to sit a spell and savor the story. I enjoyed the romance and suspense. Everything was seamless and flowed quite well. The end of chapter 48 definitely took me by surprise.

 

Overall, I had mixed feelings about this book. I deeply enjoyed the story-telling, the relationships, the rich history. But, I also feel there was something missing in the overall plot.

 

There is an incident in the book about Luetrell’s finding at the school, yet it is never mentioned again, nor is there a plot point to circle back to it. It was as if there was something the author intended, and decided against it.

 

Despite having no real feelings about a certain character, I was left gutted by their death – especially how they died. It was a complete shock.

 

There are little things sprinkled throughout the story that draw the reader in and it becomes less of a story and more of an experience. I had to laugh at Heywood and his “perpetual” fiancée. If you’ve read the book you know.

 

Luesse definitely captured the sense of community in the bayou and showed that it didn’t matter where everyone was from – that was their home.

 

Everything was pretty much taken care of without too many loose ends so I don’t feel like I am waiting for a sequel.

 

There are some bad reviews mainly due to the creative license taken with the area and culture. As I do not know the area, I will perhaps remain neutral and solely rate the story. This is actually going to be, in my opinion, a love it or leave it type of read, so I’ll go with LOVE IT.

 

As this is distributed by Revell, and given the story content; there are strong themes of faith, bible quotes, church attendance, and mention of God. These are largely integral to the story.

 

Fans of the author and those who love a good post-WWII novel with minor suspense, are sure to enjoy this read. I wouldn’t hesitate to read another book by the author and would like to check out her previous work.

 

 

 

 

NOTES: 

 

CAJUN – French Canadian; shortened to Acadian, then to Cajun.

 

ROUGAROU – In the Cajun legends, the creature is said to prowl the swamps around Acadiana and Greater New Orleans, and the sugar cane fields and woodlands of the regions. The Rougarou most often is described as a creature with a human body and the head of a wolf or dog, similar to the werewolf legend.

 

Often the story-telling has been used to inspire fear and obedience. One such example is stories that have been told by elders to persuade Cajun children to behave. According to another variation, the wolf-like beast will hunt down and kill Catholics who do not follow the rules of Lent.

 

 

 

 

RATING:

 

4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Goodreads

 

4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – BookBub

 

4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html)

 

 

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

 

Valerie Fraser Luesse is the bestselling author of Missing Isaac, Almost Home, and The Key to Everything, as well as an award-winning magazine writer best known for her feature stories and essays in Southern Living, where she is currently senior travel editor. Specializing in stories about unique pockets of Southern culture, Luesse received the 2009 Writer of the Year award from the Southeast Tourism Society for her editorial section on Hurricane Katrina recovery in Mississippi and Louisiana. A graduate of Auburn University and Baylor University, she lives in Birmingham, Alabama, with her husband, Dave.

 

You can find her on the following social media accounts:

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valeriefraserluessebooks/

 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valerieluesse/

 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GoinDownToMamas

 

Website: https://www.valeriefraserluesse.com/

 

 

 

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