Book in Hand and Stormclouds on the Horizon

Among the books I've been reading in the last few weeks, the latest Jance, Kaminsky, and Hall, as well as the final entry in Padura's The Havana Quartet, two have become timely. The Swamps of Bayou Teche (A Tony Boudreaux Mystery) by Kent Conwell and Crawfish Mountain: A Novel by Ken Wells are both set in Cajun country in Louisiana, and both touch upon a situation that is particularly relevant with Gustav bearing down on the Gulf. As the latter in particular details, between the lack of alluvial sediments caused by flood mitigation efforts on the Mississippi and the intrusion of salt water from poorly planned dredging, much of the swampy barrier which would protect New Orleans is being eroded. Caught in the cross hairs is not only land but a culture and way of life. For more particulars, read the article here.