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The Bitter Southerner Reader
The Bitter Southerner Reader, Vol. 1
A collection of our favorite stories from 2013 and 2014, the first 17 months of The Bitter Southerner's existence.
- GenresEssaysNonfiction
272 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 30, 2018
This review might be a little more personal than my average book review here, so apologies in advance.
Although I'm fairly well-traveled, I have lived in Georgia all my life. As I get older (I'm nearly 60), my identity as a Southerner seems to grow stronger. I love the physical beauty around me, I love the food and the culture (which has contributed so much to America's culture),and I love the people, who can be so kind as individuals, even when they are collectively acting cruelly and ignorantly. At the same time, my exasperation, and sometimes horror, with my region and my fellow Southerners increases exponentially. Being a thoughtful, self-reflective person can be a strange and difficult proposition in this reactionary place where reasoning and knowledge seem less valued every day, and where the principles of religion are routinely ignored even while religious devotion is loudly proclaimed. A quote from this book, by John Edge, founder of the Southern Foodways Alliance, perfectly sums up how I feel about being a Southerner: "I love this place and I'm genuinely, viscerally, every damn day of my life pissed off at this place, too."
So when Chuck Reece started the online magazine The Bitter Southerner, I embraced it enthusiastically. From its inception in 2013, it has been devoted to exploring "the duality of the Southern Thing," as Patterson Hood put it in the website's inaugural essay. The Bitter Southerner celebrates what is best about the South while aggressively challenging what is worst about our region. This collection from the site's first year and a half has some wonderful essays, many of which take unexpected turns. Some of the pieces are better than others, of course, but I found myself deeply moved over and over as I read. The South has plenty of villains, but also some unexpected heroes, like John Edge, Lorena Weeks, Doug Seegers, and Killer Mike. I encourage every Southerner and anyone curious about the state of South to check out this collection and the rest of The Bitter Southerner.
Although I'm fairly well-traveled, I have lived in Georgia all my life. As I get older (I'm nearly 60), my identity as a Southerner seems to grow stronger. I love the physical beauty around me, I love the food and the culture (which has contributed so much to America's culture),and I love the people, who can be so kind as individuals, even when they are collectively acting cruelly and ignorantly. At the same time, my exasperation, and sometimes horror, with my region and my fellow Southerners increases exponentially. Being a thoughtful, self-reflective person can be a strange and difficult proposition in this reactionary place where reasoning and knowledge seem less valued every day, and where the principles of religion are routinely ignored even while religious devotion is loudly proclaimed. A quote from this book, by John Edge, founder of the Southern Foodways Alliance, perfectly sums up how I feel about being a Southerner: "I love this place and I'm genuinely, viscerally, every damn day of my life pissed off at this place, too."
So when Chuck Reece started the online magazine The Bitter Southerner, I embraced it enthusiastically. From its inception in 2013, it has been devoted to exploring "the duality of the Southern Thing," as Patterson Hood put it in the website's inaugural essay. The Bitter Southerner celebrates what is best about the South while aggressively challenging what is worst about our region. This collection from the site's first year and a half has some wonderful essays, many of which take unexpected turns. Some of the pieces are better than others, of course, but I found myself deeply moved over and over as I read. The South has plenty of villains, but also some unexpected heroes, like John Edge, Lorena Weeks, Doug Seegers, and Killer Mike. I encourage every Southerner and anyone curious about the state of South to check out this collection and the rest of The Bitter Southerner.
January 18, 2018
Outstanding collection of articles and essays (and one story) about the south. These all originally appeared on www.bittersoutherner.com , a great website featuring said stories about the south and by mostly southern writers. A quick and pleasurable read for anyone interested in modern southern culture. The online magazine is based in Clarkston, GA in the Metro Atlanta area.
February 24, 2018
A beautiful collection of essays from one of my most favorite websites.
March 15, 2021
Interesting series of essays, not all of them worked for me, but definitely something there for most readers
February 24, 2020
I throughly enjoyed every story in this book. I would have preferred to have skipped the chimpanzee (the only fictional one in collection) I was transported to different times of my life in the South. I was made proud, ashamed, hopeful and to laugh out loud so many times. I am reaching for volume 2 immediately.
October 13, 2020
Great collection of essays and stories by people with personal knowledge and experiences to share about aspects and citizens of the South that are beyond the stereotypes. These stories are also shared on their digital platform along with photos and films, and there are more annual Readers available. I much admire the people doing this project.
January 6, 2019
Great collection of essays about the South, various Southerners, aspects of the South and being Southern.
January 17, 2019
I love what the Bitter Southern stands for.
July 12, 2020
Charming collection of beautiful stories about the south.
December 12, 2020
The article about Truman Capote’s aunt (aka the Fruitcake Lady on Leno) is reason enough to read this whole book.
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June 15, 2021A good collection of writing, but the most important note is that the definition of the South being “where people say y’all” is solid.
November 17, 2021
Heartbreaking, funny, charming.
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January 3, 2022As with all collections- I liked some more than others. Mostly good 👍
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews