Being Dead Is No Excuse: The Official Southern Ladies Guide to Hosting the Perfect Funeral

Great take on a Southern Funeral … my husband and I actually drive to the cemetery and looked for different headstones.. we did see some of the ‘family’ names. But we were so intrigued and laughed as I would read parts of the book out loud. Wish we could have met the author while there in town..Great book, funny… I’ve even bought copies for friends…. !!!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️++

Should be entitled Ladies Survival Manual . So much truthiness between the covers of this book! I’ve bought many copies and given to my friends. Don’t leave one on your coffee table it might disappear when your guest leaves! Definitely delightful and humorous antedotes and delicious recipes as well as tips for getting through those situations we would prefer to pass, but have no way of escaping! Know what I mean, Vern? I’m 86 y/o and have this book on my bedside table. It’s THAT good! Liz

love the book and so did daughter and granddaughters. We have given it as gifts . the recipes are great and the Vodka cake is to die for!

I really enjoyed the Southern humor in this book. The comparison between the funeral traditions within the various denominations was hilarious. Having said that, I think some of the content was a bit too specific to the Greenville Mississippi locale to be enjoyed by audiences from other parts of the South.I think the book could have been made much better (and worth the price) with some well done final product photos of the dish being described in the recipe. Not being familiar with all the old fashioned dishes such as congealed salad and aspic, it is difficult to envision what the final outcome should/would be.The format of this book reminded me more of a local Junior League or PTA cookbook of compiled recipes often used as fund raisers, with some anecdotes thrown into the mix. The editing was not the best either as I found the same hash brown potato and corn flake recipe in two different chapters. Maybe a wiser purchase in e-book format.

Love this book so much I have purchased other copies to share. I was reminded of my own childhood visits to my grandmother's house. The book brought back the memories of my relatives talking and the marvelous food. Tomato Aspic has been lost to the ages, but I intend on bringing it back. It's a quick read and simply delightful. Thank you, ladies, from the bottom of my heart.

Gayden's book is beyond a cookbook---it brings to mind that culture that we lived and actually are still living in the South. A Yankee friend said she just "couldn't relate" to the book. Poor thing. I guess it just takes a Southern lady of a "certain age" to fully appreciate the authenticity of Gayden Metcalfe's descriptions of our funeral protocol!Even when reading it all alone, I laughed right out loud on nearly every page at not only Gayden's wit, but her ability to let us see the funny side (and caring side) of our funerals and the food solace we provide before and after. It captures those customs perfectly. And, just as she said, I keep the ingredients of a casserole in my pantry at all times, just in case of a neighbor's sudden death, and my funeral suit hangs in the closet and my pearls at the top of my jewelry chest, at the ready.I always sent my sons to church in suits and ties anyway, but I did this partly so they too would be ready for a funeral at the drop of a hat. More than once, we'd have to outfit a cousin because his mother didn't understand this, bless her heart.Gayden's recipes are grand, really dressed up versions of our "funeral food." No Cheese Wiz is included, thank goodness.I particulary laughed at this truth: After the cemetery part of the funeral, in the car on the way to the family home for the funeral meal, we can speak ill of the dead one quite vigorously. But once we get in the driveway of the bereaved, we straighten up and speak only of the great loss to the community his death has caused, even though he had been a rip-roaring scoundrel.And even in the privacy of our car, understand that each criticism of the dead one had been prefaced with "Bless his heart. . ."A Southern lady can give the most scathing statement as long as she begins with "Bless her heart. . ." An example, "Bless her heart, she's ugly as homemade soap and her children are such a disappointment. They all take after her grand-daddy on her mother's side, and bless his heart, I wouldn't pour ice tea on that rascal if he was on fire." Of course, we wouldn't do that at the family home after the funeral, only in the car on the way to it.And we could get away with saying that to her third cousin once removed over the bridge table, but we wouldn't say it to her face. But we could say to her: "Bless your heart, that husband of yours has caused you such grief, with his runnin' around and all. I just wish you'd married Joe Bob, who made a dentist. I know your daddy wanted you to, but, Lord knows, you did the best you could at the time, you bein' pregnant and all."

Our book club had read several heavy books in a row so we chose this one because it was light and humorous. It sparked quite a conversation about funerals in general. Most of the members are not from the South. We thought it was was cute regardless of where one was brought up. BEING DEAD . . . is really a great southern recipe book with anecdotes cleverly thrown in.

The recipes and southern guidelines are excellent. Humorous and helpful.

I bought this book because Nigella Lawson recommended it. The recipes are outstanding and the stories will have you laughing out loud. A must have for your book collection.

As someone living in London, this snapshot view into life in the Deep South was totally fascinating. As is American cookery - recipes and ingredients I'd never even heard of! I loved reading about the customs as well. The book was a real hoot, although dealing with a serious subject, done in such a lighthearted (yet respectful) way. I loved it, read it as though it were a novel, and it now has pride of place on my bookshelf, next to my beloved art books (not the cookery book section).

As a granddaughter of Mississippi, this cook book brings back many memories. It makes Faulkner pale when dealing with funerals.

A great read (mines in the bathroom for those times when I get peace and quiet) full of info and some cool recipes.I think it reads betters as a book than is useful as a recipe book - but that's only because it really is a good read.

Great