An enjoyable collection essays that were perfect for picking up over a few weekends.

A little too much name dropping; it took away from the story eventually. A good book; I just kept thinking "Half these stories/situations were only possible because this author was born into such a privileged social circle." I don't think being privileged is a sin or anything, but I just couldn't relate as well I do to authors that come from a similar background to mine (read: not born into American aristocracy). Anyway, well worth a read; I think if I hadn't just read a similar book that I liked better, I would have enjoyed it a little more.

I won an ARC of this book on Goodreads. Having lived for a few years in the south, and being a fan of southern culture, I had high hopes. However, it appears I am in the minority. I found the various essays to be scattered in train of thought. Each story seemed interspersed with yet other stories, that detracted (to me) from the original story the author was trying to convey. It felt very disjointed and distracting.

I got into this one looking for a cultural account of the South for a change, instead of a historical viewpoint. I wanted local colour and local colour I got. It was as foreign as I expected, often to the point of downright alien. Alligator cheesecake, really?
Reed is supposed to be hilarious. To me, she was far more often baffling than funny. Things like the vapid wielding of privilege or the phrase "my good friend *insert minor celebrity here*" get old quick. Sadly, there comes a point where you've got to wonder whether you really care what the white lady wearing a "full-blown Indian headdress" (sic) to Thanksgiving has to say about culture. Marie-Antoinette called and she wants her tone deafness back.

I did enjoy reading many of the essays in this book, particularly the ones about animals and the ones about food (and the few that touched upon both topics). What I didn't enjoy so much were all the parties. Sure, it's fun to live vicariously through someone going to some decadent shindig with fountains of alcohol and people dressed in feathers. But it got to being a little repetitive.