The Five People You Meet in Hell: Surviving Katrina

By Robert F. Smallwood

A riveting first-person account of the events in New Orleans as Hurricane Katrina hit, and the anarchy and desperation of the aftermath. This book takes you inside the conversations and decisions made by those who stayed - especially the 'five people' which includes comic actor Harry Anderson (from the series Night Court), Gennifer Flowers' ex-husband Finis, a salty 81 year-old sailor and others.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1419617249
• ISBN13: 9781419617249
• Release Date: November 2005
• Publisher: BookSurge Publishing
• Length: 246 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.6" x 6.0"

Customer Reviews

Amazing firsthand account...

This is an open, honest, detailed, account of the days in the French Quarter following Katrina. I love New Orleans and the Quarter and am a frequent visitor. I can close my eyes and see places and people he is referring to. I am thankful that Mr. Smallwood took the time during this crisis to chronicle the events and share them with us. The characters are real and through his honesty, the author makes you feel as though you live there and are his neighbor as well. I especially like Mr. Larry, who reminds me so much of my Dad who was a Bosun's Mate in the Merchant Marine; I can appreciate and relate to this salty character. Throughout this tragedy, it was the people who stuck together and made it through by helping each other. I believe that New Orleans will return and be better than ever!

this is the real deal

As a resident of the french quarter, and a familiar face in some of the local haunts mentioned in Smallwood's book, I can tell you with certainty that this is a NON FICTION account of hurricane activity in the quarter. I have read negative reviews because Smallwood discusses procuring beer, the "pillhead", et al, but this is how life works in the quarter. We were very blessed to have avoided the flooding that plagued our surrounding areas, and we never forget how lucky we are - but this is not merely an account of hurricane survival in new orleans - it is LIFE in the QUARTER. anyone who knows can tell you that just as New Orleans is a seperate entity from the rest of the country, the Quarter is a locale unto itself. If you want to know how the quarter rats (as we call ourselves) survived Katrina, read this book. Ya heard me, darlin?

This is good - real good

The one thing you can't say about this book is that it's boring. It's a riot. I couldn't stop reading it. A pretty wild adventure and very honest (nothing and no one is spared).

Spellbinding, raw and real

The book is actually written with amazing detail of Smallwood's experiences in the French Quarter during and after the storm. You feel like you're there. It reads fast and is a real page turner. The second (shorter) part of the book may take an adjustment for readers. The author takes us through some of his experiences in the months before the storm hit, so we can see an inside view of the Bohemian life one can live in the French Quarter. He pulls no punches. He flashes his brilliance as he treats us to the inner mind of what must be literary genius -he gives us simple and beuatiful poetry, the beginning of an intriguing play and also a screenplay - all about completely different subjects. He really shows range that most of us can only imagine. If you can take it, as a whole, this is the work of what may be a modern literary genius in the making.