Out of The Easy

By: Ruta Sepetys

Narrated by: Lauren Fortgang

Length: 9 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

It’s 1950, and as the French Quarter of New Orleans simmers with secrets, 17-year-old Josie Moraine is silently stirring a pot of her own. Known among locals as the daughter of a brothel prostitute, Josie wants more out of life than the Big Easy has to offer. She devises a plan get out, but a mysterious death in the Quarter leaves Josie tangled in an investigation that will challenge her allegiance to her mother, her conscience, and Willie Woodley, the brusque madam on Conti Street.

Josie is caught between the dream of an elite college and a clandestine underworld. New Orleans lures her in her quest for truth, dangling temptation at every turn, and escalating to the ultimate test.

With characters as captivating as those in her internationally best-selling novel Between Shades of Gray, Ruta Sepetys skillfully creates a rich story of secrets, lies, and the haunting reminder that decisions can shape our destiny.

©2013 Ruta Sepetys (P)2013 Penguin Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"Street-smart, literary and compassionate.... Atmospheric and assured...nicely paced novel.” (Wall Street Journal)

“[A]nother taut and charged historical novel.... Sepetys has also built a stellar cast. Readers will find Josie irresistible from the get-go and will devour the sultry mix of mystery, historical detail, and romance.” (Publishers Weekly, starred review)

“A satisfying novel, bringing to life the midcentury French Quarter.... Sepetys writes with rawness and palpable emotional unease.” (New York Times Book Review, Editor’s Choice)

Binge-read, heartwarming story about the crazy side of the city

This book has a special place in my heart now. Josie isn’t given the best life, but no matter what comes here way she doesn’t let it change who she really is and she always fights to make her dreams come true. Being from New Orleans, it’s nice to see it from a different perspective, the lives that lie under the light of the city, the part that people may be ashamed they know, and maybe even the life they want to run away from but are stuck in. If you are debating whether or not you want to read/ purchase this book, think no more, the answer is yes. You will view life a little differently, and appreciate that no matter how hard your life may get you will always stay true to yourself.

worth the time

I absolutely loved the book. It was better the second time through. I read it for book club. I wouldn't have picked it up otherwise. AND that is why I belong to a book club.

An emotional heartfelt story

Ruta Sepetys is a fabulous author. She puts so much heart into her stories. Her research is impeccable. This was a different story for her and a place I knew nothing about except what you hear during Mardi Gras. Ruta has a way of bringing you into the place she is writing about. You come to love each character, even Evangeline. Sometimes reviews say the characters were flat in a story. Not with Ruta. Her characters are the heart and soul of her books. The narrator was perfect. Her voices made each person so real.

Listeners Will Savor Every Word!

Would you listen to Out of The Easy again? Why?

When listening to the book, I sometimes played back passages, to appreciate the descriptive language & details. At some points I was very plot-focused, and intent on finding out the next step in character dialogue and actions. Knowing the outcome of the plot now,I would listen again, to have a greater understanding of the writer's craft. I want to encourage anyone who reads this book to listen to Ms. Sepety's discussion of the research and writing process, an unadvertised feature after the music that concludes reading of the novel.

What did you like best about this story?

Hearing a book read out loud is a true test of its quality, as you want to savor every word in a good novel. I only listened to this book when I didn't have any distractions. For most books, I can do the equivalent of skimming, and drive or accomplish some housework. I am an adult, and I think this book stands on its own as an adult read.

This novel offers an intimate (but not sexually explicit!) view into the struggles of rich and poor, living in New Orleans in the 1950s. We gain insight into the idiosyncratic culture of New Orleans, class distinctions in the south & northeast, and the struggles of women trying to be independent before the women's lib movement. We understand the complexity of each character, driving his or her motivations for acts of acts of selfishness & generosity. The author's description of New Orleans and many other historical details weaved throughout the story are fascinating.

The colorful characters and dialog are a real strength of the novel, and the reader captures the dialect and personality of each character. The reader sounds like a 17-year old girl, which is the narrator's age. Yet she seamlessly switches between the characters. Josie's emotional development, in environment of hardship/social shame, is unique-- but not in gimmicky way.

Have you listened to any of Lauren Fortgang’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This is my first Lauren Fortgang read.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Won't say, as I've tried not to include spoilers!

Any additional comments?

Do not be put off by the concept of the brothel. The book feels like a 1950s classic, as the narrator is more aware of sexual & criminal baseness than most other girls of her age, but she doesn't see behind closed doors. Fans of The Help may want to read this book. While classifying in a genre & comparing to another book is too simplistic, Out of the Easy is a coming-of-age story in the same era. Through the 17 year-old girl's search for her adult identity, we gain insight into the social complexities of an era.

I have listened to hundreds of audiobooks, and I have given only a few a triple five-star rating.

Easy read, very predictable

Ok read if you want something easy to listen to. No big plot twists and pretty predictable. Some great characters that seemed like there could have been more to them.

Great story

Quite a different story than others I’ve read by this author, but I very much enjoyed it. Similarly to her other stories, the characters are well developed, as is the story line. I also enjoyed the colorful narration.

Easy to Love

Josie Moraine, the 17 year old daughter of a harlett, cleans a brothel while living above her employer's bookshop. She dares to dream of a better life, attending Smith College and leaving behind New Orleans' seedy underworld. Caught in the middle of a mysterious murder investigation, Jo's allegiance to her trollep mother, friends, and Willie (the madam who has been more of a mother-figure) is called into question. She must make difficult decisions, putting her in precarious situations in hopes of escaping with her innocence and livliehood.

This YA novel is a wonderful ride through resourceful and bright, Josie, Jo, Josephine's tale. Interesting, entertaining, and just dangerous enough to appeal to adults and no curse words or explicit sex to recommend to my daughter. Wonderful, straight forward writing style. Will definitely check out her first book, Between Shades of Gray.

Ruta Sepetys is always an insta-buy...

... and always unputdownable. Out of the Easy is beautifully written, weaving the charm and beauty of 1950s New Orleans with its seedy underbelly. Sepetys' rich, dynamic characters come to life in Fortgang's narration.

For young adults.

A good story and very well performed, but very simplistic. Adults will likely be disappointed.

An interesting view of 50's New Orleans

Lighter than Sepetys' other historical fiction, a fairly simple story.

overall a good, casual listen.