Welcome to Litsy!

I expected this to be great; did not expect it to be so deeply personal. Perry travels through the south engaging with history and culture to reflect upon the ways the multifaceted communities throughout the south have shaped the nation. The question of what the south is arises, as well as the exploration of whose stories are usually told. All of it considered with a depth of curiosity that has the approach of a memoir. Phenomenal!

^^p245 Jackson MS “publicly, unapologetically Black,” 💜 marching band depiction (gleaming horns, left right precision) but some metaphors seem overlinked, askew (“musicians consistent as seasons of crops”).

P168 “‘Why didn‘t enough change?‘ one answer is this: domination is creative as well as consistent.”

P176 “Staying alive on the grounds of your ancestors‘ murder and abuse is no small matter. It requires a living witness to their alchemy.”

Centralizing South in American mythos. Black Belt, Appalachia, historical re-enactments, family, exile, personal history, “the myth of surface gentlemanliness,” “the wages of whiteness,” freedom fighters, florid Southern flora, monuments, Spanish moss, plantation beauty & brutality. Extended riff, essays insightful & playful if sometimes meandering. Writing sharp & engaging, weaving incantations. Evocative & provocative. 2022 National Book Award

Yay! This was a good read. Glad to hear her book won.

Part travelogue, memoir, cultural history, and political commentary, with an exploration of social and regional history. It‘s a thoughtful look at the American South and the people who shaped it. Liked that she looked at diverse groups that included some Indigenous tribes, Cubans in Florida, as well as Asians, whites, and African-Americans.

My first completed book of the month! This was a fairly lengthy listen, but absolutely worth it. Lots of history (history that we aren't always taught), but it certainly wasn't dry or boring.

In South to America, Perry explores how the southeast US serves as a foundation for the country through history and now. She physically travels to various places in the south to illustrate her thesis and includes some of her own experiences as well. I love the authenticity of the audiobook—she reads it herself and when she mentions certain things, her usually minimal accent gets much stronger.

This is a mix between a memoir, history book, tour guide, psychology and political analysis book. Perry visits a different city/state in the South and writes about that locales history or culture with intriguing anecdotes. Really, really creative way of telling the story of the South- it‘s similarities and differences, peoples and culture.

#Two4Tuesday
1. The tagged book has gotten great reviews and I just picked it up from the library.
2. “It is what it is”

@TheSpineView