SPOILERS!! THE GLASS RAINBOW ending and plot discussed here

[keys1day]

Connie - Your post put into words exactly what I was feeling. I cannot believe how much I have become enamored of everything about the Dave Robicheaux books - the setting, the characters, the plots, etc...

I have read every James Lee Burke book of the Dave Robicheaux series. I just finished TGR yesterday evening and let me tell you - I could not sleep well and I had a dream that I was having lunch with Dave and Alafair at Victor's Cafe (lol)!!!

But the reason I first started reading James Lee Burke is sort of funny... I love to read murder mysteries so I did a search at the library of "mysteries/fiction" and "Louisiana" because I LOVE New Orleans and have visited probably 50+ times. I found him by accident and started reading Heaven's Prisoners first, not realizing it was out of sequence. So then after that I started at the beginning. I must say though - this book had me RIVETED! And I was joking with my husband, reading little passages to him here and there, when Clete says something along the lines of "You aren't going to die on me because I'll kick your ass". I thought that was funny. But when I got to the end I was so sad and I have been depressed all day about it! When I read James Lee Burke, he has made me desparately want to go to Louisiana (outside of New Orleans) - to New Iberia, Breaux Bridge, Cypremont Point, etc... so my husband and I are going there for our 10 yr anniversary this October. But reading his books transports you to the place, even though I have only been to New Orleans before. When I am missing Louisiana, I can lose myself in one of his books and it helps me get through the long Chicago winters (I long to move down that way one day!). But now, if they (Clete and Dave) are gone, I don't know what I will do. I know they are getting older, in their early 70s but I sincerely hope they come back next year. I anxiously await the next installment, if there is one...
Thanks for the EXCELLENT WRITING Jim!

[jamesleeburke]

Thanks, Ms. Keys. I hope you and your husband enjoy your visit to the New Iberia area.

Best,

Jim

[Connie Ciampanelli]

Dear keys1day,

I, too, came late to the James Lee Burke party. Several years ago, I read in our local newspaper, the Providence Journal, an outstanding review of Crusader's Cross. It peaked my interest, but I let it go. The next year, the same reviewer (Sam Coale, an English professor at Wheaton College in MA) wrote an equally rave review about Pegasus Descending. I decided I needed to look into this James Lee Burke and borrowed a copy of Crusader's Cross. Upon reading the first page I thought, "Oh, wow, this is going to be good!" I'll never forget my reaction to the lyrical (yes, that very word often used in reviews, came to my mind at my first reading) description the main street and houses and trees and flowers and scents of New Iberia. I read just a few paragraphs more before I had to call my husband in to share it with him. Since then, I've read all but four or five of the entire cannon, including the Holland books, the stand-alone novels, and the short stories (I highly recommend The Convict and Other Stories, especially the title story and "Losses"). I have three of those books on my reading table right now. They are coming along with me for vacation reading.

Welcome to the glorious ride!

Connie Ciampanelli
Rhode Island

[veronicat]

Connie, you took the words right out of my mouth! James Lee Burke IS the best American writer! I agree with everything you have said.

[lkartist]

I mourned for two days after reading The Glass Rainbow. Surely I can't have lost two friends in one book. I live on the Gulf Coast and frequent New Orleans and the area. As an artist, I visualize the mist, miasma, Confederate Soldiers, swamps, as James Lee Burke paints them in words. He paints my mind with color, electricity and energy in every sentence of this most beautifully written book. What a joy!!! Thank you, despite the ending. LInda

[jamesleeburke]

Clete said the Bobbsey Twins from Homicide are forever. He;s not a man who speaks idly.

Thanks for the post.

Best,

Jim

[Dakotapix]

I'm seeing some hope here. Was that a hint, James?

Clete said the Bobbsey Twins from Homicide are forever. He;s not a man who speaks idly.

Thanks for the post.

Best,

Jim

[CaribooRose]

HI Jim
Is it desperation speaking here or did I also catch the hint Dakotapix mentions? ... did I ... did I?

This is a strange time of year for JLB fans ... still processing the newest jewel ... eagerly awaiting the next one ... and I love it

Regards!!
Rose

[Rumrunner]

Long time JLB reader and first time poster on the forum.

I have read all of JLB's books and my favorite has always been the Robichaux series and I must say i was stunned when I finished The Glass Rainbow y'day So, I went back and read the last chapter about four times last night and now I have a better feeling about it. I'm kinda thinking we will see Dave & Clete again in the future

As far as Dave's age..........in one of his earlier books (the title escapes me) Dave and his half brother were working the oil barges off Galveston, TX. I could've sworn that it was in the late 50's or early 60's, and he gave his approximate age (think it was a summer job before going to college). They both met some girl that worked a hot pillow joint and tried to 'rescue' her. Oh well, enough on that!*

I will say the highlight of my year is when a new JLB book comes out, especially a Robichaux novel. In between time, I keep busy with John Sandford, Archer Mayor, Lee Child and some of the Florida based contemporary writers, like Randy Wayne White, Carl Hiassen and that 'idiot' Tim Dorsey. But I still check the book lists every few months for something from James Lee Burke

I still have plans to retire to the southern Louisiana area, if we ever get out of this economy, and I thank JLB for introducing me to it.

* Found it!...Crusaders Cross

In the summer of 1958, Dave Robicheaux and his half-brother Jimmie are just out of high school. Jimmie and Dave get work with an oil company, laying out rubber cables in the bays and mosquito-infested swamps all along the Louisiana-Texas coastline. They spend their off time at Galveston Island, fishing at night on the jetties, the future kept safely at bay, the past drifting off somewhere behind them.

[penelope]

Long time JLB reader and first time poster on the forum.

I have read all of JLB's books and my favorite has always been the Robichaux series and I must say i was stunned when I finished The Glass Rainbow y'day So, I went back and read the last chapter about four times last night and now I have a better feeling about it. I'm kinda thinking we will see Dave & Clete again in the future

As far as Dave's age..........in one of his earlier books (the title escapes me) Dave and his half brother were working the oil barges off Galveston, TX. I could've sworn that it was in the late 50's or early 60's, and he gave his approximate age (think it was a summer job before going to college). They both met some girl that worked a hot pillow joint and tried to 'rescue' her. Oh well, enough on that!*

<SNIP>

* Found it!...Crusaders Cross

In the summer of 1958, Dave Robicheaux and his half-brother Jimmie are just out of high school. Jimmie and Dave get work with an oil company, laying out rubber cables in the bays and mosquito-infested swamps all along the Louisiana-Texas coastline. They spend their off time at Galveston Island, fishing at night on the jetties, the future kept safely at bay, the past drifting off somewhere behind them.

Hi rumrunner and welcome to the board. Several have made statements and posted queries about Dave's age. Pamala, our esteemed webmaster, answered the question earlier in this forum (I think it was this forum, but it could have been one of the others). Anyway, Pamala gives Dave's age as the same as Jim's 73.

Best,

Penny