The following article is cited with the permission of The Advocate:
"Rundquist tells her family story eloquently in Cajun" Click to read the review by Greg Langley, Books Editor, The Advocate (Baton Rouge, Louisiana) Sunday, August 05, 2012 Edition: Cajun By Any Other Name ISBN: 978-1-68026-000-7 ©2012 Library of Congress Control Number: 2012931103 Price: $11.95 Book Size: 5.5'' x 8.5'' , 166 pages Category/Subject: HISTORY / North America / Acadian Atlanta Book Printing (Reprinted with Shirley Worthen's permission):
Shirley Worthen's review Jul 16, 12 Book Review for: Cajun by Any Other Name: Recovering the Lost History of a Family- and a People; by Marie Rundquist; 166 pages Cajun by Any Other Name is a fascinating and detailed account of how a DNA test turned the author’s perception of who she was upside down. In so doing, it sent her on a quest to unearth the details of her heritage—who her ancestors were, where they lived and the journeys they had to undertake that set the course for their descendants and who they came to be. This journey in search of her roots sent the author on several different trails, and covered thousands of miles. Along the way, she immersed herself into the cultures of her heritage, trying to come to terms with the vastly important links in her genealogy that had become “lost”, albeit purposefully, in recent generations. The author has done all of us a service in telling her story in such a compelling and well written way. This book should serve as the catalyst to spark an interest in genealogy and personal heritage in all who read it. It certainly had that effect on me! If money were no object, I would participate in a DNA test to identify my heritage at the soonest opportunity. The author heads just such an organization for those with suspected Cajun or Amerindian roots. The results are certainly not always what those participating expect nor do they always match the family-approved genealogies passed from one generation to the next. To me, that adds to the thrill of solving the mystery of just exactly what our heritage is and who our ancestors were. Note: I would like to thank the author, the publisher and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book for review purposes. From MBR Bookwatch: Micah Andrew, Midwest Book Review (http://midwestbookreview.com) remarks about Revisiting Anne Marie and Cajun By Any Other Name. Click to read.
"I'm fascinated with your book [Cajun By Any Other Name]. I feel like I know all those places you speak of. Must be because I've driven so often to Massachusetts and feel that the route all the way to Louisiana must be of the same type and conditions, so it makes me feel as though I know that whole route by now.
"When I'm reading your book, I feel as though I'm sitting in the front passenger seat of your car as you are driving down all those little lanes in the countryside. It's a very powerful feeling which comes over me as soon as I open your book - makes me feel as though I'm just coming home after a space of several years away. I must be the reincarnated descendant of some of those Acadians who settled in Louisiana in the 1700s! "I love the story and you wrote it so well that I feel like I'm actually there with our people. I'm going through it more slowly than usual, because I want to be sure I don't miss a thing. Sometimes I even read a page twice and try to picture those places and events with my own imagination. What a thrill to feel like I'm actually there with the rest of "our family," playing in the fields, picking berries, and running the lanes with you! "I hope you write more books of this nature. I'll be a good customer!" J.D. Leblanc (Nova Scotia, Canada) "A short note to express my gratitude in receiving the beautifully written and illustrated book [Cajun By Any Other Name] today that impressed me highly. I certainly got a chuckle when I came across ‘Mémère and Pépère’ for those are such old terms we seldom hear nowadays.
"I am also grateful Marie, to you, for signing off on the book to me for that made it even more special and for including my part in Emile’s genealogy searches for his family roots. Our common heritage is very meaningful to us both, and I am ever so appreciative in the manner for which you credited my involvement in this matter... If my maternal line should ever show up in any book you should happen to write, I would again be ever so thankful in receiving a copy. "Once again, I thank you," Gratefully Yours, --Manon G. Bolduc (British Columbia, Canada) "Love the book [Cajun By Any Other Name].... good job.... Michel David, Genevieve Hebert and Angelique (David) Oubre would be proud to be remembered...."
--Earl David (USA) "I finished reading "Cajun by Any Other Name".
Very nice read Marie!.. and well presented... Merci" ...Delina P. (Nova Scotia, CA) "This story [Cajun By Any Other Name] parallels the journey and struggles of many (Acadian) surnames of the Deportation..Thank you Marie for gathering and sharing this information."
..Singing Bear (Louisiana, USA) "I bought your book [Revisiting Anne Marie], it was very interesting and a good read. I wondered if it would help me, some of the marriages you've listed may come in handy. The way you expressed situations made me feel like I was right there. It's impressive. You should be so proud, that's a great book, well done!"
...Jennifer C. (Ontario, CA) |
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