The South Rises

[Guest Paragon]

There's a smashing new play on Broadway, called All The Way, as in all the way with LBJ. It's about the south and the Civil Rights Act of 1964. LBJ looks like no LBJ you ever saw. He's well-played by Bryan Cranston, late of Breaking bad, and Cranston does such a good job that by the end of the play you think he actually might be LBJ.

And a top summer novel is out, and I am reading it! So I would tell you the title of the book , but the author's name on the cover is so big that I can't find it! GREG ILES is the author...oh, here it is: Natchez Burning. It's about 800 pages and is the first of a trilogy.

So you could save 40 hours* of your life and skip the trilogy entirely. Unless it would be 40 fun hours. So far it's only of moderate interest, and I am 200 pages in. He has to give us a lot of southern history, and so at times it feels like a Wikipedia entry. But civil rights, or the lack thereof, are the focus of attention in this novel, and memories of the 60's come burning back as well.

* assuming that you read about 60 pages per hour.

[RA1]

Interesting commentary. All the way with LBJ before 1964 would have meant status quo in the South. So, why did he change? Obviously, to promote his political legacy. There may have been other considerations, but did he really change his mind or just seek fame?

Best regards,

RA1

[AdamSmith]

Interesting commentary. All the way with LBJ before 1964 would have meant status quo in the South. So, why did he change? Obviously, to promote his political legacy. There may have been other considerations, but did he really change his mind or just seek fame?

Best regards,

RA1

[Guest PasadenaCA]

While politicians generated a lot of hot air, let's not forget the role of the air conditioner in transforming the South.

[Guest Paragon]

I did finish reading all 798 pages of Natchez Burning. Obviously it's pretty long, but it's also pretty good. 4 stars from me.