Don't Date Baptists: and Other Warnings From My Alabama Mother

by Terry Barr

Following in the tradition of Alabama memoirist Rick Bragg, Don’t Date Baptists explores the world of Bessemer, Alabama, circa 1960's-70's from the eyes of a boy who grew up there, struggling to understand the divide of race, class, religion, and neighborhood anxiety. Essayist Terry Barr learns from his parents that not all love is the same; that certain neighbors are not to be trusted; that crosses and stars and popular music can with seamless metamorphosis signal danger, desire, hate, and deep abiding love. While public pools might be filled with clay to prevent integrated swimming, or so-called friends might slur those darker than themselves, this southern boy learns to appreciate how these incidents and relationships have challenged and molded him into the teacher, writer and unapologetic Bessemer man that he is.With humor and poignant authenticity, Barr captures what it means to come of age as the New South cuts its teeth, with much trial and terrible error, in territory that is rich and explosive, devastating and beautiful.

228 pages, Paperback

Published February 12, 2016

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection is a great exploration of the characters and cultural notions that populate one small Alabama town and easily can be translated to many other Southern towns like it. The essays about the Alabama of the 1950s and 60s tell personal but relatable tales of the events of that era and are instantly readable and engaging. But in my opinion, the essays really hit their stride in the last few selections that effectively and evocatively combine the author's early experiences and understanding with his time-tested perceptions and revelations as a grown man, husband, son, and father. This book is truly Southern and purely true, the South laid bare with all the tension of what we natives love and love to hate about the place. It is honest and vulnerable as all the best Southern writing must be.

[Adrienne Scanlan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terry Barr’s stories of growing up in a small Alabama town are gemstones illuminating the conflicting loves and loyalties of family, race, class, and religion as lived out in the pre-Civil Rights era (1950 – 1970’s roughly). Barr’s explorations are heartfelt and humble, filled with questions that aren’t easy to answer but well worth thinking about long after this book is put down. A few of the stand-out essays are “Neither the Season, Nor the Time,” “Searching for Higher Ground,” and “In It’s Infancy,” but Barr’s insight and life-earned wisdom flow through the entire book.

[Amy Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

The preface to Terry Barr’s collection of essays will instantly have many readers nodding heads in recognition, as he sets the stage for his book with a memory that many of us will identify with: “My mother is a Methodist, and I’m not sure what goes on in the rest of the country, but in Alabama, where I’m from, the Methodists and Baptists often wrestle for souls and to see who can make it first to the most popular Sunday restaurant.”

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[Laura Powell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is written by a professor at my school, Presbyterian College. He writes of growing up in Bessemer Alabama in the 60's-small town American South. Much of his story is familiar, abut also made me think about my own feelings about life in the South.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is obvious that Barr researched the novel meticulously, but it also reads like the wonderful memories shared over good, Southern food.

[Brent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the humor,, growing up in the south, I could so relate to many of the stories,,,, a walk down memory lane