Okay… I had planned to review a different book today, but I ended up finishing this one first! So, I’m rolling with the punches.
From the celebrated bestselling author of All Over but the Shoutin’ and winner of the Pulitzer Prize, Rick Bragg, comes a poignant and wryly funny collection of essays on life in the south.
Keenly observed and written with his insightful and deadpan sense of humor, he explores enduring Southern truths about home, place, spirit, table, and the regions’ varied geographies, including his native Alabama, Cajun country, and the Gulf Coast. Everything is explored, from regional obsessions from college football and fishing, to mayonnaise and spoonbread, to the simple beauty of a fish on the hook.
Collected from over a decade of his writing, with many never-before-published essays written specifically for this edition, My Southern Journey is an entertaining and engaging read, especially for Southerners (or feel Southern at heart) and anyone who appreciates great writing.
I feel really bad that I was not familiar with Bragg’s work before this book — his name sounded familiar, but there’s no way I could have named any of his books.
I also listened to the audio version of this book, which had incredibly great reviews. I will say… if a Southern accent bothers you at all, don’t listen to the audio! He has a thick accent! I thought it added to his stories, but I have also lived in the South for 17 years.
I normally probably wouldn’t have picked up this book (i admittedly do not enjoy collections of essays), but I was looking for a good audiobook and this one was available in the digital offerings at my library.
Having said all of that, this is really a collection of great writing. It brought me back to my first few years in Louisiana, as I was really trying to understand how things worked.
If you love Southern cookin’ — Bragg really knows how to describe the dishes Southerners have perfected over generations.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in Southern culture.
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