Mayor Ray Nagin releases his Katrina memoirs June 8th via Amazon.com. While the book is entitled Katrina's Secrets: Storms After the Storm there’s really only one secret left to publish—do we really want to read this book? Honestly, what new storms could surface in Katrina’s Secrets that we don't already know about?: failed immediate response, insufficient shelters, insurance debacles.
Despite Nagin’s negative media image, websites (like Gambit) are painting a positive preview of the book. A select few New Orleans and National professionals were chosen to read the memoir early. Nagin’s website—C. Ray Nagin—Recovery Expert—posted six reviews, two of which were about the book.
Read the reviews a little deeper and you’ll see that the criticisms are mostly stylistic. They don’t comment on Nagin’s moral personae or ability during his 2005 decision-making. Former CAO of New Orleans, Dr. Brenda Hatfield gave the book a positive review on Nagin’s site, but her words show restraint when she says “the narrative is so human, riveting and authentic.” She is talking about Nagin voice and proximity to the story without telling us yet his relationship to human crisis around him:
The reader can’t help crying and laughing out loud because the narrative is so human, riveting and authentic. Only Mayor Nagin can bring us these hidden historical perspectives of Katrina. Still there are so many more secrets be told in the next volume.
But the quote Nagin highlights on his website most is from an Amazon-Create Space Editor, Jessica without-a-last-name. Not the smartest move for a sophisticated and political website:
“You do a great job of giving readers a front-row seat by painting a very vivid and comprehensive picture of the events as you witnessed them. The tone and writing style are certainly some of the greatest strengths of the book”
Like Dr. Hatfield’s review, Jessica’s is stylistic and doesn’t dive into how Nagin’s character makes us feel.
Perhaps the most imperative reviews are from people who experienced the human crisis first hand.
"As a California tourist who was stuck in the Superdome and smuggled out after a few days to the Hyatt where Mayor Nagin was staying" says Paul Harris, Author of 2008 Diary From the Dome, Reflections on Fear and Privilege During Katrina, "I will be most interested in hearing his perspective on this unnatural and natural disaster."
Harris chronicles his rare experience inside the Superdome and brings back the question of how Nagin considers human life—which the media blender seemingly took care of via his embarrassing “Chocolate City” speech.
If you look at the cover of Harris’s book long enough, you’ll see—through the criss-cross windowpanes—a blurry image of the Superdome; the same image Nagin saw from his Hyatt room.
What will Nagin’s memoirs reveal? Websites and reviews foreshadow some kind of hopeful outcome, Harris's omonous book cover predicts, perhaps, a more solemn and Governor/victim picture, but we’ll have to wait for June 8th.
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