A Red State of Mind: How a Catfish Queen Reject Became a Liberty Belle [Hardcover]

Nancy French (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 9, 2006

A columnist for the "Philadelphia Daily News," Nancy French blends her hilarious fish-out-of-water tale with humorous observations about the South's obsession with everything from church attendance to the blue-state notion that red staters think as slowly as they speak.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Mix red paint and blue paint and the result is purple. Plunk one red-state failed beauty queen down in the heart of urbanely sophisticated blue territory and you get a woman who is nearly purple with dismay over the perceived "godless liberalism" she is forced to endure. Born and raised in the quintessential Southern hamlet of Paris, Tennessee, French embraces conservative politics and devout Christianity as fervently as hush puppies and Friday night football; but when her husband's career relocates them to New York and on to other cities in the Northeast, French is suddenly confronted with people who not only talk differently than she does, they also believe in religions, politics, and ways of life anathema to her own. From school prayer to recycling, natural childbirth to homeland security, French's amusing series of essays recounts how one Southern belle deals with her regional, social, and political culture shock in the midst of daily opprobrium. Carol Haggas
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author

Nancy French is the author of A Red State of Mind: How a Catfish Queen Reject Became a Liberty Belle, which will be released by Hachette Book Group USA in October 2006. She began her writing career as a Philadelphia City Paper columns tackling politics, religion, and culture with a light humorous touch; her articles have also appeared in The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Daily News.

She is an alumna of David Lipscomb University and New York University, where she studied English and philosophy. In addition to book writing, she is also co-founder of the grassroots political websites EvangelicalsforMitt.com and TNforMitt.com. Nancy, her husband David, and their two children live in Columbia Tennessee - home of a week long April festival celebrating mules. They attend Zion Presbyterian Church.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Center Street; 1 edition (October 9, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1931722889
• ISBN-13: 978-1931722889
• Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 0.9 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,472,603 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Nancy French grew up in Paris, Tennessee - home of the World's Biggest Fish Fry - but has since lived in Center City Philadelphia and the Gramercy area of Manhattan.

She began her writing career as a Philadelphia City Paper columnist tackling many subjects with a light, humorous touch; her articles have appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer, The New York Sun, Newsmax, the Philadelphia Daily News, and National Review Online. An alumna of David Lipscomb University and New York University, Nancy now has moved back south, but this time to Columbia, Tennessee - the Mule Capital of the World - where she lives with her husband, writing collaborator, and co-conspirator David French, and their three children.

She is the author of the new book "Home and Away: A Story of Family in a Time of War" and "Red State of Mind: How a Catfish Queen Reject Became a Liberty Belle." Recently, she collaborated with Bristol Palin on her new memoir, "Not Afraid of Life: My Journey So Far."

Nancy is the editor of SixSeeds.tv, a pop culture-focused magazine for parents, as well as a columnist and speaker. Follow her on her website www.NancyFrench.com, on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/NancyAndersonFrench and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/NancyAFrench.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Like a great dinner party October 26, 2006

By Kyliegirl

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I loved this book. I'm a lifelong Blue-stater who has been turning off the news for the past six years because I just can't bear to watch. But this book reminded me of my dream of hosting fabulous dinner parties where people talk about what really matters. In this book, Nancy shares what really matters to her, and whether you agree or disagree with her choices isn't the point, because (huge sigh of relief here) she isn't trying to convince us. She tries to make us laugh, and succeeds. Because of this, I'm giving her the ultimate non-fiction compliment: she reminds me of a right-wing Anne Lammott :)

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A book even a Northerner can enjoy November 11, 2006

By Carol R. Cool

Format:Hardcover

Nancy French is downright funny. She has such a quirky way of viewing everyday events. I don't always agree with her politics, but I can understand her desire not to be seen as a stereotype. We are all more complex individuals than our labels suggest. Nancy's book can help you recognize the need to get to know people who think differently, and you're laughing so hard you don't realize you're learning. A great read.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Too close to home, but worth every penny October 21, 2006

By Christine Hargrove

Format:Hardcover

Nancy French's account of, well, her life will absolutely enthrall you on every page. She grew up in Paris, Tennessee, moved to NYC, back to Kentucky, to Philly, and back to Tennessee. She talks about marriage, motherhood, politics, fire, rock stars, the Constitution, and more, all while making you laugh and, at points, making you cry.

If you've ever been displaced, have a read through this book. If you're a conservative living in liberal territory (or vice-versa), this book will be better than a year of therapy. This book was a bit like making a new friend--one who really, truly understands. Her frank discussion of being a stranger in a strange land usually makes you laugh and always gives you insight, and perhaps some brevity, into your own struggles.

You won't be sorry you bought this book--you'll just be sorry that the sequel isn't out yet!