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Rating: 
Summary: It's for citizens of the South and those who wish they were.
Review: Here's the official brag book for Southerners and guide book for everybody else: HAVING IT Y'ALL. A witty and sometimes sassy look at the people, history, culture and contributions of the American South, HAVING IT Y'ALL quickly dispenses with the usual cliches and sound-bites and takes readers instead on an insider's tour of this remarkable region
Rating: 
Summary: A humorous but accurate dash through the South
Review: I read this book years ago in its first printing. I was turned onto the book by someone I knew who had read it and I was not displeased. Every other book on the South that I had read seemed to have this "you would never understand cause you're not from the south" attitude that seemed to suggest a certain perfection that I know is not actually there. This book however was not ashamed at projecting a more complete picture that was nontheless extremely funny. Being from the deep south myself I know that we have the Mardi Gras Balls and "Old Money", but we also have trailer parks and Arkansas, and Ms. Batson doesn't miss this. I had fun with this book, and after writing this review I think that I will take my old copy off the shelf and look through it again.
Rating:
Summary: A humorous but accurate dash through the South
Review: I read this book years ago in its first printing. I was turned onto the book by someone I knew who had read it and I was not displeased. Every other book on the South that I had read seemed to have this "you would never understand cause you're not from the south" attitude that seemed to suggest a certain perfection that I know is not actually there. This book however was not ashamed at projecting a more complete picture that was nontheless extremely funny. Being from the deep south myself I know that we have the Mardi Gras Balls and "Old Money", but we also have trailer parks and Arkansas, and Ms. Batson doesn't miss this. I had fun with this book, and after writing this review I think that I will take my old copy off the shelf and look through it again.
Rating: 
Summary: Leaving out Texas
Review: I would have given this book a much higher rating, but for my immediate umbrage after seeing that the author had decided to, essentially, leave my native state of Texas out of the modern-day South. NOW, let me make it clear that certainly, Texas is, as the old saying goes, Texas....belonging completely to no region. HOWEVER, to "fringe" in southern portions of states such as Ohio, Indiana, etc..and leave Texas not only out of the "genuine Southland" but the border area as well, leads me to conclude that the author has probably never been to the Lone Star State....or if so, confined the stay to spots such as Austin or the DFW metroplex with their yuppie lifestyles and concentration of yankee transplants. I will confine my case here to East Texas (generally, meaning the part of the state east of Dallas)since it is easily the "most Southern" of the interstate regions. Not only Southern, but pretty much Deep South Southern....especially when one gets over toward the Marshall/Jefferson/Caddo Lake areas. Don't take my word for it, I have talked to too many tourists from Mississippi and Alabama whom I have encountered on my numerous trips out that way, that tell me the land and moodscapes are "just like backhome" Many were actually surprised to find it so...having had their whole image of Texas formed by the old westerns movies (which were, in reality, shot in Arizona and southern California). Even western parts of the state, having been settled by pioneers from the older South, is generally "Southern" in outlook and philosophy..even if not in topography. So, Ms. Batson, next time you pen an otherwise purely good read about the South, give the inclusion of Texas a bit more consideration. After all, even if you don't accept my rest of my arguments, ANY state which fought for the Confederacy (not only fought, but was one of the charter members), is famous for "y'all", and where black-eyed peas and fried okra are staples, has made its mark and earned its star in the Southern constellation!
Rating:
Summary: Leaving out Texas
Review: I would have given this book a much higher rating, but for my immediate umbrage after seeing that the author had decided to, essentially, leave my native state of Texas out of the modern-day South. NOW, let me make it clear that certainly, Texas is, as the old saying goes, Texas....belonging completely to no region. HOWEVER, to "fringe" in southern portions of states such as Ohio, Indiana, etc..and leave Texas not only out of the "genuine Southland" but the border area as well, leads me to conclude that the author has probably never been to the Lone Star State....or if so, confined the stay to spots such as Austin or the DFW metroplex with their yuppie lifestyles and concentration of yankee transplants. I will confine my case here to East Texas (generally, meaning the part of the state east of Dallas)since it is easily the "most Southern" of the interstate regions. Not only Southern, but pretty much Deep South Southern....especially when one gets over toward the Marshall/Jefferson/Caddo Lake areas. Don't take my word for it, I have talked to too many tourists from Mississippi and Alabama whom I have encountered on my numerous trips out that way, that tell me the land and moodscapes are "just like backhome" Many were actually surprised to find it so...having had their whole image of Texas formed by the old westerns movies (which were, in reality, shot in Arizona and southern California). Even western parts of the state, having been settled by pioneers from the older South, is generally "Southern" in outlook and philosophy..even if not in topography. So, Ms. Batson, next time you pen an otherwise purely good read about the South, give the inclusion of Texas a bit more consideration. After all, even if you don't accept my rest of my arguments, ANY state which fought for the Confederacy (not only fought, but was one of the charter members), is famous for "y'all", and where black-eyed peas and fried okra are staples, has made its mark and earned its star in the Southern constellation!
Rating:
Summary: So-so.
Review: I'm moving to the South so I thought I should learn a few things about the culture. I learned a few new things, but a lot of this book is just fluff - bland lists of things you don't need to know. Lists of football championships, who to mail-order hams from, etc. I did like the info dealing with Southern religions as I didn't know much about the difference between say Baptists and Holy Rollers.
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