Reviews

A masterful combination of history, sociology, memoir, and meditation on the South and what it both means to and epitomizes about the United States in general. Imani Perry writes beautifully about her own roots in Alabama and the people and histories she encounters as she travels to meaningful places throughout the south--in which she includes the Bahamas and Cuba. She offers fresh perspective on "familiar" histories, tells some less-known stories, and makes connections I'd never thought about, and I especially appreciate her thoughtful writing about the people she encounters.

Content Warnings

superdewa's review

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3.0

This book doesn’t make a good case for what it is and I am still not fully sure—part memoir, part travelogue, part personal musings, part history. I was confused enough that I was ready to DNF it several times in the first third but didn’t have another audio book lined up so kept listening and am glad I did. There’s plenty of food for thought here, often written beautifully. I would have added another star or even two if I had better understood what she was trying to do. Maybe as a white northerner I’m not the intended audience, but I couldn’t really tell whom she saw as her audience.

tigerlillymelody's review

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4.5

My love for Imani Perry is not a secret. One of my favorite histories of the South that both feel like a warm homey blanket and reveals things I took for granted about my environment growing up. It’s definitely up there for me with other instant classics like Jack E. Davis’ The Gulf, Clint Smith’s How the Word is Passed, and Sarah Gerard’s Sunshine State. Absolutely recommend to all Southerners - no wait actually all Americans.

drugae's review

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challenging informative reflective medium-paced

4.25

This is not an easy book, or a perfect book, but it felt like a necessary book. Perry covers a lot of ground both literally and figuratively. The flow from topic to topic is interesting and often illuminating, but I wish there had been more section breaks within chapters so it would be easier to pause and reflect on what you just read.

dinasamimi's review

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5.0

Wow. What can I say about this book? It's powerful and it's truth and it's nonlinear and expansive. Imani Perry is a master at language -- her writing is so beautiful and emotive. But this is more than that -- she weaves these threads of history and lineage and storytelling in a totally original way. You may need a moment to be fully absorb and settle into the style, but once you do you'll be on a journey. This is a book that needs to be appreciated slowly, taking in every gulp.

erinkilmer's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful informative reflective sad slow-paced

4.75

surefinewhatever_'s review against another edition

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challenging informative reflective slow-paced

4.0

Halfway through switched from hardcover to audio since my physical book was finally due back at the library.

At times, some truly stunning writing was happening here, other times this felt a little dense. Regardless, a worthwhile read on the history of the south.

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