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77th out of 317 books
—
513 voters
Being Dead is No Excuse: The Official Southern Ladies Guide to Hosting the Perfect Funeral
Folks in the Delta have a strong sense of community, and being dead is no impediment to belonging to it. Down south, they don't forget you when you've up and died--in fact, they visit you more often. But there are quintessential rules and rituals for kicking the bucket tastefully, and having a flawless funeral is one of them. In this dishy collection of Southern humor and...more
Hardcover, 256 pages
Published
March 16th 2005
by Miramax Books
(first published 2005)
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This book is a lighthearted read, bringing laughs and chuckles and remembrances of recipes all having to do with Southern funerals. The title indicates that "being dead is no excuse to have a poor funeral". So you should plan, be prepared, and make use of the tips and advice from these two Southern ladies. If you are from the Mississippi Delta area, or have family in the deep South, then you will find common ground laughing through chapters like "The Methodist Ladies vs. the Episcopal Ladies" an...more
I could almost give this one a two or 2.5. I liked it OK but not all THAT much. I probably wouldn't have gotten through the entire thing if it hadn't been a book club choice. Yes, it was cute/funny - which sort of equates with "cutesy" which means a little over the top cute, not really QUALITY cute. I guess it's quality cute up to a point but just goes on too long with very, very similar jokes and take-offs on "cutesy" sayings about dying, like "I coulda just died" or a number of others that kee...more
I love etiquette books, and this one had such a unique angle. It's full of recipes, which I probably won't try because I don't like cream of mushroom soup, but I'm exceedingly curious about aspic--tomato juice, horseradish, and unflavored gelatin? Intriguing. Some of it reminded me of Texas, like when you say "pop" instead of "co-cola" and everyone laughs at you and calls you a Yankee. But mostly I liked the funny stories in this book. Like this: "In 1905, Joshua Ridgeway was shot and killed in...more
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Being dead in The South has obligations for both the mourners and the dearly departed. The recentsly Bereaved are responsible for magically summoning food, drinks and compansionship for both the family and themselves. Sadly, it is a culture that is being lost as its accolytes pass on to their own Reward. It wasn't always that way and this book shows why.
Thankfully, this book lays down the basics illustrated by anecdotes and memories. Even better are the old recipes interspersed throughout with...more
Thankfully, this book lays down the basics illustrated by anecdotes and memories. Even better are the old recipes interspersed throughout with...more
In the book Daniel’s Story, the main character describes the horrors of WWII. He narrates how just a few years before the war, if a person died, the whole community mourned, but, as he describes his present situation (no spoilers, but hint, its bad) death was is common as to be unremarked.
That always stuck with me – death is an indicator of the health of the community.
When times are good a person is buried with full pomp and circumstance. When times are bad, bodies are buried in haste, if at al...more
A friend lent this to me after a discussion about similar foods that Midwesterners and Southerners bring to events (green jello molds with cottage cheese on a bed of lettuce).
The book reads like a number of newspaper or magazine columns stitched together; chapters usually start on one subject then suddenly transition to another. It's a little jarring, but, I realized that either these WERE old columns stitched together OR this could very well be how Southern ladies chat (I liked to read some par...more
The book reads like a number of newspaper or magazine columns stitched together; chapters usually start on one subject then suddenly transition to another. It's a little jarring, but, I realized that either these WERE old columns stitched together OR this could very well be how Southern ladies chat (I liked to read some par...more
I'm one of those people who likes to read cookbooks, and this one is one of the best reads ever. (Which reminds me of some other cookbooks I need to reread and review, such as The Lake House Cookbook by Trudie Styler.) I'm not from the Mississippi Delta area, but have lived the small town Southern life ling enough to recognize everything these two ladies are talking about. The work behind the scenes of a funeral is both arduous and hilarious, and having been the "Dead Food Goddess" at my church...more
This is a delightfully hilarious book that is exactly what the title says, complete with delicious recipes appropriate for taking to the home of the bereaved, wakes, or funeral receptions. The voice is pure Mississippi Delta, but anyone, especially if you're from the South, will recognize these people, traditions, and situations surrounding one of the most predictable of life's passages: death. I found myself laughing out loud more than once. The chapter on Episcopalians vs. Methodists was a scr...more
If you're from the South and looking for stories where you spend the entire time saying to yourself, "yep, I can totally see this happening" this book is for you.
It's a very quick read, no more than a 3-4 hours but I kept wanting to reread the stories - they're very funny rather than macabre (it is a book centered around death, after all.) If the other books in the series are as good as this one, I want them all.
Caution to those who buy this book for the recipes - everything is a can of this, a...more
It's a very quick read, no more than a 3-4 hours but I kept wanting to reread the stories - they're very funny rather than macabre (it is a book centered around death, after all.) If the other books in the series are as good as this one, I want them all.
Caution to those who buy this book for the recipes - everything is a can of this, a...more
I loved this book! I'm not sure that anyone who didn't have a connection to the south would enjoy it like I did. I've 'hosted' two southern funerals in the last 16 months and so much of what is written in this book is absolutely true! The first foods brought to the house after my mother died were stuffed eggs and homemade pimiento cheese. The night before the funeral we had beef tenderloin and rosemary new potatoes. In my home town some of the 'rules' have been relaxed a bit but the hospitality...more
While this is clearly a book about a specific subset of women who live in the south (as opposed to a more academic book comparing and contrasting funerary responses of southern women across different socioeconomic and cultural heritages), it is not without it's charms. Chief amongst them being a sense of humor and giving the reader a sense of the community involvement needed to pull off funerals.
The recipes in the book are interesting and show amongst other things, that jello salad (which the a...more
The recipes in the book are interesting and show amongst other things, that jello salad (which the a...more
This is an entertaining cookbook. There are as many stories of Southern to do's and don'ts as there are recipes. The women who wrote this book have quite a sense of humor! This is a good comfort foods cookbook, with many creamy high calorie recipes. Some from scratch and some from a can or box. I'm going to try some of the homemade mayonnaise and mustard recipes. I will be staying away from the aspics though. Even though I lived in Texas, I'm not a Southerner. Vegetables and spices in jello is g...more
I never read so much about aspic (which, despite being Southern to my toes, I have never tried) or Campbell's cream of mushroom soup in my life. Which was kind of the point, I guess. This book is a mixture of funny essays about throwing a funeral in the Mississippi Delta town of Greenville, Mississippi, and recipes for "funeral foods." (Mississippi, by the way, is very fun to type) Some anecdotes had tears of laughter rolling down my cheeks as I recognized familiar idiosyncracies - especially th...more
Feb 24, 2008
Wallace
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
any Southern cook with a sense of humor
Recommended to Wallace by:
Jan Campbell
This book is hilarious IF you are a Southern cook - otherwise, it may be a little ho hum. Coming from a long line of small town Southern cooks, I have seen or eaten many of the dishes, and I am well-schooled in proper funeral etiquette (although I didn't realize I was so well-trained until I read it!). Basically, the book is a guide for hosting a good funeral, from food to flowers to music to receiving guests at the house. Of course, it is written with Southern charm and wit, and it pokes fun at...more
I was laughing so hard at one point my husband thought there was something wrong with me--and I think actually came downstairs to investigate (shocking).
I think it was when I was reading this part (I'm paraphrasing slightly here):
Southern Episcopalians wear their devoutness lightly. Perhaps this is why they are so good at funerals. They know how to mix the casual and the formal, the proper and the relaxed (or perhaps the proper and the highly improper.) No where has this sensibility been better...more
I think it was when I was reading this part (I'm paraphrasing slightly here):
Southern Episcopalians wear their devoutness lightly. Perhaps this is why they are so good at funerals. They know how to mix the casual and the formal, the proper and the relaxed (or perhaps the proper and the highly improper.) No where has this sensibility been better...more
One of my favorite books of all times. It has some SUPER recipes in it but also has some outrageously hysterical stories. I laughed until I cried and absolutely understand these stories. I have many times heard that someone has died and either rushed home from work to fix a casserole or told my husband to go to the freezer and take one out to bake so we can get it to the family by suppertime. It is just a Southern thing. Would not be without this book.
Being neither Southern nor from the Mississippi Delta is no excuse not to be entertained by this little gem. I particularly enjoyed the description of the differences between Methodists and Episcopalians... However, while the recipes are fun to read, if you're vegetarian or -- god forbid - vegan, you'll only want to read, not attempt, most of them. My takeaway - Campbell's soup (creamed varieties), lard, and bacon feature heavily in classic Southern funeral foods, along with aspic (whatever that...more
It is surprising that there aren't more books about funeral etiquette. This book has a wonderful way of discussing etiquette with just enough humor in places to help us remember that death is a normal part of life, without causing feelings of guilt for having such a fun time.
I'm not a big fan of casseroles, so the recipes weren't too helpful for me, but I appreciated the etiquette tips very, very much.
I'm not a big fan of casseroles, so the recipes weren't too helpful for me, but I appreciated the etiquette tips very, very much.
This hilarious book tells about the funerary practices of the South in general and a little Delta town in Mississippi in particular. Chapters like 'I was so embarrased I liketa died' tell-all about the do's and don'ts of funeral ettiquette. I started out reading this silently and alone, but quickly degenerated into "Hey, listen to this." I read the whole second half of the book outloud to my parents.
While the title purports the book to be a guide for Southern Ladies, it is focused on the traditions of The Delta in general and Greeneville in particular.
Those with cholesterol issues are warned to stay away from this book, as it is half cookbook, and the funeral foods of the Delta are quite honestly comfort foods that are likely to cause another funeral. The other half of the book is gossipy comedic tales of Life In The South, which is a genre you either lived through or makes you feel better...more
Those with cholesterol issues are warned to stay away from this book, as it is half cookbook, and the funeral foods of the Delta are quite honestly comfort foods that are likely to cause another funeral. The other half of the book is gossipy comedic tales of Life In The South, which is a genre you either lived through or makes you feel better...more
I loved this book - it is a stitch! This is the only book that I have read on the subject of death and funerals that is funny and enlightening! Great recipes included also! My Book Club members each made a dish and brought it to our August Book Club meeting in my home and we had SUCH a fabulous time and such a terrific feast! I highly recommend it for education, entertainment and recipes!
This is a cute little tale of southern hospitality in the worst of times, at a funeral. It is a quick read. Easy to start and stop. It is full of cute little anecdotes of southern style, and many recipes that should stay in the church basement, or the southern parlour. Some of them you'll recognize, some are pretty outrageous. But it certainly IS interesting.
A friend loaned me this book, wanted me to read it. It's very humorous but also written in the ways of by gone. Great tips on things we can do in daily life to prepare for bad times. "keep your best outfit pressed for a funeral", "keep ingredients on hand to make a meal for a friend in need". All the things our Grandmothers would have done.
Oct 09, 2012
Mysteryfan
added it
The subtitle says it all : The Official Southern Ladies Guide to Hosting the Perfect Funeral. Lots of recipes for dishes I would call Southern comfort food. A fair number mix together sour cream and cheese. It has entertaining anecdotes and stories. I'm tempted to make the Bing cherry and Coca-Cola salad just to see what it tastes like.
I think this book would have been much funnier if I’d actually been to a Southern funeral or lived in the South. Since neither of the above is true, I spent a lot of time shaking my head over all the unspoken rules that people have to follow. I’d never survive in the Delta. And what the heck is tomato aspic anyway?
Southern funeral rituals with kick-in-the-pants-twist! One cannot not properly do anything "Southern" without food taking center court, and so it is with Being Dead is No Excuse. Witty, wry, and it makes me want to be an honorary "Southerner" just so folks can have a good time at my funeral when the time comes!
This was such a fun read! A tongue in cheek guide written for and by ladies of the south in hosting a funeral. Decadent recipes, even more delightful "rules" of southern old society that is delightfully still alive today. You will laugh out loud at the writers description of her uncle returning from the wah-uh.
This book was stocked in the HUMOR aisle at the bookstore, but I think it's more a cookbook (with a few humorous antidotes thrown in for good reading. I recognized many of these recipes from my "growing up years". Sorry to say my family did eat like this (explains the history of diabetes and heart disease). :-)
Gave this one a 3 because of some of the yummy recipes I remember and for the caramel cake one that I want to eventually make.
The etiquette story line was amusing, but not laugh out loud. I can attest that what is written in this book is true and going strong in the south....
The etiquette story line was amusing, but not laugh out loud. I can attest that what is written in this book is true and going strong in the south....
I am not from the Delta but I am from the South. Texans have many of the same traditions and recipes although it is the Baptist women who make the yummy casseroles. Can't wait to make the creamy pimiento cheese a.k.a. southern pate'. Oh, and this is an easy read...I read it in one day!
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