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"Florence King wields the sharpest blade in America. Her cuts are so swift that the smiles are still on the faces when she displays the heads on her trophy wall."--Washington Post. Finally in trade paperback, here is the latest volume of stiletto essats from the author of Reflections in a Jaundiced Eye and Confessions of a Failed Southern Lady.
181 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1990
About the author
Florence King
19 books60 followersBorn in Washington, D.C. in 1936 to a bookish British father and a tomboy American mother, Florence King spent her childhood living with her parents, her maternal grandmother, and her grandmother's maid.
King showed talent in French, but unable to pursue it as a major at American University, she switched to a dual major of history and English. She attended the University of Mississippi for graduate school, but did not complete her M.A. degree after discovering she could make a living as a writer.
King, who lived in Fredericksburg, Virginia at the time of her death, retired in 2002, but resumed writing a monthly column for National Review in 2006. She died on January 6, 2016 at the age of 80.
King showed talent in French, but unable to pursue it as a major at American University, she switched to a dual major of history and English. She attended the University of Mississippi for graduate school, but did not complete her M.A. degree after discovering she could make a living as a writer.
King, who lived in Fredericksburg, Virginia at the time of her death, retired in 2002, but resumed writing a monthly column for National Review in 2006. She died on January 6, 2016 at the age of 80.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 4, 2015
I desperately love reading Florence King.
August 15, 2008
I liked it - until the end. Think memoirs are tricky - will try "Confessions of a Failed Southern Lady".
September 28, 2017
Humorous essays. Good stuff. On the reread/wishlist.
August 30, 2020
Hilarious with a few serious topics interwoven...
September 4, 2008
This is not my favorite Florence King book. That would be "Southern Ladies and Gentlemen", which is screamingly funny in spots. I may not always agree with Florence King, but she always make me laugh aloud at least 4 or 5 times per book. Some of my favorite lines from this book: "...I come from a family so spiritually lax, that as a child, I thought "Trinity" meant going to church three times a year."
There's another little funny that says something along the lines of "I've had sex and I've had food and I'd rather eat".
Her comments on Southerners are on the mark and as a fellow Southerner, I could do no more than laugh ruefully, knowing she is right.
I need to add that if you choose to read this book, you should prepare to be offended. Florence King is not bashful about expressing her opinions and she has no hesitation in using obscenities. There is always something to offend practically everybody in a Florence King book, but if you can winnow the wheat from the chaff, and enjoy the humor, you should try to read at least one of her books.
There's another little funny that says something along the lines of "I've had sex and I've had food and I'd rather eat".
Her comments on Southerners are on the mark and as a fellow Southerner, I could do no more than laugh ruefully, knowing she is right.
I need to add that if you choose to read this book, you should prepare to be offended. Florence King is not bashful about expressing her opinions and she has no hesitation in using obscenities. There is always something to offend practically everybody in a Florence King book, but if you can winnow the wheat from the chaff, and enjoy the humor, you should try to read at least one of her books.
January 12, 2016
Florence King was one of a kind. One of the best writers of invective since H.L. Mencken. Her death is a great loss to America.
Full Review Here
Full Review Here
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews