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From Manhattan to Mississippi: A New Yorker Falls in Love With the South
When Daisy left the razzle-dazzle of New York City to move to Mississippi, she took a huge leap of faith.
Daisy Karam-Read, an urbanite to the core, thrived on Manhattan's fast tempo and glamour, and never anticipated living in a sleepy southern town. Marriage to the southern gentleman of her dreams brought her abruptly to Mississippi, casting this international travel-loving Yankee into a cpmplex culture unlike anything she had ever known.
Could all the negative remarks, bad jokes, and insensitive comments Karem-Read had heard about the South -and Mississippi in particular- be true? Daisy takes the reader on an emotional and intellectual journey while uncovering many truths about an often misunderstood region. Her entertaining essays are a must-read for southerners and Yankees alike, perhaps an eye-opener for all Americans.
Daisy Karam-Read, an urbanite to the core, thrived on Manhattan's fast tempo and glamour, and never anticipated living in a sleepy southern town. Marriage to the southern gentleman of her dreams brought her abruptly to Mississippi, casting this international travel-loving Yankee into a cpmplex culture unlike anything she had ever known.
Could all the negative remarks, bad jokes, and insensitive comments Karem-Read had heard about the South -and Mississippi in particular- be true? Daisy takes the reader on an emotional and intellectual journey while uncovering many truths about an often misunderstood region. Her entertaining essays are a must-read for southerners and Yankees alike, perhaps an eye-opener for all Americans.
112 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 19, 2009
I DON’T KNOW if there was a single moment when I let go of the homesickness and embraced Mississippi. Perhaps it was that first spring, when, amazed by the sudden appearance of fuchsia azaleas in full bloom, I walked to my front yard mailbox. A sandy-haired boy about ten years old, straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting, was lying on the limb of a tree.
Half obscured by the leaves, he eyed me with friendly curiosity. “Hi,” he said, with a winning smile, not moving from his perch. I was disarmed. Coming upon a boy in this way may be nothing special to a rural Mississippian, but I had seen meetings like this only in Frank Capra movies.
My beguilement with the quirkiness of Mississippians, however, probably happened more gradually. I was surprised that the most accomplished Mississippians hold on to their earthy qualities. Some, even as adults, retain improbable childhood nicknames such as Doodles, Tootie, Fofo, Squattsy, Sankie, and Bootsie. One unbearably hot June evening shortly before our wedding, Jerry’s longtime friend Frank Hunger was coming to New Orleans, and we were looking forward to seeing him. A Mississippi native, he is a man of many achievements, and at the time was the head of the Civil Division of the Justice Department.
I learned a lot about Mississippi that I had once taken for granted of before I read this captivating book written by Daisy Karam Read.
Half obscured by the leaves, he eyed me with friendly curiosity. “Hi,” he said, with a winning smile, not moving from his perch. I was disarmed. Coming upon a boy in this way may be nothing special to a rural Mississippian, but I had seen meetings like this only in Frank Capra movies.
My beguilement with the quirkiness of Mississippians, however, probably happened more gradually. I was surprised that the most accomplished Mississippians hold on to their earthy qualities. Some, even as adults, retain improbable childhood nicknames such as Doodles, Tootie, Fofo, Squattsy, Sankie, and Bootsie. One unbearably hot June evening shortly before our wedding, Jerry’s longtime friend Frank Hunger was coming to New Orleans, and we were looking forward to seeing him. A Mississippi native, he is a man of many achievements, and at the time was the head of the Civil Division of the Justice Department.
I learned a lot about Mississippi that I had once taken for granted of before I read this captivating book written by Daisy Karam Read.
March 19, 2011
I was very disappointed with this book. The title suggests that you will read about the woman's experience adjusting to the South, but instead you read about how much she loves the south 7 years later. As a northerner who moved to Mississippi a year ago, I was looking forward to reading about how another northern female adjusted.
Also, I found many of her claims about "mississippians" to be completely inaccurate - probably because she is writing about her experiences on the coast, while I am living in northern Mississippi.
Also, I found many of her claims about "mississippians" to be completely inaccurate - probably because she is writing about her experiences on the coast, while I am living in northern Mississippi.
May 4, 2019
Having lived in Mississippi all my life, it was refreshing to read a book that depicts life here in a positive light, especially from an outsider and a Yankee at that.
However, her experience of Southern women and Southern activities aren't true of all who live here. Some of us, live quietly without all the socialite hullabaloo. We rear our boys to be gentlemen knowing it's becoming a lost cultural standard.
I love my Mississippi. We haven't always done things rightly but we are people of hospitality and pride.
However, her experience of Southern women and Southern activities aren't true of all who live here. Some of us, live quietly without all the socialite hullabaloo. We rear our boys to be gentlemen knowing it's becoming a lost cultural standard.
I love my Mississippi. We haven't always done things rightly but we are people of hospitality and pride.
January 29, 2008
This is a collection of essays written by a woman who'd spent her life living in New York and L.A. She lived a very "Sex and the City" life until she met the man of her dreams and moved to Mississippi. She writes about the charm of our home state. I've enjoyed it immensely.
January 7, 2010
Very quick read full of wonderful things about Mississippi. It brought back great memories from my childhood growing up on the Coast. Daisy's observations of life on the Coast and Mississippi rang true with me.
August 23, 2014
This was a very informative read that I thoroughly enjoyed! I loved the short stories about the people the author met and the many unique places she had visited. This book made me want to drop everything and go straight to Mississippi!
October 14, 2008
nice to read something kind about the southern lifestyle. light & refreshing.
May 17, 2009
Daisy is a friend and writes well on her transformation from Manhattan to a small town in the South.
May 11, 2010
Gives a pretty good perspective on life in the South and definitely Daisy tells it like it is about charming southern men!
December 4, 2012
Great little book whether you are from Mississippi or not!
June 18, 2018
A wonderful perspective of a New Yorker and how she acclimated to the Deep South and loved it!
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July 29, 2008The first line of this book is "You're moving where?" I cannot begin to tell you how many times I have heard that! Found this in the old fashioned bookstore in Oxford. The feel of that places reminds me of Autumn Leaves in Ithaca. I think I will be a regular there!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews