Long Time Leaving (Abridged): Dispatches From Up South Audiobook

" This collection of Roy Blount's humor essays has its moments: whenever Blount talks about food, fishing, or country music, he strikes gold. Whenever he drops a droll anecdote about life in the South, it's amazing. But what made reading these essays somewhat tedious were his often incomprehensible takes on politics. Additionally, thought not Blount's fault, this collection repeats so many of the same jokes that they become less than funny--they become straight-up annoying. If Blount writes another essay with his infant baptism joke in it, I'm going to set fire to it. He even brought it up at a reading I attended. All in all, I think these essays are better read aloud and appreciated for their meandering wit and comic timing. On paper, they languish. "

" Anyone from the south (especially those who have also lived in the north) will find this an interesting, engaging, and humorous read. I've rarely picked up a book on a whim and enjoyed it so much. Beware, though, laughing out loud will ensue. "

" I couldn't get into the print version, but I love the audio version. Blount's voice w/his Southern accent makes all the difference. You feel like he's someone you could jaw on the front porch with for hours. A true Southern boy. "

" Gave-up on this one. Essays about the South by someone who has exiled themselves from the South. Roy Blount had a cameo appearance on HBO's "Treme". So I thought I'd give him a chance. Mistake. "

" A series of essays, articles, etc. by Roy Blount Jr. about being from the south and living up north. Some are really funny. "

" I loved this collection of essays! Very humorous and true to North-South dynamics, I thought. "

" Even though Blount is a great essayist, the collection leaves something to be desired. Mostly insightful, but somewhat repetitive, he preaches the strengths of the south from his perch in New York. He's a self-admitted hypocrite, and it shines through in this book. "

" Not Blount's best book, but hell, his mediocre writing is better than many other people's best work. "

" Clever of course, but repetitive. Since it's a collection of short essays, he tends to say the same thing over and over. "

" Hilarious. This book makes me miss the north east and love the south some more. "

" a mixed bag, but when RBJr is on, he's ON - more thoughtful, nuanced and barbed about the Southern (and white) experience than I ever would have expected. I feel a little embarrassed that I gave him so little credit... and I love Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me... "

" Amusing essays from Roy Blount, Jr., a regular panelist on "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me." "

" This book was interesting...some chapters very quick and funny reads and some that just lost me after a few sentences. Definitely not a quick read but an interesting look at the differences between the north and south. "

" What a hoot! Blount never fails to make me laugh, ponder and wonder at the insanity of we humans. Even better though? Has anyone ever heard a recording of Blount? His books are even better when he's reading them. "

" This book is not as humerous as I wanted it to be, so I didn't read all of it. That said, the story about dinner with his southern family had me in tears, especially when I heard him read it. There's just something about his voice. "

" Roy is excellent. had this one on tape. His narration is as Brett Favre says "aww'some" (Imagine someone from Mississippi saying it). His memories from childhood, and his now perspective being a Georgian in NPR world of Boston- quite a contrast. "

" Some clever writing - reminds us snobby Northeasterners about the rest of the country...but pretty repetitive. "

" Fun to listen to. Gets old after awhile, though I do love Roy Blount Jr.! Especially on Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me! on NPR. "

" He's just funny. Even when you don't agree with him, he's funny. My favorite remains the essay, "The Way We Were Meant to Eat". I'm not sure how it would translate if one is not Southern but I imagine there are folks like this in every region/culture in the world. "

" Garrison Keillor was right. Roy Blount Jr. writes good sentences. I was drawn to this book through Blount's reading about the Southern approach to food. He covers a great many topics with humor and grace and good sentences. "

" Pretty funny in a my-dad-would-love-this kind of way, which was great because my dad's a pretty funny, insightful guy. As a transplant to the Northeast myself, I appreciated his insistence on the complexities origin and identity, never being fully comfortable with the label "Southern writer." "

" While there are a few moments of humor in the collection of articles by Mr. Blout, I found him to be excessively talky. It sincerely felt as though he was just writing to hear himself talk at a number of points. I wouldn't suggest this one to others. "

" my favorite blount, but that's like saying my favorite surf & turf. i think i like it because it is so broad. food section is my favorite "

" Roy is excellent. had this one on tape. His narration is as Brett Favre says "aww'some" (Imagine someone from Mississippi saying it). His memories from childhood, and his now perspective being a Georgian in NPR world of Boston- quite a contrast. "

" While there are a few moments of humor in the collection of articles by Mr. Blout, I found him to be excessively talky. It sincerely felt as though he was just writing to hear himself talk at a number of points. I wouldn't suggest this one to others. "

" Gave-up on this one. Essays about the South by someone who has exiled themselves from the South. Roy Blount had a cameo appearance on HBO's "Treme". So I thought I'd give him a chance. Mistake. "

" This book was interesting...some chapters very quick and funny reads and some that just lost me after a few sentences. Definitely not a quick read but an interesting look at the differences between the north and south. "

" Not Blount's best book, but hell, his mediocre writing is better than many other people's best work. "

" Clever of course, but repetitive. Since it's a collection of short essays, he tends to say the same thing over and over. "

" I loved this collection of essays! Very humorous and true to North-South dynamics, I thought. "

" A series of essays, articles, etc. by Roy Blount Jr. about being from the south and living up north. Some are really funny. "

" He's just funny. Even when you don't agree with him, he's funny. My favorite remains the essay, "The Way We Were Meant to Eat". I'm not sure how it would translate if one is not Southern but I imagine there are folks like this in every region/culture in the world. "

" Anyone from the south (especially those who have also lived in the north) will find this an interesting, engaging, and humorous read. I've rarely picked up a book on a whim and enjoyed it so much. Beware, though, laughing out loud will ensue. "

" Mr. Blount does a good job of describing some of southern cultures peccadilloes. I found the part commenting on northern prejudices of the south quite good. Thought provoking and humorous all at the same time. "

" a mixed bag, but when RBJr is on, he's ON - more thoughtful, nuanced and barbed about the Southern (and white) experience than I ever would have expected. I feel a little embarrassed that I gave him so little credit... and I love Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me... "