Reviews

Thank you NetGalley for an early copy of this book. A British author visits, stays in and then revisits Natchez Mississippi to unveil the city’s idiosyncrasies, bizarre personalities and tortured attempts to work through historic atrocities. I found myself laughing out loud at many of the conversations and reminiscing- only to gasp at the sheer denial and reframing of events being discussed. This city, with the highest concentration of Antebellum homes in the country, is dripping with money - and the antiques that money can buy (enough costume jewelry to dress 167 Christmas trees anyone?). That wealth is matched by the collective ability to deny the past so thoroughly, that current reenactments of traditions still include hoop skirt, Confederate Flags and no mention of slavery.

Grant introduces us to the few people attempting to change the culture of Natchez, some bravely and some reluctantly. These singular doers and thinkers need to navigate ancient rivalries (think hoop skirts meet Mean Girls), deep denials (they were servants and were loved) and dismissive attitudes (it was so long ago, let it go already) - all agains the backdrop of economic reliance on tourists looking for the Charming South.

I couldn’t put this book down and found myself repeating my deep appreciation for living on the East Coast. There is so much history and culture and religion and attitudes revealed here. Strongly recommend.

patelshas's review against another edition

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5.0

Fun and Insightful Read

The story of Natchez is enjoyable for all its oddball characters and eccentric affairs, and also functions well as a microcosm for all of America.

Can't say much else without going in depth, but a very good book.

classicbhaer's review

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4.0

While this is a really short book, it has a lot in it. I really enjoyed Price Abd al-rahman Ibrahima as well as the author going into the history of this town and its relationship with racism and slavey and how it affects it today. He highlights what has been changing through the recent years, but also what still needs to change.

ahhhreadzombiez's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective tense medium-paced

4.0

The most interesting town that is Natchez, Mississippi pulls on information from the past, while choosing to “forget” stories of strife and horror is truly interesting. For a town that believes it’s the only true town, there is a lot of pride within the Black and White community, while also being unwilling to look at its rich, deeply troubling history in its full entirety (from mainly the White communities). But at the same time, there were slight, slight instances of community amongst White and Black people, even in the most segregated of times, up until the publication of the book. It’s truly a history of small town charm and horror all wrapped in one.

Content Warnings

yungoctavio's review against another edition

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5.0

Entertaining as hell! About Natchez, Mississippi - a place where every year there is a town-wide celebration where people dress up in confederate army uniforms and antebellum dresses... yet they elected a Black gay man as mayor and (white) people are genuinely convinced they were progressive and not racist. It also went into the complexities of how to tell history in a way that doesn't hide its ugly side, especially when tourism is so embedded in the local economy. An insightful view into the contradictions of racism in America. There are tons of places like Natchez across the country.

sugar_on_your_soul's review against another edition

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5.0

4,75⭐️

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