Roses & Thorns

Roses & Thorns

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Suddenly Southern: A Yankee’s Guide to Living in Dixie by Maureen Duffin Ward

Blurb:

Moving South? Feeling a little out of place? Craving pizza from home and faking a passion for sweet tea? Not generating much Southern hospitality? Wondering if you'll ever fit in?
Well, honey, here's your complete guide to living in Dixie, providing migrating Yanks with tips on living, eating, greeting, driving, walking, talking, and what food to bring to a funeral. From his 'n' her Southern Hair Dos (and Don'ts) to The A to Z Dixie Dictionary, Suddenly Southern includes everything you need to know about living south of the Mason-Dixon Line, including:

·         Recipes that range from mint juleps and hoppin' john to recipes for disaster
·         "Know Your Bugs by Their Mugs," a handy identification chart
·         10 ways to say, "Now that's ugly" in Dixie
·         How to walk from the store to the car without dying, a Fun-in-the-Sun Survival Kit
·         100 Southern Things Worth the Trip

From Southern tailgate food (deviled eggs and cheese straws) to minding your BBQs, from pronouncing pecan to knowing when your cat's a true Southerner, from knowing when you're fittin' in to knowing when you're not, this is the ideal guide for anyone moving, planning a move, or just plain ol' interested in this fascinating American region. With this book on your shelf, they'll never be able to say "Yankee, go home" again.


Review by Rose Thornton:

Suddenly Southern, by Maureen Duffin Ward, is a light and funny read, informative as well. Although it’s a bit hyperbolic in places, having grown up in the South I can affirm that it is spot-on for the most part. It is based on Ward’s actual experiences in adjustment as a transplant from the North to the South. One of my favorite parts of this book is the look at NASCAR, which starts out with, “Dirt track racing got its official start in Daytona in 1948, and it got its unofficial start from Southern moonshiners after World War II. They made their own booze to avoid paying taxes and raced around the farmlands at breakneck speeds to make sure all their customers could celebrate happy hour. ‘Now, that looks like fun.’ And a sport is born.” Ward continues from there to explain the various elements of NASCAR racing in a humorous, yet accurate way.

This is a great book for traveling, especially if going South. The reader can enjoy the comical aspect as well as become educated on southern peculiarities without the demand for deep-thought and analytic skills that some books require. Enjoy it on your next vacation!

Thanks for visiting, Rose, Julie, & Rochelle


Length:   176 Pages

Prices:
Print:  $12.99
Digital:  $9.46

Buy Link: