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Empire of Sin
Empire of Sin: A Story of Sex, Jazz, Murder, and the Battle for Modern New Orleans | Gary Krist
From bestselling author Gary Krist, a vibrant and immersive account of New Orleans other civil war, at a time when commercialized vice, jazz culture, and endemic crime defined the battlegrounds of the Crescent City Empire of Sin re-creates the remarkable story of New Orleans thirty-years war against itself, pitting the citys elite better half against its powerful and long-entrenched underworld of vice, perversity, and crime. This early-20th-century battle centers on one man: Tom Anderson, the undisputed czar of the city's Storyville vice district, who fights desperately to keep his empire intact as it faces onslaughts from all sides. Surrounding him are the stories of flamboyant prostitutes, crusading moral reformers, dissolute jazzmen, ruthless Mafiosi, venal politicians, and one extremely violent serial killer, all battling for primacy in a wild and wicked city unlike any other in the world.
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rachelsbrittain
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I picked this book up for research, but it wound up being a truly fascinating exploration of New Orlean's history. A true crime book spanning nearly 50 years and covering everything from the rise and fall of Storyville, the birth of jazz, and the infamous axman murders. Thoroughly researched and well-written. A fascinating read.

TW: murder, racism, use of the N word, sex work

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RamsFan1963
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Fascinating look at the development of New Orleans from the 1890s to the 1920s. At times the book dwelled too much on the Jazz portion of the story, which didnt interest me, but overall it was a very entertaining story of vice, greed, corruption, murder, reform and eventual acceptance of the city's lurid past by its inhabitants.

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Lissa00
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I'm not officially participating in the readathon this weekend but I did manage to finish this. Covering a three decade period in New Orleans during the late nineteenth, early twentieth century, this book examines the diverse and colorful history of the city. I found this fascinating and full of interesting stories and people.

GracieDoo Currently reading this and loving it! 6y
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Lissa00
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Bad storms have left us without electricity, making me very glad that I fully charged the e-reader earlier today. Hunkered down in the dark with a soft blanket and a good book 😱📚🌛💡

Sace Yikes! 7y
MaryAnn1 Sounds like a great evening. Well, as long as your genre isn't horror! 😬 7y
kspenmoll Glad you are powered up- and get electricity back soon! 7y
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melbeautyandbooks Glad you have your kindle! Hope the electricity is back on soon. 7y
Lissa00 @sace @maryann1 This was a fairly tame history book about New Orleans until the lights go out and then it starts talking about an axe murderer😨. Might not be the best choice for the evening😂 7y
Megabooks I hope they come back on! 7y
Sace 😨😨😨😨 indeed. Also... I'm stacking it. For reading during the day. 😂 7y
101 likes8 comments
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Lissa00
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I just got the first five books of my #litsyAtoZ TBR ready! Excited to start on Jan 1.

BookishMarginalia 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 7y
cathysaid Looks great! I hope you review Empire of Sin for us. 7y
TheBookStacker I just bought empire of sin yesterday. Plan on starting it tonight. 7y
105 likes1 stack add3 comments
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TheBookStacker
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Picked up a few books about my new adopted home of New Orleans! Can't wait to read them along with the other few books I've gotten! Once all my family has gone back home I will have much more time to sit and read.

Qemorio Do you live in NOLA now? Stop into Garden District Book Shop where I work and say hi! 7y
TheBookStacker @Qemorio I was just in there today! That's where I bought a few of those books! Love that place! I live right in uptown! (edited) 7y
Qemorio @TheBookStacker was that you who reviewed us on FB? I run the social media for the shop so I'm the one who commented on that. I'm on vacation right now but definitely introduce yourself when you come in next time I usually work W, Th & Sat. 7y
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TheBookStacker @Qemorio probably not me on Facebook but I love love love the shop. I applied for a job but you weren't hiring obviously. I just love reading so much I wish I could work in a local bookshop. 7y
Qemorio @TheBookStacker yeah, we only have 4 employees so positions don't open up very often but stay in touch. Have you worked in a bookstore before? 7y
TheBookStacker @Qemorio I have no but I have worked retail many many times throughout my life and I read so much. I love books. 7y
18 likes6 comments