Book Club Girl on Air Welcomes Tom Piazza to Discuss His Novel City of Refuge!

I'm so pleased to announce that the next Book Club Girl on Air Show (after Jennifer Haigh discusses The Condition on August 18th) will feature award-winning author Tom Piazza talking about his compelling and timely novel, City of Refuge. In City of Refuge, Piazza shows readers two families--one black and one white--as they confront Hurricane Katrina, a storm that will change the course of their lives. The novel also explores this turning point in American history, one whose reverberations are only beginning to be understood.

SJ Williams, a carpenter and widower, lives and works in the Lower Ninth Ward community where he was born and raised. Across town, Craig Donaldson, a Midwestern transplant and the editor of the city's alternative paper, faces deepening cracks in his family. When the news of the gathering hurricane spreads—and when the levees give way and the floodwaters come—the fate of each family changes forever.

The Houston Chronicle said of City of Refuge: "We’ve seen the broad outlines of this story on TV. But through Piazza’s pen, we feel—maybe fully for the first time—the surprise and horror as floodwaters sweep through neighborhoods, inching toward attics."

You can browse inside City of Refuge, and read more about the story behind the novel in this essay. If you would like to participate in the show with Tom Piazza on September 10th at 7pm ET, please leave a comment to this post. The first ten people to comment will receive a free copy of the book to read in preparation for the show.

Comments

[Melissa C.]

I would love to participate in September! Please count me in for what sounds like a very good read! Thanks!

[Debbie]

I would love a chance to read City of Refuge, and will mark 9/10 on my calendar for the show.
Thanks
Debbie
debdesk9(at)verzion.net

[kathy]

City f Refuge sounds like an awesome book. Would love to read it and participate more in these book discussions. I will mark this date down. Thank you, Kathy

[Jenn's Bookshelf]

I'd love to participate! I already have the book, so please don't enter me. I'm marking the date on my calendar!

[Melanie]

This looks very interesting. I ca't think of any other novels about Katrina - is this the first one?

[Kaley DeGoursey]

Wow! This book sounds amazing! Can't wait to read it, and the interview!

[ellie]

thanks for this opportunity. City of Refuge sounds wonderful.

[Sarah]

OOoh I'd love a copy of this please. Can't wait to join in.

[Katie Schroeder]

This book was wonderful- it gave me a new understanding into new orleans and the devestation that Katrina brought there. I would love to participate in this book discussion and read the book again!

[Missy Hatfield]

Sounds like a great book. I'd love to win a copy and participate in the show.

[Kelly]

Wow, that sounds really great, I will have to check this out.

[Sandra]

I'd love to have a chance to read this book please. Thank you very much.

[Faith]

I just purchased the book for the Kindle. It sounds really interesting. I don't have a book club to recommend it to, but I will certainly pass on to a couple of friends. I'm interested to hear the radio broadcast!

[Carolina Gal's Literary Cafe]

Oh, well I did not get in. But that is ok, as I have been able to recieve a few books back to back. I am looking forward to the blog radio in September.

[Nancy]

My Book Club just finished Men of Gain by McClelland and not only did we never want it to end but we had a lot of great discussion.

[Stephanie C.]

I absolutely want to read this book - it sounds so interesting!

[Book Club Girl]

Melanie,
according to the book's editor, this is the first literary novel about Katrina. I can't wait for this discussion!