FEET ON THE STREET Rambles Around New Orleans

Roy Blount, Jr., gives listeners the benefit of his extensive knowledge of New Orleans in several “rambles” around the city as he notes neighborhoods, sights, architecture, night spots, areas to avoid, odd characters, and, of course, places to eat. While informative as a guide, the book is also a love letter and a memoir of his experiences in the city, pleasant and painful. Blount overcomes the occasional reading stiffness (as if he were unfamiliar with the text) with relative aplomb. In the end, the drawling voice and tone, that of a tolerant, knowledgeable, humorous Southern man of the world, lend this raconteur’s Baedeker a warmth and charm mere paper could never convey. W.M. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/SEP 05]