Destination: New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Book: The Booklovers Guide to New Orleans by Susan Larson

Ahh, New Orleans is on my mind, as I start to pack for a trip there later this week.  I can’t resist the opportunity to talk a little bit about New Orleans in books–and there are plenty of them. Today, I depart from my usual types of literature and give you a book about books. Tomorrow a book about a restaurant, and Wednesday, some early stories by Faulkner.

Then you are in for a treat as we hit the mark of 100 posts at A Traveler’s Library. Guest post about India on Thursday, and then something quite different–two posts on music to get you in the mood to travel (Scotland and Ireland).

But first, today’s recommendation for travelers to New Orleans. The Booklover’s Guide to New Orleans (1999) by Susan Larson holds more treats than just a simple list of books to read. The author knows whereof she speaks, as she is book editor at the Times-Picayune newspaper. Nowadays she blogs about books for the paper, so you can get updated book and events information.

The guide includes bios of New Orleans authors, locations of New Orleans bookstores (this book was pre-Katrina, so check on the web before heading out to the stores), and my favorite section Lagniappe.  The wonderful word is New Orleans-speak for the little extra–the thirteenth doughnut in a dozen, for example. In this case it is writers of New Orleans talking about their favorite things. What fun! And best of all, because it is an aging book (but just as valuable as ever), you can get it for a couple of bucks from Amazon and other sellers on the Internet.

Here’s a book that is not in The Booklovers Guide to New Orleans, because it is brand new.  I’ve ordered it and will be reading on the plane, so get back to you later about Nine Lives: Death and Life in New Orleans by Dan Baum. Reviewed in the Colorado Springs Independent.

Please share your favorite New Orleans books. Have you read some of the wonderful mystery books set in NOLA? Share in the comment section. Your fellow readers will thank you.