Review of "The Ones Who Don't Say They Love You" on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
This was an incredibly insightful and slightly nostalgic deep dive into modern New Orleans culture and life that I loved so much. As a white man, the specifics of these stories did not elicit memories of my own life growing up, with the majority being focused on Black voices and various degrees of poverty, racism, and prejudice. But there was an underlying tone of familiarity that did resonate with me; from the descriptions of the city which I'm all too familiar with, to the sense that while someone may leave New Orleans, it never really leaves you (my favorite story by far was Cocoon, which really embodied this theme). This was heart wrenching, hopeful, painful, and joyful. This is not a book that will make you fall in love with New Orleans, you can do that on your own. But it is a book that will cultivate empathy and care …
This was an incredibly insightful and slightly nostalgic deep dive into modern New Orleans culture and life that I loved so much. As a white man, the specifics of these stories did not elicit memories of my own life growing up, with the majority being focused on Black voices and various degrees of poverty, racism, and prejudice. But there was an underlying tone of familiarity that did resonate with me; from the descriptions of the city which I'm all too familiar with, to the sense that while someone may leave New Orleans, it never really leaves you (my favorite story by far was Cocoon, which really embodied this theme). This was heart wrenching, hopeful, painful, and joyful. This is not a book that will make you fall in love with New Orleans, you can do that on your own. But it is a book that will cultivate empathy and care towards the people that make New Orleans so special.