Suddenly Southern : A Yankee's Guide to Living in Dixie

Rating:
Summary: ¿The Ugly American¿ Syndrome Persists
Review: For decades Europe suffered from "The Ugly American" - a caricature built on the reality of a boisterous, loud, uncultured, unsophisticated, arrogant, insensitive American tourist. Unfortunately, the Southern US has suffered the same fate for over a century.

Maureen Duffin-Ward has released a chatty and, at times, witty tome for usurped Yankees spouses who move down south. However, the undercurrent of her writing, like that of her radio spot and newspaper column does nothing but perpetrate negative stereotypes of Southerners as backward, slow, white trash compared to Northern counterparts. Thus, "The Ugly American" syndrome persists as she expects Raleigh to mirror Philly, the same as an Ugly American tourist expects Paris to mirror Trenton, NJ. Cultural variations exist in the South, yes, as they do all over the United States. I'm sure Caribou, Maine is quite different than Philadelphia. Ditto the difference between Raleigh, NC and New Orleans. However, neither is exemplified by stereotypical caricatures.

For the record, Raleigh and most of North Carolina has lattes, bagels and the same chain stores as those "up Nawth." We also watch the same TV shows, listen to the same music. My hairstylist has never given me a bouffant. The population represents a wide ethnicity. Duffin-Ward should saunter down to Historic Oakwood Cemetery and look at the Jewish monuments dating from the 1830's. Why the knee-jerk reaction that we are all hicks?

If the word "southerner" was replaced with "African- American" or any other ethnic group, this book would immediately be branded racist. I still ponder why such stereotyping, as done by Maureen Duffin-Ward and others, remains acceptable. Perhaps Maureen should spend some time with Florence King, whose presence still remains in the hallowed halls of the News and Observer in Raleigh.

Rating:
Summary: Funny and Right on the Mark
Review: Having grown up in both Texas and Delaware, I thought the book rang true and was very,very funny!It's the type of witty writing and real life observations that kept me glued to the book and had me laughing out loud at least once on every page. Way to go Ms Duffin-Ward. Can't wait to read your next one.

Rating:
Summary: Fido on my Mind!
Review: Out of nowhere I just started laughing again today at the picture in my mind of "Fido" and the Southern cat in Suddenly Southern. Been down here too long to say "pecan" the old way but this book brought back all the wonderful memories of trying to make new friends and learn a new land. It's just plain funny on every page. From the "Plantations are us" application to "Don't You be my Neighbor" this one you just "gotta" read.