Play Book Tag discussion

Rated 5 Stars by one friend on Goodreads and rated 5 Stars by 43% on Goodreads.

There are parts of this book that I liked. Some stories that romanticize some of the beautiful things about the south and southern culture. However, much of the book exemplifies my dysfunctional relationship with the south.

I'm sorry Jason, that I recommended it to you. I'm not a Southerner, but I could relate to it. Can you explain what you disliked about it?

Holly R W wrote: "I'm sorry Jason, that I recommended it to you. I'm not a Southerner, but I could relate to it. Can you explain what you disliked about it?"

Don't feel bad about the recommendation. I am from rural Georgia. I have personal issues with the narrow world view and "if you aren't doing it our way then you are doing it the wrong way" mentality. The author is well traveled, but I still felt that mentality in many of his stories. I listened to the audiobook. The author read the book. His voice was thick with a southern accent and very slow and drawn out. I looked up an interview of the author, and his accent is heavily exaggerated in the reading.

Parts of the book triggered some of my negative feelings I have of southern culture.

I read the book and didn't do the audio. This might have made a difference.

At the time that I read it, I was trying to look after my very aged Dad, who needed help, but didn't want to let me help him. He had a lot of dignity. I thought that the author was having a similar experience with his mother and I enjoyed his humor.

My Dad was an outdoorsman who enjoyed fishing, pocket knives, row boats rigged with motors, etc. and so, I could relate to all of that as well. Growing up, the refrigerator often had a lemonade container filled with earthworms for fishing.

I've never lived in the south and don't have the personal history or knowledge of it that you have.

I am from the South. Born about 40-50 miles from where Rick Bragg was born. I know the people in his books. Some of them are my relatives. A cousin once told me that when she was a teenager working in Gadson or Anniston in a department store, the employees were told to watch anyone in his family very closely, follow them around - the manager thought that all the family was together in stealing stuff. I was ashamed of my southern drawl for a long time but now, I am just me. I have outlived most of my relatives up there and only have a little contact with a few. I have no more patience to deal with stupidity and refusal to think critically. He has written many books about his family and I love them all, mainly because I understand the people and the actions.
Are you letting memories and your "dysfunctional" relationships with the south influence your opinion of the book? For what it is worth, I have read most of his work and I think this is the weakest one. peace, janz