WHISKEY IN A TEACUP is as far from a "movie star" book as
you could imagine. The ever youthful and effervescent Reese
Witherspoon endeavored to write a book on what makes
Southern living great, and this is exactly what she delivers
with grace, humor, and charm. With the aid of anecdotes
about her grandmother Dorothea, Ms. Witherspoon recalls how
her beloved relative taught her how to be a proper Southern
lady and all that it entails. Ms. Witherspoon's bubbliness
and joie de vivre translate admirably onto the written page,
making WHISKEY IN A CUP a most enjoyable read. The book is
divided by theme and offers surprisingly practical advice
adaptable to every budget, be it with regards to
entertaining, decorating, and fabulous Southern down-home
cooking. I particularly enjoyed the advice on how to make
one's home child and pet-friendly; it's brilliant and so
very simple! Southern living, it turns out, is an
unpretentious approach to life, imbued with kindness.
Our friend Reese demonstrates how easily the art of Southern
living can be achieved, and this would not be complete
without the food. WHISKEY IN A TEACUP includes dozens of
easy-to-follow and affordable recipes, with a conversion
table at the end for countries using the metric system. Now
is the time to mention the stunningly gorgeous photos --
even in the digital edition -- that illustrate every theme
of the book, be it the Witherspoon family, home, and garden,
and the scrumptious dishes. I love that the pictures are
inserted in the appropriate chapters instead of being
bunched pell-mell somewhere in the book; it makes for a very
smooth and relaxing reading experience. I also very much
appreciated that Ms. Witherspoon can share her unabashed
love of Nashville and the South without ever sounding
patronizing or elitist, and at the same time debunking some
Southern myths. The author, naturally, writes about her love
of books and lists some of her personal favorites, as well
as books of Southern authors of note. The chapter "Talkin'
Southern" was unavoidable, and is truly hilarious.
I liked Reese Witherspoon before reading the book, and I
like her even more after. WHISKEY IN A TEACUP is bright,
cheerful, entertaining, and so chockfull of useful
information, not to mention recipes, that you will want to
keep the book nearby. Just in case, or just to look at those
glorious color pictures.
Academy award–winning actress, producer, and entrepreneur
Reese Witherspoon invites you into her world, where she
infuses the southern style, parties, and traditions she
loves with contemporary flair and charm.
Reese
Witherspoon's grandmother Dorothea always said that a
combination of beauty and strength made southern women
"whiskey in a teacup." We may be delicate and ornamental
on the outside, she said, but inside we're strong and
fiery.
Reese's southern heritage informs her whole
life, and she loves sharing the joys of southern living with
practically everyone she meets. She takes the South wherever
she goes with bluegrass, big holiday parties, and plenty of
Dorothea's fried chicken. It's reflected in how she
entertains, decorates her home, and makes holidays special
for her kids—not to mention how she talks, dances, and does
her hair (in these pages, you will learn Reese's
fail-proof, only slightly insane hot-roller technique).
Reese loves sharing Dorothea's most delicious recipes as
well as her favorite southern traditions, from midnight barn
parties to backyard bridal showers, magical Christmas
mornings to rollicking honky-tonks.
It's easy to
bring a little bit of Reese's world into your home, no
matter where you live. After all, there's a southern side
to every place in the world, right?