Southern Fried Divorce

by Judy Conner

The hilarious account of one woman’s marriage and divorce—Big Easy- style

Set against the colorful backdrop of New Orleans, SOUTHERN FRIED DIVORCE raucously recounts the author’s divorce from "That X"—a classic bad boy—and the unpredictable roles he plays in her life afterward. The book opens with his showing up on her doorstep, in mid-Spring, covered in red and green ribbon, smelling of Jim Beam, and bearing a belated Christmas gift—a home security package in the form of a .38 revolver and a brown puppy. After wondering what kind of ex-husband gives his wife a gun, she gives the puppy back and the adventures with that ex-husband and the brown dog, who are soon inseparable, begin.

The hilarious vignettes that ensue include: the rules to Redneck Roulette; post-divorce sex ("Smurfing"); a divorce settlement that includes a bar tab for life; how to teach a dog to drive a Cadillac; getting mugged with her own cutlery; wearing a keg into a football game; instructions on how to cook the best Christmas roast south of the Mason-Dixon line and other fine Southern recipes; and the antics of her infamous ex and the brown dog—two cohorts mythic and so inseparable they performed naked synchronized swimming together at the 1984 World’s Fair. Conner weaves together a one-of-a-kind love story that exposes the humility of all human relationships, and shows that the end of marriage is not the end of love.

Genres: Humor, Nonfiction, Southern, Memoir, Chick Lit, Biography Memoir, Audiobook

240 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Gail · Rating 1 out of 5]

You ever read a book, hoping it will get better? It doesn't!

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was all prepared for Southern Fried Divorce to be another book about a bitter, vindictive divorcee. While I am sure the actual divorce was not easy to live through, Judy Conner surprisingly shares with the reader many amusing stories about her "X", as she affectionally calls him.

"X" is a character in only the way that a resident of New Orleans can be. "X" is an owner of drinking establishment. He constantly seems to attract trouble. "X" hangs out with everyone from the highest local officials to the lowliest bum on the street. Throw in a huge amount of alcohol and the most amusing things seem to happen wherever he goes!

Judy shares mixed feelings for her "X". She cares about him, and loved their private life but couldn't stand that he was constantly embarrassing her in public. She loves the attention he lavishes on her - even after their divorce - but can't stand his skirt chasing. He clearly loves her but just can't stay on the straight and narrow. Surpringly, Judy also shares that she is not without her own faults, the main one being a mean streak.

I love a good Southern writer. Judy Conner tells her story with humor and lots of New Orleans color. She entertains us with humor and wit, and, at the same time, makes the most of a difficult situation. I am sure we will be hearing more from her in the future.

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wickedly funny, (the hardest I've ever laughed while reading came from this book) charming and touching. This gal's experiences with a man who was untamable will leave the reader with an awe of the workings of the universe and the friendships of man, woman and beast.

Not the kind of book I'd normally pick up, but she had me at the title.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. The author perfectly combined the charm of her MS upbringing and the raunchiness of life in LA. I thought she did a brilliant job of depicting the characters found only in the deep south. I can see how it might seem farfetched for those that are not familiar with the local colloquialisms. Ultimately, it was a beautiful love story and tribute to her true love.

[Kerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

The sweet story of two people who get along much better after their divorce.

[Lindsey Deitz · Rating 1 out of 5]

WHY this new book club chose this out of all the books in the world I don’t know! 120 pages in and I can’t waste anymore time- skimming the rest

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful, fun, easy-breezy read. I needed this book this week! Crazy Ex-husband, Brown Dog, not-crazy Nephew, and assorted other unique characters appear in this book, which isn't an angry revenge tale, nor a sad memoir of a marriage gone wrong. It's a funny romp through post-divorce New Orleans, with people who get along better while not married to one another. I loved it. It even has party recipes!

[Lynnette · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a humorous book, although there is not a thing funny about divorce. It's the author's rambling reminiscences of life with her former husband, including the antics of "that ex" and his brown dog. She includes one chapter full of recipes, so if you cook you might be especially interested in that one. If you don't cook and aren't interested, she tells you herself to just skip that chapter and move on to the next.

[Blow Pop · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can't properly put into words how much I DETEST this book. It was unfunny. And I'm not saying that because I don't have a sense of humour. I have one. I just don't see how "redneck roulette" is amusing. Or being a self centered asshole who cares about getting as much alimony as they can is amusing. Or having a dog "drive" a cadillac is amusing.

Also, who the hell thinks it's a good idea to call up the ex of the person they're screwing to lament about that person and shit?

I will give this book one thing. They did have a fairly amicable divorce which is kind of rare for how they had it.

Also, I DETEST using the phrase "so and so is whipped" for various reasons but it's almost the best phrasing for how "that ex/x" was in relation to her.

I considered putting this book down many many times. But I didn't. In hopes that I would actually find something funny. I found none of it funny or amusing.

I really wish I could rate this in negative stars.

The entire thing was a big bunch of "Do Not Want".

[Kattie]

I was in need of a new audiobook, so I looked at my options online.
It mentioned humor, and despite the fact that I have absolutely no intention of "unleashing my hound", I was in desparate use for humor on a day that I have to work 16 hours.
This author, despite the occasional humor, rambles all over a page more than a drunkard on a police walk. This book does not follow a timeline or let alone a similar thought. It was not until I was a while into the book (which I think would be better in actual print over audiobook,) that I found out that the author was the sister of Sweet Potato Queen author Jill Conner Browne. Browne too, is not the best at following a book topic in a straight-forward order. So far, Browne is the better author. But the sisters are two people that would be hilarious to drink with.
Unfortunetely, this book, of which the humor aspect was the best thing it had going for it, has a sad ending. All the hopes of saving this book were dashed in the last hour.

[Lisa Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

★★★☆☆ (This is a review of the audiobook.) Cynthia Darlow does a nice job of narrating this one; however, I didn’t find it particularly funny, so she had an uphill battle winning me over. I found my mind drifting repeatedly while listening to this audiobook – a problem I don’t usually have. Maybe it was just my mood. Ms. Darlow makes the ex-husband sound like a doofus, which he is, so that fits, but I could help wondering what the heroine ever saw in him and kept mentally rolling my eyes. She does a decent Southern accent, a couple of other voices (for shorts stories interspersed through-out) that are easy to differentiate, and even a Scottish accent that sounds authentic.

Special Note to Marketing Persons: Don’t put a cute puppy on the cover to attract those readers that have a strong “Awwww!” gene in their animal loving DNA, only to find that the heroine does not particularly care for said puppy.

[Stacey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read about this book in one of Jill Conner Brown's SPQ books and just had to read it. It is only slightly entertaining and not nearly as good or humorous as the SPQ books; Jill and Judy are "seesters" in case you don't know.
Over the past 12 months, many of my friends have separated and/or divorced. Whereas most of those relationships ended badly, Judy and "that X" enjoyed a better relationship post-divorce than they had had when they were married. I loved the way she always referred to him as "that X" and I'm not even sure I remember what his given name was or if it was even mentioned in the book.

[Renie · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book sounds like it was written by the author of the Junie B. Jones, books. Anyway, I didn't care for the language in this book....the way the author refers to her ex-husband as "that ex-husband" and how she inserts made-up words like "myownself." Ugh. I couldn't stand it. Otherwise, the premise of the book was palatable enough, a tale of a southern gal's relationship with her ex-husband and "that nephew" of his. The book, whimsically, includes random recipes as well as a 3 page list of nicknames garnered from obituary columns. Had it been written in a more conventional manner, I think it would've been a delight to read.

[Teresa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I REALLY wanted to like this book. Judy Conner's sister is THE amazing Sweet Potato Queen herself, Jill Conner Browne, whom I love. Jill writes in anecdotes and funny short stories. Judy was trying to tell a story sequentially, but the short stories and anecdotes were un-relatable for me.
I'm not sure why, but I couldn't get into this book. I stopped reading half-way through because in all honesty, I really didn't care what happened to "the Ex" and his dog. Sorry, Judy.

[Greg Bascom · Rating 4 out of 5]

SOUTHERN FRIED DIVORCE is a funny first person memoir about the author's after marriage to "that ex-husband." It is a whacky tale set in New Orleans in the nineties with chunks of backstory on the relationship between the author and that ex-husband, who is a nice guy but acts like a lunatic. He is remarkably like several of my friends in New Orleans. The antics and the escapades in this book reveal the true character of the Big Easy that the tourists miss.

[Bonnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Playfully, punchy patois. Will take a bad taste of any previous, poorly devised attempts at humor/memoir anecdotes by weak-kneed authors, out of your sour mouth. A dog-gone, tasty eulogy, for 2 curs' heartfelt memories given a Big Easy, big, blaring horns tribute w/banners waving salute. Praise worthy also, is that Ms. Conner had the gumption to compete with her sister's fame in the publishing game. We raise gals up strong-headed Down South & Big Hearted, too.

[Cinthiny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it, I really did. There were a few parts that cracked me up and one part where she talked about when she is ready to leave a party that reminded me totally of MYSELF. It was very good and the recipes sounded yummy. This book was just what I needed since I haven't read a book in just about forever. Such is life with a four year old and a one year old.

[Sherry Grussing · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, I finished it. That's about it.

She tries to hard to be funny. I think she is trying to keep up with her sister (she wrote The Sweet Potato Queens books).

She jumps from topic to topic and then back. At one point, she spent about four or five pages just listing nicknames out of obituaries. Really? Was that neccesary?

[Sabrina Mallard · Rating 2 out of 5]

I longed to read this book for many years, especially because the sister of the author is HILARIOUS and writes some of the best books for women I've ever read. However, once I finally found a copy, I just couldn't get into it. Author seems too hung up on herself. I'm divorced too, from Texas, and I just couldn't relate.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed Southern Fried Divorce. I picked it up because I'm a huge fan of Judy's sister, Jill Connor Browne. While Southern Fried Divorce is much in the same vein as the SPQ books, I'm afraid Judy's writing isn't quite on the same level as Jill's. But I really did enjoy the story, and would recommend it to others.

[Adrian Colesberry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of funny stuff about New Orleans. The funniest is her description of how making a political enemy can get you revenge on the order of the street in front of your house gets torn up and is under construction for four years. Crazy. Funny.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I learned a little something about love and life and a weird little alimony arrangement.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unexpectedly poignant and charming, this memoir of divorce in Louisiana was definitely worth listening to.

[Bonnie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just didn't find this interesting.

[Laura Rieth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as funny as I thought. This one was recommended to me. Has some Deep South humor in it. (Mississippi ties)

[Barbara Bagley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny! So fantastic. The recipes are good too.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was just ok.I felt like she tried a little to hard to put every southern saying ever known to man in the book.However,parts of it were pretty funny.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the first half of this book, I kept thinking how trite and cliched. It got me in the second half when I laughed aloud repeatedly. The ending was actually touching and unpredictable.

[Cyndy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was different from what I expected. It was funny, but the end was very touching and poignant. It's a good book!

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listed to this audiobook and loved it. If you like dogs and things Southern it is a must read! It really kept me entertained and laughing. Plus a few good recipes.