"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.