Atchafalaya Houseboat: My Years in the Louisiana Swamp

I loved this book. I had seen a documentary on PBS and had to search high and low for a copy. I love that she sets the mood but is not overbearing in her telling of the story. I do wish we knew more of Calvin but perhaps we knew all there was to know. Childhood friends really don't need much communication. I had hoped to find Preston in the book at the exact point she met him. Perhaps he was there in the stories but I could not pick him out. That would be my own problem and not that of the author. My own prying eyes wants to find him but perhaps she has him woven throughout.

I loved all the stories told in such a way to cause them to be legends. Pancho! Cide! There are ghosts, loves and tragedy.

My only problem (notice I still gave it 5 stars) is that at the very, very end it mentions..........becoming a Christian. ARGH! It is my opinion, so shouldn't matter to anyone else, that this statement detracted from the entire book.

I found this book facinating and I enjoyed it. My only complaint is it was much to short considering the author had lived in the swamp Ten years. Perhaps she kept a few things for her next book on the same subject. I sure hope so! A good albeit short read.

I came across 'Atchafalaya Houseboat' when tasked with an extra credit book report for my Louisiana History course during my undergraduate studies at Louisiana Tech University. Although it began as an assignment, I absolutely fell in love with it! I immediately fell in love with Gwen and Calvin and the simple life; enjoying the many beauties of the Louisiana swamp they desired.

I was a bit disappointed with the fact that Gwen did not go into more detail about her life and express more of what she was actually feeling and her relationship with Calvin during those years on the swamp. I felt it was there but she chose to keep it to herself, almost as if not wanting to relive those feelings vs. exposing them to the reader. I would love to someday see another version where Gwen is willing to open up a bit more and expand on the life she and Calvin experienced while living on the Atchafalaya.

Since reading this book I have passed it on to many friends who have all fallen in love with it as well.

Having lived in Louisiana all my life, this book caught my attention last summer when it was first released. I had wanted to read it on the beach during a family vacation, but after many failed attempts to find it in a Florida Bookstore, I had to give up. So this year it was the first book I thought of when our August beach trip was scheduled for Destin, and this time I found it at the local library. The book has captivated me and makes me think of time spent canoeing the Atchafayala swamp & staying overnight at Betty's Wildlife Gardens and stay in a Trapper Cabin with alligators at the doorstep. Gwen Roland's writing style envelopes you and pulls you in further with each chapter. You can't help but want to visit the places and meet the people (except most have passed on to the great swamp in the heavens). My interest was captured. The book inspired a trip to the local library where I borrowed a copy of the lpb documentary by Bill Rodman, where he interviews Calvin Voisin & CC Lockwood. I'm become a fan of CC Lockwood's and would love to read the subsequent unwritten (or unpublished) chapters of a life well-lived by Mrs. Gwen Roland. If you liked this book check out :It All Began with Daisy

I absolutely loved this book. I found it in a quaint little book shop in Zebulon, Ga close to Gwen Roland's current home.

It is now on our "library bookshelf" at our lakehouse because I want everyone I know to read it.

The language is glowing, the story beautiful and serene. I was a little disappointed to read that she is currently working on a novel. I wish she would write more non fiction. Surely she has so much more to tell about such a rich life!