Crawfish Dreams by Nancy Rawles is a wonderful novel about a Creole family in California struggling with the after effects of the Watts riots. Camille, the family matriarch, is a widow with seven children. Whether it’s the disappointed Yvette, angry Raymond, righteous Anthony, naive Louis, uppity Marc, drunken Joseph or confused Grace—all of Camille’s children bear the scars of Watts.

As the story begins, it is 1984, nine years after the death of Camille’s husband, T-Papa. Camille is fighting to maintain independence from her children and struggling with the poverty and crime she has watched engulf her neighborhood of over 30 years. Her children are busy living their lives of their own and have all moved away from Watts except her oldest, Yvette. Camille’s grandson, Nicholas, is fresh from his stay in prison for a crime that still haunts his grandmother.

Camille is an excellent cook whose talents and desire to be financially secure lead her into various catering capers. She and her neighbor, Pep, a recovering alcoholic, hatch many schemes to sell Camille’s home cooking.

Over the course of the novel, we watch Camille struggle with her past and move past it. We see her grow more accepting of her children and herself. In return, Camille’s forgiveness allows her to find love in the most unexpected places.

Throughout the book, food remains a constant staple. Whether it’s Camille’s oyster po’ boys, meat pies, red beans and rice, gumbo or pralines, by the end of the book, you will have worked up an appetite for some down home Louisianan cooking. The recipes sprinkled between chapters are an extra bonus!

All of the characters in Crawfish Dreams are well written. You will recognize at least one of your own family members in the book’s colorful array of characters. Overall, Crawfish Dreams is a truthful examination of aging, family, acceptance and love.

Tiffany