From the wickedly hilarious pen of Southern humorist Celia Rivenbark comes a collection of essays that brings to mind Dave Barry (in high heels) or Jeff Foxworthy (in a prom dress).

Step into the wacky world of “womanless wedding” fund-raisers, in which Bubbas wear boas. Meet two sisters who fight rural boredom by washing Budweiser cans and cutting them into pieces to make clothing. Learn why the word snow sends any right-thinking Southerner careening to the Food Lion for extra loaves of bread and little else.

Humor columnist and slightly crazed belle-by-birth Celia Rivenbark tackles these and other lard-laden subjects in Bless Your Heart, Tramp, a hilarious look at Southern—and just plain human—foibles, up-close and personal.
So pour yourself a glass of sweet tea and curl up on the pie-azza with Bless Your Heart, Tramp.

-Goodreads

This book is a collection of small southern town newspaper columns turned chapters, divided into three sections the book was a quick and easy read. I read it in two sittings, laughed multiple times, and stayed humored throughout.

There is a lot of funny truths in this book, but the humor can come across a little forced at times. Rivenbark would take the humor a little too far instead of letting it stand on it’s own, as if she didn’t trust the reader to know when something was funny or not. We would have found plenty of humor without her forcing it. That however, is the biggest criticism of this book. It’s a fun, witty book about day to day life and funny southern ways. I found myself relating to parts and being flabbergasted by others.

I love books with a southern slant, and though this book isn’t typically what I have in mind, when I saw my mother bent over cackling over it I wanted to steal it from her. I didn’t quite laugh like she did, but I know that a few people did, so that’s another things to keep in mind. Humor is very subjective.

All in all it was a nice little quick read and I don’t regret the few hours I spent on it, but I’m not overly eager to pick up it’s sequel. I do have to say that I really enjoyed toting around a book with this title. Just for the looks.

I give this book three out of five stars.