Turn in the South - V S Naipaul

Another book in the travelogue genre, and this one is about the author's travels and experiences in the American south.

As opposed to my expectations, this book started on a boring tone. Instead of focusing on travel, it was more about a family, what they are eating, where and how they stay, routine etc. This was how it began. Later on however it became apparent that it is a theme based travelogue, theme being: racism, slavery, post civil war situation of blacks/whites.

Initially I wasn't very clear on what I am reading. Finally after being perseverent with it, I began to grasp some of the contents. Author is travelling to different places in American south like Georgia, South/North Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama etc and meeting different people, talking to them about how life was before civil war & how has it changed post war. He has spoken & documented the talks with people like Hosea, who have played some role in protests and all. Visited various memorials, colleges etc. Many a talks revolve around religion, Christianity, churches, preaching, agriculture, tobacco, different clans like rednecks [which incidentally went over my head, I still don't know what rednecks are] etc.

I found the style of writing in this book haphazard. Flow of contents didn't seem smooth, no coherence at all. Many a times I had to flip back pages to re-read what was written about any person or context, which doesn't happen if the flow is good. At places it was very verbose about the weather/nature, which is fine, but then at times very boring. Overall I didn't really enjoy this read & couldn't wait to get over with it & pick something else.

I wonder when next I'll pick up any Naipaul book. Lets see. Right now, next in shelf for me is a travelogue by Dervla Murphy [yeah another travelogue]. Keen to begin with it soon :)