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Small Towns Labradors Barbecue Biscuits Beer and Bibles
Sean Dietrich is an artful storyteller, who ..". writes with humor, dripping Southern charm that you can't miss." (The Greenville Examiner). A collection of short stories from the author of Sean of the South, and Lyla. Columnist, humorist, and novelist, Sean Dietrich, is known for his commentary on life in the American South. In his newest work, Small Towns, Labradors, Barbecue, Biscuits, Beer, and Bibles, he delivers a set of quirky tales filled with smiles and a hefty dose of heart.
- GenresFictionShort Stories
146 pages, Paperback
Published January 22, 2015
109 people are currently reading
262 people want to read
About the author
Sean Dietrich
7 books219 followersSean Dietrich is a writer, humorist, and novelist, known for his commentary on life in the American South.
Dietrich’s humor and short fiction have appeared in various publications throughout the Southeast, including South Magazine, Tallahassee Democrat, Wired Magazine, and he is a member of the NWU. His first short story was published during his childhood, in a hometown journal newspaper. Since then, he pursues his literary interests authoring four novels, writing humor, and short stories.
Dietrich’s humor and short fiction have appeared in various publications throughout the Southeast, including South Magazine, Tallahassee Democrat, Wired Magazine, and he is a member of the NWU. His first short story was published during his childhood, in a hometown journal newspaper. Since then, he pursues his literary interests authoring four novels, writing humor, and short stories.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 23, 2024
This is a collection of short essays which are fun to read. They are nostalgic, sometimes amusing and sometimes sad, definitely addictive. I’m not real sure everyone would appreciate them. If you call your grandmother Mamaw, and you know what tomato gravy, lace cornbread, and cat head biscuits are, your chances of understanding these essays improves. It might even help if you’re a baby boomer. I was thoroughly entertained.
December 19, 2016
Small, bite-sized essays and stories that usually end with a tug on your heart.
February 23, 2018
Charming, wonderful stories. The stories always remind the reader of their childhood or the one they wished they had had.
February 7, 2017
Must read
If you are a southerner or wish you were this is a must read. One story would leave me laughing and the next would bring tears to my eyes. Everyone knows these characters. I will be purchasing additional copies to share with friends. Wonderful!
If you are a southerner or wish you were this is a must read. One story would leave me laughing and the next would bring tears to my eyes. Everyone knows these characters. I will be purchasing additional copies to share with friends. Wonderful!
May 6, 2024
Whoever proofread this thing should be doing construction work because they can't catch an error any more than I can catch a fish.
You get about halfway through the book and every story he has told gets repeated. The stories are good, but not good enough to expect people to read them twice, and it's a poor method of padding your word count. At the end there are about a half dozen more original stories.
Missing verbs, misused words (I'm not talking about colloquialisms), sentences that make you hunt for the missing part that makes them make sense, and repeat stories are why I rated this so low. Find enough original material before you publish your next book, Sean of the South.
And please, a little less Yankee hatred. I had nothing to do with the "Wah uv Nawthun Aggreshun" or with reconstruction and I don't 100% agree with reconstruction, but owning people is just wrong, as is treating them like animals. I have been in the deep south and am well aware that "Southern Hospitality" - if extended at all to a Yankee - is barbed with hatred for what the Confederates did to themselves by fighting a war for the right to own human beings, under the guise of "States' Rights." Maryland has fewer of those who consider "damnedYankee" as a single word, likely because of all the people in government & the service who are from all over the state. The same was at least once true of Pensacola, where my husband was stationed once, and where I joined him and started a job as a hospital RN. From these stories, it seems the rural folks might not take to "DamnedYankees" any more than the folks in Alabama or Georgia or Tennessee, for example. I do recall when I worked in Pensacola, more than once, someone would disparagingly say, "Yore a Yaankee, aintcha?" to which I would reply, "Yes, and damned proud of it." This pretty much was a conversation stopper regarding the "Wah uv Nawthun Aggresshun," since it's hard to insult someone who isn't ashamed of who they are. So, while you are extolling the magnificent virtues of the South and "Southern Hospitality," please do a bit less raking the different expressions of "DamnedYankees," esp. since this SW PA born and bred "DamnedYankee" can tell you living in New England is like learning a second language, proving not all "DamnedYankees" even speak the same language. And don't forget that hospitality is reserved for Southerners, not extended to Northerners except begrudgingly.
You get about halfway through the book and every story he has told gets repeated. The stories are good, but not good enough to expect people to read them twice, and it's a poor method of padding your word count. At the end there are about a half dozen more original stories.
Missing verbs, misused words (I'm not talking about colloquialisms), sentences that make you hunt for the missing part that makes them make sense, and repeat stories are why I rated this so low. Find enough original material before you publish your next book, Sean of the South.
And please, a little less Yankee hatred. I had nothing to do with the "Wah uv Nawthun Aggreshun" or with reconstruction and I don't 100% agree with reconstruction, but owning people is just wrong, as is treating them like animals. I have been in the deep south and am well aware that "Southern Hospitality" - if extended at all to a Yankee - is barbed with hatred for what the Confederates did to themselves by fighting a war for the right to own human beings, under the guise of "States' Rights." Maryland has fewer of those who consider "damnedYankee" as a single word, likely because of all the people in government & the service who are from all over the state. The same was at least once true of Pensacola, where my husband was stationed once, and where I joined him and started a job as a hospital RN. From these stories, it seems the rural folks might not take to "DamnedYankees" any more than the folks in Alabama or Georgia or Tennessee, for example. I do recall when I worked in Pensacola, more than once, someone would disparagingly say, "Yore a Yaankee, aintcha?" to which I would reply, "Yes, and damned proud of it." This pretty much was a conversation stopper regarding the "Wah uv Nawthun Aggresshun," since it's hard to insult someone who isn't ashamed of who they are. So, while you are extolling the magnificent virtues of the South and "Southern Hospitality," please do a bit less raking the different expressions of "DamnedYankees," esp. since this SW PA born and bred "DamnedYankee" can tell you living in New England is like learning a second language, proving not all "DamnedYankees" even speak the same language. And don't forget that hospitality is reserved for Southerners, not extended to Northerners except begrudgingly.
January 8, 2023
Sean is quickly becoming one of my favorite storytellers. I appreciate the accessible way he writes, and the down to earth people he tells his stories about. This is a collection of his daily posts, each about a page and a half long.
August 6, 2019
The stories may target the south, but the lessons are for everyone.
January 16, 2021
Makes me think and my heart feel good if a little sad.... an enjoyable parking lot read
April 11, 2021
Sean Dietrich’s writing just resonates so clearly with me!
November 27, 2023
Fun sized, 3-4 pages stories about the authors life. Reminded me of sitting with my family and someone says Remember when......?
January 1, 2017
A Basket of Bite-Size Thought Bisuits
These aren't short stories, really. Most run a page or three. They are notes, sketches, and brief memory pieces, many with a little hook or zinger at the end.
They reflect a generous, forgiving, but sharp and sometimes penetrating sense of who we are. It's all drizzled with Southern charm and a bit of syrup, but many of the insights apply generally.
Dietrich is perhaps overly fond of biscuits, (who can blame him?), but his little thought bisuits are probably better for you than are the real ones. So, grab a handful and enjoy.
These aren't short stories, really. Most run a page or three. They are notes, sketches, and brief memory pieces, many with a little hook or zinger at the end.
They reflect a generous, forgiving, but sharp and sometimes penetrating sense of who we are. It's all drizzled with Southern charm and a bit of syrup, but many of the insights apply generally.
Dietrich is perhaps overly fond of biscuits, (who can blame him?), but his little thought bisuits are probably better for you than are the real ones. So, grab a handful and enjoy.
February 5, 2018
Sean never fails to charm!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews