Miss Hildreth Wore Brown
By Olivia deBelle Byrd
(Morgan James Publishing, Paperback, 9781600377488, May, 2010, 176pp.)
The Short of It:
If you don’t have any Southern friends, you’ll want some after reading this.
The Rest of It:
Is it possible to be a Southern Belle without having ever stepped foot in the South? No, I didn’t think so, but as I was reading, I saw so much of myself in what Ms. Byrd shared. Each story is short…sometimes VERY short, as in one or two pages long, but no matter how short, she injects humor and charm into each one. Anyone who loves all things Southern, will enjoy it and it’s short enough to pick up and enjoy at your leisure.
Some of the topics you’ll find in this collection:
- The whole debate over wearing white after Labor Day (anyone in their right mind knows that it’s not done, ever!).
- The importance of Chanel No 5, its cost and why you should never tell your husband how much you spend for it.
- How having coffee at a coffee gathering is an absolute necessity and not up for discussion.
- How Thank You cards have gone to the wayside and why they should make a comeback.
Although this is not typically a book I would have sought out on my own, I must say that I enjoyed it quite a bit. The Girl read some of it over my shoulder and although she’s only seven, she laughed at some of the sayings. Especially when I said them with my version of a Southern accent! I had to fix myself some sweet tea after reading it. It was good too!
So if you love everything Southern or know someone who does, this would be a great little book to pick up.
Source: Sent to me by the author.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.
Book Chatter 
I thought this was a fun book, too, and you definitely don’t have to be Southern to relate.
The author’s name is oh-so appropriate for the type of book, don’t you think?
No kidding! She’s got the perfect name!
I am surprised to see you reading this novel, isn’t not your typical read. Confession… I don’t enjoy books set in the south. Isn’t that wierd?
Glad you enjoyed the book!
I know. Totally different from what I normally read. Southern and light. Not two things you hear from my mouth too often. I find Southerners to be incredibly friendly folk but a lot of books set in the South are either too light for me or classified as Chick Lit and you know how I feel about that genre.
This was a book of her own experiences as a Southern Belle so I thought it was interesting.
I just got this book from paperbackswap so I am glad to see it’s so adorable!
I’m sure I could relate to this book!
It sounds fascinating but even more so I love how your daughter is reading behind you…awesome!!!
Oh, this sounds like fun! I’ll be on the lookout for a copy.
I love the stuffy looking cover – very cool.
Ti, I loved the review especially since this is not a book you would ordinarily read and since I am the author 🙂 The first sentence is great. I also love the fact your daughter was reading over your shoulder. Many thanks for your kind words. This new author greatly appreciates them.
Great review of this one, Ti. I enjoyed it and laughed out loud numerous times at her husband’s sayings!!
Also not what I typically read but I have been tempted by this. American Southern is always a big draw for me, something unique in an increasingly homogenized society. And having a Southern grandmother and having inherited a few bits and pieces from her, I can tell you that my favorite scent, Chanel Gardenia, is even more lovely, Southern and expensive than No. 5. Shhh! 🙂
I’ve not tried Chanel Gardenia… it sounds wonderful. I like No 5 but it doesn’t last on me. I prefer 19 but they are changing the formulation (No 19 Poudre) which comes out in the US in Oct. I can’t wait that long 🙂
I really enjoyed this book as well. It had me laughing so many times. It definitely makes me want to be a southern girl though – it sounds like so much fun! I also found the author to be very friendly and personable and I think that goes a long way to adding to the enjoyment of her book.
The author was wonderful. Very charming. My husband’s grandmother was from the South so I got a good taste of “southerness” from her, but I knew her for only a few short years before she passed. I loved listening to her stories though.
I just did an author interview on my blog and am waiting for the book courtesy of the author. Knowledge of the American South is sketchy – I think the only things I picked up about the South was from Golden Girls!
I had forgotten about The Golden Girls! My husband grandmother was southern but I only knew her for a short time before she passed. In that short time I fell in love with the South.
I am going to swing by your blog to check out the interview.
This looks like a perfect summer read. I have a group of friends from growing up that are still my closest friends – one of their parents is from Louisiana and he always calls me the Southern Belle of the group (even though I have never lived even close to the South), haha! I’ll have to read this to see if it’s true!
I’m not sure this is one I’d pick up on my own either, but it sounds really fun. I could use a few laughs these days!
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