‘Growing Up in South Louisiana’ book release party to be held June 23

CROWLEY - A release party for a book that tells what life was like growing up in South Louisiana in the 1930s, ‘40s, ‘50s and ‘60s will be held Thursday, June 23.
“‘Growing Up in South Louisiana’ is a collection of 25 stories, about one-quarter of which are from right here in Acadia Parish,” said Trent Angers, who compiled the stories and edited the book.
Crowley City Hall will host the reception, to be held from 6 to 8 p.m. with hors d’oeuvres and beverages to be served.
“Some 20 authors help paint the picture of this bygone era: eatng Sunday dinner at Grandma’s, hearing Cajun French spoken in the home, working on the farm before goingto school, attending fais do dos and boucheries, chewing sugarcane, etc.,” according to the flier released in conjunction with the book release party.
Angers, who visited the Acadia Parish Tourist Commission in April to announce plans for the release of the book, cited stories from Viola Fontenot, “who tells of the life of a sharecropper from the vantage point of a 6-year-old and remembers when electricity was first brought to rural Acadia.”
He said there are are also stories from Pierre “Varmin” Daigle of Church Point and from Floyd Sonnier, who spoke of growing up in Pointe Noire.
Angers added that many of Sonnier’s illustrations are included in the book, as well as photos of the storytellers.
“Most of the stories in the book were selected from the pages of Acadiana Profile magazine,” Angers explained. “This is something we’ve been thinking about and planning for about 25 years.”
The June 23 event also will feature a book sale ($17.95) and signing by one of the authors and the editor.
The release party is being cosponsored by the Acadia parish Tourist Commission, City of Crowley, City of Rayne, Town of Church Point, Savoie’s Foods and SLEMCO.