Deep South

Four Seasons on Back Roads

By: Paul Theroux

Narrated by: John McDonough

Length: 23 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's Summary

One of the most acclaimed travel writers of our time turns his unflinching eye on an American South too often overlooked.

Paul Theroux has spent 50 years crossing the globe, adventuring in the exotic, seeking the rich history and folklore of the far away. Now, for the first time, in his 10th travel book, Theroux explores a piece of America - the Deep South. He finds there a paradoxical place, full of incomparable music, unparalleled cuisine, and yet also some of the nation's worst schools, housing, and unemployment rates. It's these parts of the South, so often ignored, that have caught Theroux's keen traveler's eye.

On road trips spanning four seasons, wending along rural highways, Theroux visits gun shows and small-town churches, laborers in Arkansas, and parts of Mississippi where they still call the farm up the road "the plantation". He talks to mayors and social workers, writers and reverends, the working poor and farming families - the unsung heroes of the South, the people who, despite it all, never left, and those who returned home to rebuild a place they could never live without. From the writer whose "great mission has always been to transport us beyond that reading chair, to challenge himself - and thus, to challenge us" (Boston Globe), Deep South is an ode to a region, vivid and haunting, full of life and loss alike.

©2015 Paul Theroux (P)2015 Recorded Books

Interesting perspective, informative

Where does Deep South rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Pretty good.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Not relevant

Would you be willing to try another one of John McDonough’s performances?

Never, he was the worst. Why would you have a narrator with a pronounced lisp?

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

not relevant

Any additional comments?

We listened to this book while driving through many of the places he also visited which made it more interesting. But seemed like he got stuck in a rut and only presented the african american point of view. While we appreciated their stories, we know from experience that there are plenty of white southerners who are not red neck racists.

I MISS THE OLD THEROUX

Would you try another book from Paul Theroux and/or John McDonough?

I always have, I always will.

Would you recommend Deep South to your friends? Why or why not?

Not really. The Old Theroux would have been snippy and persnickety. His non-travel writer persona was a pleasure. The New Theroux is affable and cheery -- and kind of tedious. Also, the book is shockingly repetitive, as if he was being paid by the word. Does the New Theroux have an editor?

Was Deep South worth the listening time?

Yes and no. I liked the many Patels, but the gun shows were all the same gun show. And the generalizations (cliches?) were endless. The Old Theroux would have tossed the book aside for something more colorful.

Painful Narrator

What would have made Deep South better?

I could not finish listening to this book, although I love Theroux. The narrator was horrible. Painful to listen too.

Would you recommend Deep South to your friends? Why or why not?

Bad narrator.

Would you be willing to try another one of John McDonough’s performances?

Absolutely not.

educational and eye opening roadtrip

Loved this book. should be required reading around the USA. Theroux ventured to the places often forgotten in America. He gives voice to the spirit and the reality of the Deep South. I learned SO MUCH. Stick with ...the last few pages are so powerful once you take this journey with "Mr. Paul".

First chapter could have been it all

Loved the first chapter. Then came the looong referances to other books. Gave up 2hours in.

Fantastic Book, Gold Standard Performance

Marvelously performed, this is perhaps Theroux's best book, and an important discussion of the current state of the South.

Decent story, Obnoxious Narrator

What would have made Deep South better?

Had they used a different narrator, this may have been a decent listen. I couldn't finish listening.

Would you be willing to try another book from Paul Theroux? Why or why not?

No. This was a very disappointing audiobook.

What didn’t you like about John McDonough’s performance?

His dry mouthed delivery, spittle inflected enunciation, unnecessary pauses and overall performance were so annoying that I had to stop listening. The single worst narration I've ever heard.

Needs new narrator - maybe.. PAUL THEROUX?? :/

What would have made Deep South better?

Paul Theroux actually narrating his own books

What didn’t you like about John McDonough’s performance?

not right for this author

What character would you cut from Deep South?

john mcdonough

Any additional comments?

paul..narrate your own books please, would be great to have first voice of author

The Deep South Is So Much More Than That

I purchased this audiobook with true excitement as I, too, have made MANY trips to various areas of the South and love the smaller towns. However, I quickly learned that this book was going to be tedious. First off, the "interludes" between "seasons" were way too long, not all that relevant and one, in particular (listeners will know which one I'm referring to), was offensive. There is a lot of strong language, so listeners should be aware of that going in.

There are SO MANY wonderful areas all over the South, so I was extremely disappointed that the author spent the bulk of his time in only a few of same type of areas. I got so tired of all of the gun shows. I mean the man visited Natchez MS and only attended a gun show and then left???? Also, it seemed that he only wanted to spend time with the impoverished African Americans. The way he chronicled those visits almost made me feel like a voyeur and as if he was making fun of them. He spent a great deal of time in Delta (mostly on the MS side), which is great, but once again, he only conveyed over and over again how poor the area. It is true that there is a lot of poverty in the Delta, but there is so much more to it than that. I was really hoping he would share the whole story so that it might entice readers/listeners to visit and bring some tourism dollars to the area.

For a book called "Deep South" I also found it so odd that he spent hardly any time in LA. That state is only referenced during his lunch with the ladies at Walnut Hills restaurant in Vicksburg. Did you catch the huge error about the Siege during that conversation? I couldn't believe my ears!!!

At the end of the day, I was happy that he made those trips and shared the stories with a wide audience. However, I was disappointed. I want to write a book about my travels and it will be tons better than this book!

Too long

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I would not focus so exclusively on poverty in the South. It finally wore me out and I am interested in the South and have travelled there myself. I also got tired of hearing about gun shows. Frankly, I think I just got tired because the audiobook was so long. I did like the last 2 chapters, though, and will read more of his books.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

Most - the description of the land. Least - the failure to really describe any of the southern celebrations .

Would you be willing to try another one of John McDonough’s performances?

No. I think I will read any more of his books. I thought the accent was overbearing and the southern dialect overdone, but that just may be me, because I have heard it firsthand all my life.

Could you see Deep South being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

No

Any additional comments?

I loved Zona Verda, which was the first of his books I have read. I have not enjoyed any of them as much since.

Enjoyable book

If you could sum up Deep South in three words, what would they be?

Great writing that keeps you engaged, but only criticism would be John McDonough's narration which is at times is too breathless and irritated me. I'm not sure what age he is but sounds about 80 which in turn makes the content sound aged..

Great book

Found the narrators voice a little irksome at first, but got used to it and was rewarded by a great audio travelogue.