How have I missed the Sweet Potato Queens? Why have I not
read any of the half-dozen best-selling books? How have I missed being a member
of one of the 5300 fan clubs worldwide? Here’s a clue. On page 53 of the soon-to-be-best-selling
The Sweet Potato Queens’ Guide to Raising Children for Fun and Profit, author
Jill Conner Browne speaks directly to me, the reader, in these terms: “…as you
might assume (you being a right-thinking woman, of course).” Suddenly, I felt
even more left out.
As a non-woman (and potentially not right-thinking either),
I primarily picked up the new book in the interests of a good friend (and
regular reader of this column) who just celebrated her first Christmas with a
new baby boy. What might she learn from this humorous “how to”? How might it
lighten the load of freshly minted motherhood? What’s in store for her and her
brood over the next 18 years and beyond?
Browne is, of course, first and foremost a humorist, and in
the introduction here, she denies even the faintest aspirations of being the
next Benjamin Spock or T. Berry Brazelton: “This book is not intended to be a
full statement or even a half-assed smattering of any actual scientifically
tested methodology for the rearing of children — and yes the author does know
that children are reared, corn is raised — even the title is a joke, guys.” But
despite the disclaimer, Browne elsewhere seems firm in what works and what
doesn’t, what’s appropriate and what’s not. To “scholarly books,” which offer
“the same lame advice” about how expectant fathers might feel “left out” and
about how “special care must be taken to soothe them and help them to rise
above this,” Browne has one word: “boof … hoo.” To the “so-called ‘experts’ in
child rearing who tell you to put your baby in a dark room by itself and let it
scream itself to sleep — in the name of ‘learning to calm itself,’” she
replies, “Here’s what I think: I think they are totally full of s… and they are
the meanest assholes ever to draw breath.”
If you didn’t catch on from the cussing, she’s pretty
adamant in her opinions.
Beyond the R-rated words, however, Browne actually makes
some good points about each of these topics, drawing throughout the book on
common sense, her own experiences as a mother and the anecdotes shared by other
Queens: Cheryl, Jessica, Tammy, Ramona … the list goes on. And so do the areas
of wisdom.
Browne offers all of this up with her trademark neo-folksy
humor, complete with some uniquely conversational stylings: the occasionally
explicit language, a tendency toward rampant CAPITALIZATION and even more
rampant italicization, and an indulgence of cute spellings for everyday words
and phrases. But if you’re already a fan — and many, many are — then … well, I
don’t have to tell you what to do.
Browne will appear at The Regulator Bookshop in Durham on
Thursday evening, Jan. 17. Bring some attitude. It’ll be fun.
Guides To The Great
Outdoors
Christmas dinner and New Year’s Eve are behind us — as are
the indulgences associated with each holiday. Ahead of us: The question of
whether we can truly keep those New Year’s Resolutions — some of them likely
related to those holiday indulgences.
Perhaps anticipating readers’ needs to get out of the house
and back into shape, a trio of books on hiking arrived in my mailbox late last
year, each offering in its own way a “how to” guide to this increasingly
popular activity: where and when to go, what to wear and what to take with you,
even how to stay safe and be courteous while using the trails.
Allen de Hart, who lives near Louisburg, NC, and has written
nine books about hiking and backpacking through the Southeastern US, has
recently completed a second edition of his popular guidebook Trails of the
Triangle. The new edition offers information on more than 400 hikes within a
50-mile radius of the Triangle, and for those interested in hearing firsthand
tales of the trails, de Hart himself will be speaking about the book on Tuesday
evening, Jan. 8, at the Cary Barnes & Noble.
Joe Miller, the “Take It Outside” columnist for the Raleigh
News & Observer, offers 100 Classic Hikes in North Carolina in a lavishly
illustrated edition that features full-color photos and topographical maps. A
great buy for some top trails.
And if taking your pet is a plus, Karen Chávez — a former
park ranger who now works as an editor for the Asheville Citizen-Times —
explores Best Hikes with Dogs: North Carolina, covering 51 routes from the
mountains to the coast. In addition to general information, Chávez also discusses
pet permits and regulations, canine trail etiquette and even special health
concerns for dogs on a trek.
Each guide offers its own set of “how to” basics suitable
for beginning hikers, but also includes information even the most seasoned vet
might find useful.
NEW AND NOTEWORTHY
While January’s calendar of readings, signings and literary
events is traditionally slower than other months, several area booksellers are
welcoming big names in upcoming weeks:
• Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Geraldine Brooks follows
up her highly praised historical novel March with People of the Book about
intrigue surrounding a legendary 600-year-old Jewish prayer book; she’ll be
coming to Raleigh’s Quail Ridge Books on Saturday evening, Jan. 12, and to
Durham’s Regulator Bookshop on Sunday afternoon, Jan. 13.
• Much-loved cookbook author Jean Anderson, author of A Love
Affair with Southern Cooking (recently named one of Epicurious’ top 10
cookbooks of 2007), appears at the Cary Barnes & Noble on Sunday afternoon,
Jan. 13.
• Frye Gaillard discusses Prophet From Plains: Jimmy Carter
and his Legacy on Wednesday evening, Jan. 16, at Quail Ridge Books.
• Warren Rochelle sets his fantasy novel Harvest of
Changelings in nearby Garner — and discusses it at Quail Ridge on Friday evening,
Jan. 18.
• Two batches of North Carolina poets read from their works
at Quail Ridge: David Manning (The Flower Sermon), Sara Claytor (Reviving the
Damsel Fish) and Phyllis Jean Green (Above and Below) on Sunday afternoon, Jan.
13, and Becky Gibson (Need-Fire), Barbara Presnell (Piece Work) and Maureen
Sherbondy (After the Fairy Tale) on Sunday afternoon, Jan. 27.
• Pulitzer Prize-winning author Edwin Yoder reads from his
novel, Lions at Lambs House, on Friday evening, Jan. 25, at Quail Ridge.
• Local novelists Phil Bowie (Diamondback), Tim Downs
(First the Living) and JD Rhoades (Safe and Sound) discuss mystery writing on
Monday evening, Jan. 28, at the Cary Barnes & Noble.
• Michael Lee West, author of Crazy Ladies and Mad Girls In
Love, presents his new novel, Mermaids in the Basement, on Monday evening, Jan.
28, at Quail Ridge and again on Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 30, at the Country
Bookshop in Southern Pines.
• And best-selling novelist Rita Mae Brown brings The
Purrfect Murder, her latest Sneaky Pie Brown mystery, to McIntyre’s Books in
Fearrington on Wednesday evening, Jan. 30.