Sweet tea, cluckensteins, BBQ and Hermes = the American South.
This was a Daily Deal and it caught my interest-and I proceded to read it in two days. It's that engaging, but the upside is you can also read it bit by bit as it's well curated into themes with different columns/essays by certain folks in each field.

In many ways, the "American South" as it's often portrayed is equal parts reality, myth, and legend. This book does its best to distill those elements into what is the 21st century American south. While I'm not sure every woman really need an Hermes scarf or monogrammed stationary, this is a good look into why things are just a little bit different south of the Mason-Dixon line. Maybe it's sweet tea in the blood?

Warning, do not read when hungry. ( )

This is a very nice book, lovely cover on the hardbook version.
I am a transplant to Georgia from California. This book explained some aspects about Southerners that I did not know. The book has six parts; each addresses a different aspect of life in the South. The parts are: 1)Food, 2) Style, 3)Drink, 4) Sporting & Adventure, 5)Home & Garden, and 6) Arts & Culture. Food is, of course, a big part of life in the South. The book has a section of boiled peanuts, something I'd never had before moving here. It's still something I am not crazy about. Don't care for grits either, which is covered in another chapter. There is even a chapter on okra. That one was very interesting. Pecan pie and collard greens also had their chapters. I was surprised that banana pudding wasn't covered. The section on style was humorous. I loved the chapter on "finger salutes". This is definitely a southern thing. Driving along the roads (not the interstates) when you pass someone going the other way, even a stranger, you lift your index finger, just to say hi. If you recognize the person you lift the index and middle finger. Another chapter addressed writing notes. This is a part of Southern life that I admire. You don't do email, or texting. You take the time to actually write a letter. The style of your stationary is also important. It even addressed the proper way to seal the envelope. Most of these "chapters" are only a couple of pages. However, one chapter actually rated SEVEN pages. Can you guess what it is? Sweet tea, of course. Southerners take their sweet tea VERY seriously. Three other chapters I must mention: 1) Southernisms: you've heard them ("That dog won't hunt." "Happy as a tick on a fat dog." Should have included "Bless his/her heart." 2)Southern music: Living outside Macon I'm very aware of this one. There's some big musical talent from the South. 3)Southern football: They take their college football almost as seriously as their sweet tea. There were several areas I had no interest in and just skimmed them (i.e., hunting and fishing.) Overall, it's a cute book. Native Southerners would probably rate it higher than I did.

I received my copy from a BookTrib giveaway. This is an honest and unbiased review. ( )