The Floating World

As Hurricane Katrina approaches New Orleans, Cora Boisdor refuses to leave. Her parents, Joe Boisdor , an artist descended from freed slaves, and his white "Uptown" wife Dr. Tess Eshleman, are forced to evacuate without her. Thus begins a chain of events that leaves their marriage in shambles and Cora catatonic -- the victim or perpetrator of violence mysterious even to herself. This dazzling debut novel is the Katrina story that needed to be told.