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33 reviews for:
Being Dead Is No Excuse: The Official Southern Ladies Guide to Hosting the Perfect Funeral
Gayden Metcalfe
3.55 AVERAGE
33 reviews for:
Being Dead Is No Excuse: The Official Southern Ladies Guide to Hosting the Perfect Funeral
Gayden Metcalfe
3.55 AVERAGE
Between this and Fried Green Tomatoes, I feel like I'm building an Iron Man suit of southernness for myself. I have no problem with this.
I've never actually been to a full funeral, but there's something about southern church culture (especially that long period in my life of going to a Methodist church) that makes it easy to predict. Everything about this rings true, albeit varnished over with good old country exaggeration.
Anyway, the book is cute. A lot of it is recipes (some of which I'm skeptical of, some of which I want to make Right Now) which makes for a very quick read, since reading recipes is not something you usually do after skimming the title and the blurb that goes with it. The anecdotes are fun, pointing out foibles and weaknesses of white southern "funeral culture" while also having fun with its strengths. (I was so hungry throughout this book. So much talk about cream of mushroom soup. I haven't had casserole in ages.) Very entertaining, quick read, if you're not uncomfortable with funeral stuff.
Also, what the heck is aspic? How have I never heard of this? This was speaking more about what it called the Miss-Ark-La tristate area, so maybe aspic didn't make it to Alabama? I don't know. It sounds like poison. There's a recipe, though, so maybe I'll make it.
I've never actually been to a full funeral, but there's something about southern church culture (especially that long period in my life of going to a Methodist church) that makes it easy to predict. Everything about this rings true, albeit varnished over with good old country exaggeration.
Anyway, the book is cute. A lot of it is recipes (some of which I'm skeptical of, some of which I want to make Right Now) which makes for a very quick read, since reading recipes is not something you usually do after skimming the title and the blurb that goes with it. The anecdotes are fun, pointing out foibles and weaknesses of white southern "funeral culture" while also having fun with its strengths. (I was so hungry throughout this book. So much talk about cream of mushroom soup. I haven't had casserole in ages.) Very entertaining, quick read, if you're not uncomfortable with funeral stuff.
Also, what the heck is aspic? How have I never heard of this? This was speaking more about what it called the Miss-Ark-La tristate area, so maybe aspic didn't make it to Alabama? I don't know. It sounds like poison. There's a recipe, though, so maybe I'll make it.
Very funny, and loads of yummy recipes, I'm even going to use one for our thanksgiving feast.
This is a hilarious comic book about the proper southern funeral. Any books that rates pastors/ministers by whether or not you have to hide the liquor when they come over is sure to be hilarious!
A true southern book - it hits the nail on the head when it tells you about how things are done in the South. Lots and Lots of good recipes too!!!
I first read this in 2008 and my review was succinct: "The Official Southern Ladies Guide to Hosting the Perfect Funeral" is charming and has some great casserole recipes.
I re-read this sort of by accident. I was visiting my brother in Tennessee and he handed me the book because so many of the ladies he knew had remarked about how much fun it was. I had just finished a heavier tome and really didn’t feel up to another dark read, so I started reading it, and quickly realized I had read it before.
But Metcalfe and Hays drew me in and would not let go. They have crafted a charming book on the etiquette of funerals in the South, specifically in the Delta, from the proper hymns to sing (depending on whether you are Episcopalian or Methodist), to the use of Cream of Mushroom soup, to the power of the restorative cocktail. They sprinkle in a wealth of anecdotes on colorful friends and relatives who have had proper send-offs and give us the recipes to create our own funeral masterpieces.
It's the prefect little book to keep handy around the house, where you can read a chapter or even just a couple of recipes now and again. It’s both funny and informative.
(Review updated: May 2022)
I re-read this sort of by accident. I was visiting my brother in Tennessee and he handed me the book because so many of the ladies he knew had remarked about how much fun it was. I had just finished a heavier tome and really didn’t feel up to another dark read, so I started reading it, and quickly realized I had read it before.
But Metcalfe and Hays drew me in and would not let go. They have crafted a charming book on the etiquette of funerals in the South, specifically in the Delta, from the proper hymns to sing (depending on whether you are Episcopalian or Methodist), to the use of Cream of Mushroom soup, to the power of the restorative cocktail. They sprinkle in a wealth of anecdotes on colorful friends and relatives who have had proper send-offs and give us the recipes to create our own funeral masterpieces.
It's the prefect little book to keep handy around the house, where you can read a chapter or even just a couple of recipes now and again. It’s both funny and informative.
(Review updated: May 2022)
I think this is one of the books that is funnier if you know someone this way or from there. It was a funny read, but it started to get a little redundant about half way through. The recipes were interesting and were the true insight to the deep south. Not sure if I would ever try any of them, but I learned what an aspic is and how to make your own mayo.
Humorous, tongue in cheek book about Deep South funeral food. Many funny stories and lots of great recipes!