Customer Reviews

The Sweet Potato Queens' Book of Love (Running Press Miniature Editions)

5 star:		(232)
4 star:		(35)
3 star:		(14)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(28)

 

 

"The Sweet Potato Queen's Book of Love" will have you calling friends and reading them quotations, which is usually annoying, but in this case will probably make them want to buy their own copy, and I heartily suggest that they do. The Book is at once hilariously funny and utterly sensible. My copy has taken up residence on the shelf along with a few treasured others, to be read and re-read innumerable times in the future.

The Sweet Potato Queens take a bit of explaining. A tradition in the Jackson, Mississippi Saint Patrick's Day parade since 1982, they were founded by the Original and Supreme Queen, author Jill Conner Browne. They are all women of a certain age; past the first bloom of youth, one might say, but proof that you can blossom into something better after. The Queens appear in the parade, waving graciously from their float and tossing trinkets to the adoring crowds. They are easy to spot, traditionally garbed in green sequined mini-dresses (with hugely amplified bosoms and busts), flowing red wigs, Revlon Love That Pink lipstick, and majorette boots. It is often said of the Queens that "[they] turn into someone else when they put those outfits on." Queen Jill responds that they in fact are completely themselves only when they put those outfits on, and this is what the book is hilariously, wisely about; living the life you like, giving yourself what you desire, and having a really good time.

Queen Jill graces the lucky reader with advice on how to live a Queenly life. I could begin quoting the parts that made me laugh, but that would mean copying out the whole book, so I'll simply tell you that The Book is consistently, screamingly funny without ever being mean. You will laugh through advice on child-rearing, getting a man, getting rid of a man, getting over a man, what to do when there's a possum under your bed, and why you never wear panties to a party. And then there's the chapter on "What to Eat When Tragedy Strikes." This is a collection of recipes for people who absolutely do not care, and which are therefor irresistible. Chocolate Stuff. Armadillo Dip. Fat Mama's Knock You Naked Margaritas. A coconut caramel pie simply called "Oh, God!" And Danger Pudding (Boil an unopened can of sweetened condensed milk for an hour. Bear the name in mind before deciding this is a good idea.).

I enjoyed myself so much reading about the Queens, it never dawned on me that I was reading advice until the very end, when Queen Jill tells us that if life seems lifeless, "[you] don't have to move or change jobs or leave your husband or unnaturally alter your state of consciousness. We're not after an altered state; we're after our True State - unbridled joy." Any number of New Agey books have been written on this theme, but none, I think, have succeeded in making it seem as possible as The Book. Browne closes with a quotation from George Eliot: "It is never too late to be what you might have been." Read "The Sweet Potato Queens' Book of Love" and laugh yourself sensible.

Gently reared females are taught that less is more. But females also know that rules were made to be broken, and sometimes you've just got to let your hair down, tease it up, buy yourself a tiara, and strut your stuff in sequins because ... more is so much better!

The Sweet Potato Queens break all the rules with an earthy joie de vivre that is hysterical to read. Since nobody is going to do it for you, appoint yourself the queen of whatever, stock up on comfort food, and read this book. From majorette boots and white girls and suntans to men who may need killing and zippity-doo-dah, I hooted like a loon. I was raised to be prepared, but I never thought of pocket hams. I loved the possum story and the recipes for Chocolate Stuff and Fat Mama's Knock You Naked Margaritas, but my favorite was the one about the mixing bowl. You may not want your mama, if she's prissy, to be reading about making The Promise in spikes and trashy lingerie, but women of a certain age will bust a gut laughing. This is by far the funniest book I've read this year and, believe me, I'll read it again next time I get the blues.

The title made me smile. The cover photo made me grin. But that's nothing compared my response to the real life advice for "ladies of a certain age" that fills the book. I laughed out loud -- and often. But the best thing about the Sweet Potato Queen's book is the fun you get from giving it to a friend. I shared my copy with a special person who I love to laugh with. Since then we have had an ongoing, hilarious dialogue fantasizing new ways to use what we've learned (especially about promising guys what they really want). We think the advice from the Sweet Potato Queens can help us save the world, or at least our small corner of it. It's not often that a book which takes just a couple of hours to read also helps a friendship grow and might well help readers rescue a community from the hands of seemingly ruthless developers. I highly recommend that you buy this book now -- but at the same time you must choose which friend you want to share some ongoing and very funny times with too.

I thought I was the only woman who ever told her spousal unit I only wanted to be put on a pedestal, worshiped and adored, that's all. He thought I was kidding, so I bought a tiara. While he still doesn't get it, I did move up a notch when I whipped up some of Miss Lexie's pineapple casserole. I was thrilled beyond measure when a church friend (or should I say Goddess?) handed me this book and said that I just had to be a Sweet Potato Queen. Well, the cover was amusing, and a few pages into this wonderful book I knew I had received a huge compliment. The naughty but oh so nice Sweet Potato Queens have wisdom and insight for women of a certain age, and deliver it in such a way as to leave the reader laughing out loud (in between rolls on the floor). Not a book to read in public, or possibly to share with your mama. But I've paired it with the latest adventure of the Sweet Potato Queens (God Bless the Sweet Potato Queens!) and found it to be the most marvelous gift to give a friend who already has a twinge of the right attitude. Interestingly enough, it is NOT a regional tome, since Princess Calamity Joan in NEW YAUWK, said "The book almost killed me. I'd get laughing so hard, I'd start wheezing...and then I couldn't breathe at all...and the tears were streaming out my eyes. I'm far too 'edgy' to be a Su'thrun Belle...and at first I thought...Nuts, these gals have a p'tiklar hook on this stuff....and then it dawned on me that the words in the SPQ's tome were words I'd uttered myself years ago, usually to myself, sometimes to other knowing women...and that all these 'insights' are more about the women and less about the geographical location....I'll bet my last dollar that there are SPQ's in Seattle and Sitka!"

So - push that button and order at least a couple of these valuable books, `cause you are going to want to own it as a reference/cookbook and you are gonna want to share the fun with your friends. The Princess Lightning Bolt

Well...Queens Tammy, Tammy, Tammy, Tammy, Tammy, Tammy, Tammy and Jill certainly are crazy as loons. I read this book because of a review in Publishers Weekly which expected Sweet Potato Queens to be the next Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood. Both books revolve around a small group of mischievous southern women who are lifelong friends, and both books are pretty funny. However, as a bookseller, it's going to be a bit hard for one to unconditionally say "If you liked Divine Secrets then you'll love The Sweet Potato Queens..." because the Queens are much more raunchy. I was fine with it, I think a lot of readers who enjoy one will enjoy the other, but there are going to be some who will balk. The Queens' book is also not a novel, but a book of humorous advice, such as why a chainsaw is an excellent wedding gift, and anecdotes such as one that reveals that cooking an unopened can of sweetened condensed milk might be worth risking potential death or dismemberment. You won't be reading this to get a sense of bonding and history among these women like in Divine Secrets but to learn about bawdy fun, relationships from below Hell, and the Queens' cult of personality. If you're the "modern" type who doesn't flinch at R rated humor, you'll probably like this quite well. But if "Divine Secrets" was pushing the limits of your base of comfort out from Jan Karon's Mitford books, then make sure your jawbone can tolerate a lot of drops from shock.

The Sweet Potato Queens...they're southern, sassy, a bit naughty, opinionated, always prepared and they know everything...just ask them. Jill Connor Browne, first queen and Boss of Everything, is gracious enough to not only let us into their world, but also to offer sage advice to all who want to be worshipped and adored. Where else would you find chapters titled: "The True Magic Words Guaranteed to Get Any Man to Do Your Bidding", "What to Eat When Tragedy Strikes, or Just for Entertainment" or 'Men Who May Need Killing, Quite Frankly?" Her writing is hilarious, witty and irreverent and her scenes vivid and laugh-out-loud funny, as you learn the ins and outs of life, love, men and most importantly always being particular. This is a book full of southern insight, wisdom and humor, to read and share and read again. For all not lucky enough to be born in the south, The Sweet Potato Queens' Book of Love will help get us started down the road to true Queendom. Read, learn and enjoy!

My girlfriends and I don't usually agree on the same books, but there are three we do agree on: FRIED GREEN TOMATOES, BARK OF THE DOGWOOD, and THE SWEET POTATO QUEEN'S BOOK OF LOVE. All three are great fun, great reads, and well worth the money.

Also recommended: BARK OF THE DOGWOOD and FRIED GREEN TOMATOES

Although I myself am a southern belle, born and raised in Atlanta, Ga. I had never heard about the elusive Sweet Potato Queens until I happened upon this book. What a find it was! I can't remember the last time I giggled/laughed out loud so much at a book.

The life, love, and food advice given by the leader of the Mississippi Sweet Potato Queens in this tell all book are hilarious if not dead on. I kept imagining the queens walking around in trashy lingerie and cooking up a storm, all the while being intelligent, happy, and well, Queenly.

You get the sense that the author truly knows how to live life to the fullest & she's trying to pass that on through her excellent writing skills. This tome will make you want to liven up your life; or at least whip up one of the heavenly recipes provided.

The Sweet Potato Queens Book of Love is truly a joy to read. Pick one up today; you won't be sorry :)

Pick this book up when you need a good laugh. I started reading about these outrageous women and their antics and almost fell off the couch several times because I was laughing so hard.

The narrator appoints herself "Sweet Potato Queen" at a St. Patrick's Day Parade in Jackson, Mississippi. Her friends agree that such a fabulous idea should be shared and they too become self-appointed queens. The gals all wear unbelieavably proportioned green dresses and white majorette boots. Of course, being a queen is more than looking good, it is a way of life and readers are let in on important secrets such as how to get a man to do whatever you want. I have loaned my copy to a friend and have four more friends waiting in line to read it.

I must say that I was flabbergasted when I read the chapter on "The Promise". I thought my girlfriends and I had invented that concept years ago and here it was in black and white for all the world to see! This book should be required reading for every female upon reaching puberty---to better understand the male mind. These Queens have it all figured out and share "it" with such hilarious results that you'll want to read this book over and over and buy copies for all of your friends. I plan to give my Mama a copy since she's from Mississippi herself and will certainly understand the joie de vivre of the Queens.

The recipes at the end of the book are fabulous and worth the price of the book. I must say my very favorite chapter was the last one, Chapter 14. Us Southern Belles have the concept of doing JackSh** down to an art, but Jill defines it so beautifully that it brought tears to my big brown eyes! Jill, Laissez les bontemps roullez, cher, and keep on keeping on!