A Red State of Mind: How a Catfish Queen Reject Became a Liberty Belle (Hardcover)

by Nancy French (Author)
Key Phrases: indigo child, blue states, red states, New York, Liberty Bell, President Bush (more...)

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

Product Description
The heartland's answer to Sarah Vowell and David Rakoff, Nancy French tells it like it is--one laugh-out-loud anecdote after another about a red state American's experiences living in the blue states.

For the first 20 years of her life, all Nancy French knew of the world was Paris--Paris, Tennessee, that is. When the former homecoming queen trades in cow-tipping, big hair, and the Catfish Capital of the World for a new life in the Big Apple, she is in for a real education. With a keen sense of humor, French discusses everything from the South's obsession with church attendance to the blue-state notion that red staters think as slowly as they speak.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Center Street; 1 edition (October 9, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1931722889
• ISBN-13: 978-1931722889
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #256,242 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious!, October 12, 2006

By	Betty - See all my reviews

If you like to laugh, you will enjoy this book--it doesn't matter if you are red, yellow, black, white or blue--Ms. French's commentary on diversity in America will have you rolling on the floor.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book!!, January 11, 2007

By	D. Preston "non-reader" (Kentucky) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

A wonderful glimpse at the subtle (and not so subtle) cultural differences in our country. Mostly funny, but with some serious points, and relevant throughout. I would recommend this book to anyone.

7 of 9 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 "www.carolcool.com" (Bear, DE USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.