Book: Out of the Easy
Author: Ruta Setepys
Pages: 346
Plot Summary: It’s 1950, and as the French Quarter of New Orleans simmers with secrets, seventeen-year-old Josie Moraine is silently stirring a pot of her own. Known among locals as the daughter of a brothel prostitute, Josie wants more out of life than the Big Easy has to offer.
She devises a plan get out, but a mysterious death in the Quarter leaves Josie tangled in an investigation that will challenge her allegiance to her mother, her conscience, and Willie Woodley, the brusque madam on Conti Street. Josie is caught between the dream of an elite college and a clandestine underworld. New Orleans lures her in her quest for truth, dangling temptation at every turn, and escalating to the ultimate test.
Characters: The book is full of memorable and kind and generous and really likeable characters.
There is our leading lady/protagonist Josie herself, who has a pretty sad life. Her mother is pretty much the definition of a terrible parent and Josie has been pretty much raising herself. Life isn't easy but Josie isn't one to mope about. She is determined to better her lot in life. With the help of some kind people Josie sets out to achieve her dreams. I loved Josie, her voice and her general spunk. I liked getting to know her and seeing her life and I rooted for her throughout the book.
Apart from Josie, there are just soooooooooooo many amazing characters in this book. In fact one the best things in this book are the array of good people in it's pages. Patrick- Josie's colleague and friend. Willie, the madam of the brothel Josie's mother works in are just, is just an all round phenomenal person.
What I Liked: The writing. I really enjoyed this book from the word go, and that was largely due to the simple yet eloquent.
Like I said earlier, the heart-warming characters were instrumental in me loving this book.
I also liked the general goodness of the book. In the sense, the kind people and their willingness and largess in helping Josie.
I also liked that the book wasn't a typical happy endings book- the ending was happy- but it was a bit bittersweet.
I also appreciated that Josie's mother remains a bad egg throughout and there wasn't a forced redemption for her. She was bad from beginning to end.
What I Didn't Like: Very little. But there is a little thing that irked me a bit. From the blurb behind the book it talks of a murder happening in the Quarter. From that I assumed that the murder mystery might be an integral part of the book. But that was not the case. The murder and it's investigation is just something that happens...and has little bearing on the plot. Which isn't the worst thing in the world, but it was a little..misleading. Thankfully, the book is great on it's own and so you'd enjoy it nonetheless.
General Thoughts: I bought this book because I heard so many good things about it and the cover looked amazing. This book lived up to my expectations. It was a sweet book that made me smile and warmed my heart.
Will you Like it? Yes!
Rating: 4/5
There is our leading lady/protagonist Josie herself, who has a pretty sad life. Her mother is pretty much the definition of a terrible parent and Josie has been pretty much raising herself. Life isn't easy but Josie isn't one to mope about. She is determined to better her lot in life. With the help of some kind people Josie sets out to achieve her dreams. I loved Josie, her voice and her general spunk. I liked getting to know her and seeing her life and I rooted for her throughout the book.
Apart from Josie, there are just soooooooooooo many amazing characters in this book. In fact one the best things in this book are the array of good people in it's pages. Patrick- Josie's colleague and friend. Willie, the madam of the brothel Josie's mother works in are just, is just an all round phenomenal person.
What I Liked: The writing. I really enjoyed this book from the word go, and that was largely due to the simple yet eloquent.
Like I said earlier, the heart-warming characters were instrumental in me loving this book.
I also liked the general goodness of the book. In the sense, the kind people and their willingness and largess in helping Josie.
I also liked that the book wasn't a typical happy endings book- the ending was happy- but it was a bit bittersweet.
I also appreciated that Josie's mother remains a bad egg throughout and there wasn't a forced redemption for her. She was bad from beginning to end.
What I Didn't Like: Very little. But there is a little thing that irked me a bit. From the blurb behind the book it talks of a murder happening in the Quarter. From that I assumed that the murder mystery might be an integral part of the book. But that was not the case. The murder and it's investigation is just something that happens...and has little bearing on the plot. Which isn't the worst thing in the world, but it was a little..misleading. Thankfully, the book is great on it's own and so you'd enjoy it nonetheless.
General Thoughts: I bought this book because I heard so many good things about it and the cover looked amazing. This book lived up to my expectations. It was a sweet book that made me smile and warmed my heart.
Will you Like it? Yes!
Rating: 4/5
Comments