I was not a fan of this book. I didn’t like the writing style. I found it very difficult to connect to what was happening.

A fantastic book! Within a few short hours, rising floodwaters force next-door neighbors into a desperate fight for survival.

Before Hurricane Katrina, neighbors Doreen Williams, an African American single mother, and Richard Girard, a reclusive gay man, were aloof and even suspicious of each other. But when the levees in New Orleans burst, these two are sent scrambling into a cramped attic where, together, they face tests of grueling heat, dwindling supplies, worries about loved ones, and the struggle to keep living.

I loved this concept - disaster as the great equaliser which breaks down previous bias and stereotypes.

Richard Girard and Doreen Williams were neighbors and at the most they may wave and then go about their business but right before Katrina hits it’s put on Doreen‘s heart to bring William some food and make some but when her best friend Marquita comes over she wants her to be careful with her white neighbor “you know he’s always watching those kids!“ Doreen won’t be put off though and wen she bring’s him some shrimp stew he doesn’t know what to say since the death of his mother five years before he’s been a loner and lonely all he has is his opera records in his memories. Katrina is bearing down on the city and if not for Doreen Richard would know nothing about it when the hurricane sideswipes him and it’s over they think they made it through the worst of it but little do they know they have days of suffering and then the end Richard will be a hero and Doreen will be a survivor. Bing someone who lived through Katrina I was hesitant about reading it but the story sounded so good I didn’t want to pass it up it did bring up sad memories of such a desperate time when so many needlessly suffered but I am glad I read it not only was it a great story of what we find most important when everything else becomes unimportant. The things that matter when nothing else does is what really matters in Doreen and Richard will learned that in more. At the end when Doreen cried in front of Richards house I did too, not only because it was sad because this could’ve been a true story. This is really such a great book a definite five star read in too close to real. I loved it and can’t say enough about it I wish everyone would read this book if just to see what Americans had to go through due to the failing of our government and all the things we learned because of Katrina and all the reasons we should be thankful were American. I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate most of my review.gg

this was such a well done novel, I really felt for the characters in the book. The plot worked so well in this book and I loved the way Alan Gartenhaus wrote this, it worked so well. I was iinvested in the characters and really felt for them. I look forward to read more from Alan Gartenhaus.