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Summary: Review from a TRUE GRITS
Review: Deborah Ford has outdone herself! This book is entertaining, comical, refreshing, and a must have on every southern woman's coffee table. Deborah makes me proud to be a Girl Raised in the South and embodies everything one should be!
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Summary: Not Quite A Gamecock Classic ...
Review: Deborah Ford's GRITS primer is a sweet little read that can't quite make its mind up as to whether it wants to be a primer or a memoir when it grows up, but is certainly on a literary path that could have been finessed with much better style given an hour or two with a Southern editor. This particular romp isn't nearly as breathtakingly funny as the 'Sweet Potato Queens' series nor anywhere as acerbic as anything from Florence King, Fannie Flagg's hilarious foreword to the contrary.
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Summary: Poor Imitation
Review: Having fallen in love with other books about southern women especially the Southern Belle Primer and What Southern Women Know (That Every Woman Should), I grabbed this book as soon as it was available. I was so sorely disappointed that I thought seriously of returning it for my money back. It is nothing short of the two previously mentioned books, scantily rewritten but noticeably missing the humor and entertainment. For a quick, chuckling delve into southern womanhood, grab a copy of the Southern Belle Primer. For a deeper, thought provoking but often hilarious take, pick up What Southern Women Know. Both of these books have proven their substance and appeal with multiple printings over the past few years and will not disappoint. This one, though, disappoints deeply. It is neither interesting nor riveting. In short, the book felt strung together particularly with the throwing in of the various essays by other women on their memories of southern life. I wanted to love this book. I really did since I have given so many copies of the other books away that I needed a new gift for my southern girlfriends. Sadly, the content fell short of worthy.
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Summary: Fun to read but a bit sloppily written
Review: I copied quite a few of the funny parts out of this book to share with friends, so I did get my money's worth, but I found this book to be more of a mish-mash of general info thrown together than a personal, heartfelt guide to what it means to be a Girl Raised in the South. A much better book in the same vein is Southern Belle Primer, which goes into lots of detail about silverware patterns, wedding present displays, and charm school.
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Summary: GRITS (Girls Raised in the South) is a book for everyone
Review: I read The GRITS (Girls Raised in the South) Guide to Life and can certainly recommend this book. I really enjoyed it! There is some good advice for everyone in this gem of the hills book on how to be a Southern belle.
The book is very well designed, illustrated and well organized. There are section on: The Basic Ingredients, Southern Style, Southern Hospitality, Strick'ly Southern and Southern Family. You'll get tips on everything from how to mix a Mint Julep to how to flirt Southern style. Plus Deborah has some good tips on how to succeed in life and reach your dreams.
I liked GRITS as it made the perfect Mother's Day present! Also it gave me some insight into the feminine mystique of what it means to be a Southern belle. That's good to know if you live in the South and wonder what makes these charming, well cultured pearls, these women born, bred and reared in the South, tick!
Deborah's book is a joyful, often humorous read. It will leave you feeling refreshed and inspired! I hope everyone enjoys The GRITS Guide to Life as much as I did! It is a pure delight!
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Summary: Grits
Review: I was expecting the food grits. This was not. I threw this book in the garbage, after splatting real grits on it. For some reason my very heterosexual guy neighbor loved this book! so if you are like him, buy it!
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Summary: Grits (Girls Raised in The South) Guide to Life
Review: I was raised in the South in the fifties and I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed this book nor have I laughed so much in a long time. My daughter gave it to me and I told her she should read it so she could understand her Southern bred Mother better. A truly wonderful read for any woman, anywhere.
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Summary: horsefeathers!
Review: If I didn't know better, I'd suspect the authors of being Yankee carpetbaggers bent on exploiting the goodwill enjoyed by southern girls and southern culture, because I'm not convinced these ladies get it.As a daughter of the deep, deep south, I hope I can set a few things straight. 1) "Y'all" is always plural. "Y'all" used in reference to one person is the mark of a bad screenwriter and a bad mimic, neither of whom has ever ventured below the Mason-Dixon line. Sometimes you may hear someone say to another, "I hope y'all can make it to the party," or "How are y'all enjoying the new lake house?" in which case it means "you and yours (not present)." If a lone Southern neighbor drops by for a visit on a Sunday afternoon, don't say, "Y'all come on in" unless you want your neighbor to suspect you're already in your cups and seeing double. 2) The expression is "A whistling woman and a crowing hen never come to a good end." This book records it as "A whistling woman and a crowing him...." As if that means anything at all. 3) "it's" = "it + is" while "its" = "that which belongs to it"
If these "GRITS" don't know the difference or can't find an editor who does, they should get in touch with me. I know several, in Alabama, no less. The authors aren't perpetuating the myth of southern charm; they're perpetuating the myth of southern ignorance. Truly, if you want the mysteries of southern charm revealed, stick to King's Southern Ladies and Gentlemen or Rich's What Southern Women Know.
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Summary: Girls 'Refined' In The South
Review: Thank you, Deborah!!! I've lived in the South since 1989 and consider it my adopted homeland...I'm honored and humbled to know that I, too, can be a GRITS! (see Introduction pg. xix) I'm only half way through my copy of this delightful book and I'm already planning to read it again and again. I also plan to keep my copy on the bookshelf in my office for a quick refresher course on "magnolias, iron skillets, and pearls" and to remind myself to remember (among many other oh-so-true things) - "Pearl of Wisdom #37...The cream always rises to the top, so quit being the milkmaid. There's more to life than calluses, darlin'!"
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Summary: Too Politically Correct
Review: The writer of the GRITS Guide to Life covered too much truth with political correctness. Southern Ladies are not accurately portrayed.
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