We Hold Our Breath: A Journey to Texas Between Storms [Hardcover]

Houstons story has always been one of war waged relentlessly against water. A life can be found in the grid of a city, among its habits, and through its history. Houstona city of mud and hubrismay not be the natural subject of a lyrical memoir, but Micah Fields truly makes it so. His storydeeply personal and often harrowingmakes this place and his place in it matter intensely and beautifully. Rather than blindly condemning its industry, its sprawl, its ugliness, or its doom, Micah Fieldss loving, honest, and beautiful debut is a portrait of Houston by a native son who might not call the city home anymore, but who still recognizes its place in his heart, the same place where all of our hometowns reside, where every town thats left, forgotten, flown over, or ignored remains in spite of ourselves. A brilliant, beautifully crafted memoir and history of a tragic place cast in contradictions inherent to our often-vexing species. Micah Fieldss human subjectsfrom barbaric conquistador to saintly fisherman/artistarise in full flesh. His descriptions of natures best works and humanitys worst are the very definition of artistry. And his gift of reflection leaves us thinking differently about tomorrowwhile holding our breath. In this brief yet memorable book, Fields creates an unsentimental yet poignant story that examines the complexities of one man's homecoming. With eloquence and grace, the author investigates the interconnectedness of place, history, and identity. A thoughtfully elegant, reflective work. US