Spit, Scarey Ann, and Sweat Bees: One Thing Leads to Another

by Kathryn Tucker Windham

With sprightly humor and a lifetime spent observing Southern culture, beloved storyteller Kathryn Tucker Windham shares memories of her childhood in Thomasville, Alabama. She affectionately recounts stories about family members, friends, and favorite pastimes.

Spit, Scarey Ann, and Sweat Bees recalls small-town life in the 1920s and '30s, garnished with ruminations about folktales and superstitions. Mrs. Windham recalls how Thurza, the family cook, tucked a wooden match in her hair to cure a headache, and how her father spit in his hat when a rabbit crossed the road. She ponders the origins of old sayings and the creativity of children’s play before television and air conditioning.

One thing leads to another, Mrs. Windham says, ticking off the items she wants us not to forget. In every phrase, the reader hears her voice, almost as if our favorite storyteller was in the room.

Genres: Southern

112 pages, Hardcover

First published April 24, 2009

About the author

Kathryn Tucker Windham was an American storyteller, author, photographer, and journalist.

Windham got her first writing job at the age of 12, reviewing movies for her cousin's small town newspaper, The Thomasville Times. She earned a B.A. degree from Huntingdon College in 1939. Soon after graduating she became a reporter for the Alabama Journal. Starting in 1944 she worked for The Birmingham News. In 1946 she married Amasa Benjamin Windham with whom she had three children. In 1956 she went to work at the Selma Times-Journal where she won several Associated Press awards for her writing and photography. A collection of her photographs is on display at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts. She died on June 12, 2011. The 2004 documentary film, Kathryn: The Story of a Teller, directed by Norton Dill, chronicles Windham's life and varied careers.

Reviews

[Wendy Eskew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating lady

Mrs. Windham was such a wonderful author. These stories from her life give us a glimpse of bygone times. A must for all her fans!

[Karen Beck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kathryn wrote the coolest little memoir books...memories of a simpler time-she was born in 1918.

Here's what she had to say about housework...

My mother excelled at many things, but housekeeping ranked low on her list of interests.

My older sister used to laugh at watching Mother hurry to the front door to greet company, dusting with her petticoat as she went.

She considered ironing a waster of time. 'Just shake the garment out and walk fast', was her advice.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

2015 Pop Sugar Reading Challenge - Book set in your hometown
I went with home state, since that seemed to be as close as I was going to get. This book felt like sitting down to talk to my grandmother. The stories were wonderful and transported you to another time, if you could follow through all the detours and side tracks it took to arrive at your final destination.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kathryn Tucker Windham's book is charming as hers always are. Her stories of her childhood in the rural South evoke feelings of a simpler time when life moved at a slower pace and families and neighbors were closer.

[Katherine P · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful little book on Southern superstitions told through the eyes of a child growing up in Depression in small town Alabama. Sweet and funny.

Full review: http://iwishilivedinalibrary.blogspot...

[Carla Jean]

A very sweet book from one of Alabama's favorite storytellers

[Angelina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Kathryn Tucker Windham and I can't wait to listen to her tell stories again in person again.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Kathryn Tucker Windham. I've never had the pleasure of hearing her in person, but I've loved her recordings, so it was easy to imagine her voice with each of these tales.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this cute little book. Literally takes 2 hours to read