fionab_16's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
yshaheen's review against another edition
4.0
"It goes without saying that the vitality of the South lies in the self-awareness of its deeply rooted people. What made the South an enlightenment for a traveler like me, more interested in conversation that sightseeing, was the heart and soul of its family narratives - its human wealth."
~ Paul Theroux
Oh what a journey this book was. Deep South too me a couple months to get through which NEVER happens. So truly, like a long, winding southern highway it was a journey. Theroux has a knack for lovingly weaving together words to create the most vivid and fascinating writing.
The Deep South is a region that is rife with palpable and unimaginable poverty (which he equates to many of the third world countries he has traveled to), a shocking amount of illiteracy and poor education, a desire to hold onto the past with an iron clad grasp, and the excuse of racism because "that's how it's always been." However, there is also a spirit, hospitality, and kindness that Theroux details in great length.
This book also gave me an unexpected education on race and discrimination in the Deep South. I can't tell you how many times my mouth just fell open or I audibly gasped. These things shouldn't continue to surprise me yet they still do.
~ Paul Theroux
Oh what a journey this book was. Deep South too me a couple months to get through which NEVER happens. So truly, like a long, winding southern highway it was a journey. Theroux has a knack for lovingly weaving together words to create the most vivid and fascinating writing.
The Deep South is a region that is rife with palpable and unimaginable poverty (which he equates to many of the third world countries he has traveled to), a shocking amount of illiteracy and poor education, a desire to hold onto the past with an iron clad grasp, and the excuse of racism because "that's how it's always been." However, there is also a spirit, hospitality, and kindness that Theroux details in great length.
This book also gave me an unexpected education on race and discrimination in the Deep South. I can't tell you how many times my mouth just fell open or I audibly gasped. These things shouldn't continue to surprise me yet they still do.
geirertzgaard's review against another edition
4.0
Ikke hans beste, men svært interessant og tankevekkende - gir et nyansert bilde av sørstatene som ikke bare avslører litt mer av USA, men også hvorfor ting som Trump kan skje.
debbiecuddy's review against another edition
4.0
Summer bingo-Travel-I've enjoyed several travel books by Paul Theroux and this one does not disappoint. This is about so much more than travel; one gets a sense of the warmth & hospitality of the people, the complex issues of racism & poverty, & the beauty of the land itself. It has given me a lot to think about.
genccb's review against another edition
3.0
This guy loves himself, bit of punching down. However great descriptions and wonderful scenes
leitheoirrialta's review against another edition
3.0
Rud beag rófhada agus ró-Therouxian. Níor léigh mé an trian deireanach den leabhar i gceart, mhothaigh mé go raibh cuid mhór athrá i gceist faoin am sin. Ní spreagfadh an leabhar seo mé le cuairt a thabhairt ar an chuid sin de Mheiriceá.
beccakatie's review against another edition
2.0
There didn’t seem to be anything particularly remarkable about this book as I read it, much of the observation and discussion seemed to be quite surface level. Theroux would often make an observation towards the end of the passage, but it was often limited to a trite sentence or two rather than anything particularly thought provoking or revelatory.
One thing that did stick out in the writing though, was Theroux’s sense of self importance. He constantly acted like he was better than everyone else. He judged those who didn’t read books or hadn’t heard of him, he would just quote huge chunks of literature at both the reader and the people he met, purely to show he could. And he acted like he knew what a town needed better economically than the people who lived and worked there.
Overall I was really disappointed by this book. There’s so much potential to explore the Southern states of the USA, the racial tensions and Confederate legacies. The idea of looking in Southern literature is a good one too, but it falls down here because the author is more interested in trying to show off his knowledge than writing anything meaningful.
One thing that did stick out in the writing though, was Theroux’s sense of self importance. He constantly acted like he was better than everyone else. He judged those who didn’t read books or hadn’t heard of him, he would just quote huge chunks of literature at both the reader and the people he met, purely to show he could. And he acted like he knew what a town needed better economically than the people who lived and worked there.
Overall I was really disappointed by this book. There’s so much potential to explore the Southern states of the USA, the racial tensions and Confederate legacies. The idea of looking in Southern literature is a good one too, but it falls down here because the author is more interested in trying to show off his knowledge than writing anything meaningful.
facoffee1984's review against another edition
5.0
This is a journey I would have liked to embark on. To us outsiders, the South may seem like a grotesque canvas of people and stories that are hard to believe, and for this very reason visiting should deepen our understanding.
Whether we want to go or not is a different story. I did.
Whether we want to go or not is a different story. I did.
nickie184's review against another edition
2.0
Wanted to like it. Was a good book for discussion, but the overwhelming privileged white man tone infuriated me. 2 stars for some good bits of writing.
kisaly's review against another edition
3.0
I was expecting more of a travel book, but instead found the book to be a somewhat disorganized series of judgments about racism and poverty in the South. Normally I like how Theroux combines sociology, history, and travel, but it didn't cut it in this particular book. 3.5 Stars.