My Southern Journey: True Stories from the Heart of the South showcases the singular voice, humor and perspective of Pulitzer Prize-winner Rick Bragg (All Over but the Shoutin'), in short, entertaining stories. As he introduces it, "this book is a collection of Southern stories, but it is not a litany of pig pickins and frat parties and cutthroat beauty contests." Rather, these are fervent, funny, heartfelt memories of places and cultures that need remembering.
Bragg shares his experience of the Deep South, from his family home in northern Alabama to Florida, Louisiana and the Alabama coast. Readers quickly become acquainted (or reacquainted) with his large and lively family, as Bragg brings immediacy and intimacy to his setting and cast of characters. His mouthwatering descriptions of the food of his homeland--centered on various forms of pork but with a heavy emphasis on Gulf Coast seafood as well--are flavorful and evocative. He occasionally claims that "I can't write well enough to tell you how good it was," a risky writerly trick that Bragg easily pulls off. He considers the red dirt of northeastern Alabama as both physical and symbolic. Bragg's tone is self-effacing and often hilarious, which belies his ability to approach serious issues, like his treatment of overfishing and the Deepwater oil spill.
In exploring family, a sense of place or home, and the distinctive details of Southern food and culture, Bragg exhibits an exquisitely nuanced, clever voice, partly disguised by a down-home accent. Readers will laugh, and cry, and yearn to head South. --Julia Jenkins, librarian and blogger at pagesofjulia