The Road South: A Memoir

Rating:
Summary: Unforgettable
Review: I don't know how to start this, but I just got to write something about this book. If this book don't affect you to the point of sadness or tears, I don't know what to say for you. This book was nothing short of a miracle. I have encountered people with similar backgrounds and they just get by, and expect you to feel sorry for them. With Mr.Stewart, you just want to applaud him. The fact that their father would kill his wife in front of his children with an axe and let her fall out the window onto a tree with not so much as remorse,well, I had no sympathy,no nothing for him, and like his sons, I felt nothing for him or that second wife or those aunts for that matter. What kind of woman feeds fried rat to children? Where is your humanity, where is your heart? what kind of man tells his son(a child) such heartless things, and allow such treatment that your own children leave you before puberty? what kind of woman mentally and physically break down a child just so the white man doesn't? Yet, it was a white man that took him in his own family when you didn't want to be bothered? This is just too much, and then here comes the military giving shock treatments just because you speak up for yourself and feel that despite your early life you should just go on? What kind of stuff is that? This is what happens in Shelley Stewart's life. He went through so much abuse, so much living from one pillar to post,so much betrayal(like the high school principal who wouldn't give him a chance at a scholarship despite the fact that he had the grades and know how to do so) yet despite all of that, he STILL makes something out of himself and is one of Birmingham's living legends..Folks, we hear of how we can't do this because of our background, childhood, someone said this or whatever, I say if this man can go through the stuff he went through and still live to tell the story, and is a man(and we know that men just keep their feelings to themselves and all),well, he deserves my salute, and I say GET THIS BOOK. You may want to scream, you may want to cry(Lord knows I did), but if the best thing you can do with this book is give it to some person who needs a lift in the right direction and say,"Read this",perhaps, we have made the life of one person better in order for him to make a contribution to this world.I reccommend this book highly, but, if you are faint at heart and always need a kleenex(which you may need), you have been warned.This ain't no pretty story.It's gritty,and if I could get this man down to my neck of the woods in lower Alabama, I would. Matter of fact, the book deserves 10 plus stars.

Rating:
Summary: Road to Hell a Better Title - Brace Yourself!
Review: I spent the greater part of this past Sunday mesmerized by Stewart's tale. Not since Rick Bragg has there been a more horrific tale of poverty, hate, discrimination, fear, abuse, and I could go on and on, told in such riveting detail. This is the South as it really was, told in unblinking truth and should bring shame to both white and black that such things happen. I am a proud Southerner but I was ashamed. I like so many others sat back and let these things happen. No more.

Rating:
Summary: Not the man he appears to be.
Review: Shelley Stewart is absolutely NOT the man he appears to be. As a member of his family, I have seen his astonishing greed and selfishness towards the family he supposedly cares so much about. He has poor relationships with his son, and most of his other children. He cares only for himself, and offers no help his family. Take it from me; buy another book. Large portions of this book were admitted to be largely fictional.

Rating:
Summary: Powerful Story Sold Short
Review: There's no disputing that there is a wealth of raw information here - and certainly Shelley Stewart has lived a compelling life. Regrettably, The Road South is just that - a road without destination. The subjects life is presented in a somewhat disjointed narrative that plods the reader along with nods to various low points along the way. The introspection is superficial, and perhaps that is a result of the first person retelling of the tale. It seems that the tale could benefit strongly from some outside perspective, opinion, and research. Mr. Stewart has no doubt survived his journey through dogged determination and deep repression. Those same factors that help him live do his story a disservice.

For example, after suffering horrific abuse at the hands of a relative - he returns to her side under the explanation "She was family" and later puts other children in her care. He buys her a home. There has to be more to the tale than that. Two foster children leave his home because "They couldn't handle discipline". That begs a further look. How did his own ramshakle life affect what his view of discipline was? What did the children think of the situation? How do they view it now? Ditto his relationship with an abandoned son.

There is a great book to be written about this man and his family saga, but this venture is ultimately far more frustrating than rewarding. It reads like a Cliff's Notes version of an epic. There are plenty of dots here but few lines. It's left to the reader to try and flesh the outline into a whole picture, and possibly do the subject a disservice in the project. I wanted to love this book, but right down to the last page I felt like I was rooting for a player who chose not to leave the bench.

Rating:
Summary: An Inspiration!
Review: This book was truly an inspiration to me! I read it in only two days because I just could not put it down! I'm saddened to read another review that gave a negative image of Mr. Stewart. Having met him and worked with him, I have only seen positivity and generosity in him. Anyone who thinks that they can use their past as an excuse not to go forward should read this book. You cannot dwell on the past, and Mr. Stewart is a great testimony! This book is a must read for all ages!

Rating:
Summary: The Road South
Review: This is an excellent book. I stayed up two straight nights just to finish it. I couldn't put it down. It will surely become as big as The Color Purple. It is inspiring in that it proves that nothing is out of reach to even society's must unlikely acheivers if only we extend our hands to grab!

Rating:
Summary: A Long and Laborious Journey
Review: When I began reading The Road South, I had no idea who this man Shelly Stewart was or what to expect from his memoir. What I discovered was the story of a man of humble and difficult beginnings, a survivor of some of the most brutal child abuse imaginable, an exemplary student, and a man of pride and big dreams. Stewart was not afraid to speak out for the civil rights of Blacks in the South, often standing alone and putting his own life in jeopardy to do so. He also established himself as a successful radio personality and has established himself as a force in the field of communications. Ultimately, Shelly Stewart is a man that has spent his entire life chasing the dream of a loving, healthy and close knit family.

Saying that Shelly Stewart survived a difficult childhood would be a major understatement. Shelly and his three brothers witnessed, experienced and endured things that no human being, let alone a child, should ever have to encounter. However, even as a child, Shelly made a conscious decision not to let his early life keep him down. Shelly Stewart exemplifies resilience. He was a man that had any number of things going against him but persevered in spite of the circumstances around him and was never afraid to dream. As a result, he has benefited from successful careers in radio and the field of communications. This book is not for the faint of heart; as I read Stewart's descriptions of his early life there were times when I wanted to cry and others where I felt physically ill. The abuse that he and his brothers survived cannot easily be put into words. What I respected most about Stewart was that even though he was victimized he never came across as a victim because he openly and honestly acknowledges and takes responsibility for his own mistakes. This is a moving and emotional memoir that extends far beyond a sharing of historical and political information and eloquently captures a story of personal triumph and disappointment.

Reviewed by Stacey Seay

Rating:
Summary: An Inspiration to me !
Review: Wow, I started reading on a December 12th and finished on January 2nd. Not because the book was not intresting, but for the simple fact I started telling my husband about the book and he began to read it and finished it in two days then he handed it to my mother law who in between prepring the Christmas feast could not put it down. I was lucky to finally get my hands on it on News Years day to finish the last three chapters . This book tuged at my heart strings in so many ways. A picture of Shelly should be in the dictionary next to the word Preserveriance and Determination. I have had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Stewart and he is every bit of exciting,intelligent,hardworking, and personable as he appears in his book. Thank you Shelly for sharing your journey with the world, thank your for chronlizing a piece of history for all of the free world to appreciate.

Rating:
Summary: Not the man he appears to be.
Review: you think you had a bad childhood? Shelly Stewart had one that is hard to believe. This is shown in this wonderful book, and how he overcame this handicap. He is now a successful businessman and is helping other people. This memoir reads like a novel, I could not put it down.

Rating:
Summary: you think you had a bad childhood?
Review: you think you had a bad childhood? Shelly Stewart had one that is hard to believe. This is shown in this wonderful book, and how he overcame this handicap. He is now a successful businessman and is helping other people. This memoir reads like a novel, I could not put it down.