Round Here and Over Yonder: A Front Porch Travel Guide by Two Progressive Hillbillies

by Trae Crowder, Corey Ryan Forrester

Join Southern comedian duo Trae Crowder and Corey Ryan Forrester in this hilarious and irreverent travel guide as they wander about ponderin' the peculiarities beyond their small-town front porches. Trae and Corey will take you from the smallest of small towns to major US metropolises (or is it metropoli? We haven't a fartin' clue!). They'll even cross the pond to sip tea in some of them fancy kings-and-castles places that PBS Viewers Like You can't stop yapping about. From Chickamauga to Cheyenne, New York to New Orleans, Seattle to Scotland—no matter where these two wandering jesters go, there's something to roast, something to toast, and something to learn about what ties us together as humans. Even the most outrageous of us. In this book you'll Perfect for anyone

Genres: Humor, Nonfiction, Travel, Audiobook, Comedy, Memoir, Biography Memoir

256 pages, Hardcover

Published September 19, 2023

Reviews

[Whitney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilariously funny & I got so excited when they mentioned my hometown (yes, the garbage plate IS the fattest food America has invented 😂)! Highly recommend the audiobook! Thanks to Libro.fm for the ALC.

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Definitely listen to the audiobook if you possibly can, I can't imagine that reading it would be as funny as the authors' narration.

Like all humor-based media, different sections appeal depending on your background and the sketch involved. I found the whole thing to be more hit than miss and particularly enjoyed the sections on places I had lived or travelled, which makes me think that I'd probably enjoy the rest better if I'd been to those places. The first section, "Round Here" was the funniest to me, being both from the south and among the many, many southerners who have a love/hate/cringe relationship with the modern south and its representation in the rest of the world. Please bring on the sweet tea and hold the ignorance.

The final section, "Yonder Yonder", about the authors' overseas trip to the U.K., was a solid reminder that travel is edifying and should be attempted whenever possible.

Highly, highly recommended to southerners, southern ex-pats, and all our northern/mid-west/west coast friends who smile bemusedly at our weird sayings and roll their eyes at whatever southern state has been most in the news this week.

[Scott Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Audiobook) Big fan of these comedians, especially Trae Crowder, so figured I would give this a listen. Worth the time to do so. Given that I have lived in and/or visited many of the areas these two men visited, their insights resonated with me. Laughing especially at their takes on Nashville, Texas and England. Their style of humor is not for everyone, but for those that do like them, this “hits”. Besides, a couple of good-ol’ boy rednecks traveling…guaranteed to offer some good laughs. The audiobook is going to bring the ranking up substantially on this work, but the hard-copy would have its moments (more of a 3.5-4 stars). Get the audiobook, either through priority loan or actually buy the thing.

[Jude · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 - I’m an unabashed Trae Crowder fangirl so there’s that.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting travelog, told by two very funny comedians. The book is filled with short entries about the various places they've traveled and anecdotes about the people they met, the food and beverages they consumed, and the cultural norms they noted.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook is just fabulous, a must listen.

[Libriar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't know who these comedians were when I started this book but I'm always up for a funny audiobook read by the authors. I loved the end of the book when they were in England and Scotland the best. Their takes on that were hilarious. The parts in the US were also entertaining but they jumped around a lot faster and there was either no pattern for how they switched cities or I didn't notice the pattern because I was listening to it instead of reading it. I'll seek out their comedy in the future.

[Shelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I, too am from the South. In fact, I live about halfway between Trae and Corey's hometowns (Go Vols!)

Anyway, I've been to about ⅔ of the places they visited on their travels. My experiences were similar to theirs in most of them. My trip to England was in 2011. They were still griping about Dubya. Oh what innocent times.

Anyway, I recommend going to Italy. Fabulous food and REALLY old stuff. Don't miss Pompeii. You get to actually walk around in the ruins and touch stuff, at least you could ten years ago. France was about what we expected. See the Louvre and the Eiffel tower and then go on to Italy or Germany. Nuff said.

I look forward to the next book. Btw, Australia is on my bucket list. It may not ever happen so I look forward to "seeing" it through Trae and Corey's eyes.

[Allison Berkowitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful!

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was fun and funny. I found both Trae and Corey about a year ago and have been going through their videos on YouTube, there's alot there and and in these chaotic times we're living in, I need to laugh and keep my sanity. Definitely recommend this and their stand up.

[Margaret Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love these guys! They are hilarious. If you can, listen to the audio book. 🎧

[britt_brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

MOkay, but Lexington is not the biggest city in the Commonwealth. Get it right. Having lived 3/4 of my 42 years in Kentucky and Tennessee, plus a couple years in Alabama, I really enjoyed the southern pieces. I’ve been following Crowder on social media for a few years and I like the “liberal redneck” vibe. Both authors did a nice job narrating. This is just what I needed to break up my October spooky reading.

[Lamadia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of Trae Crowder, having gotten to see him perform in person and regularly watch his multitude of YouTube videos and podcasts. I'm also from Tennessee, but the city part, and love his brand of liberal redneck. I also love to travel, and do so more than the average bear, so this was perfect. Humorous travelogues are always a good pick for me. This one had me laughing out loud in my empty home and trying to memorize what I just read!

Corey and Trae are an amazing duo and this definitely came through. While reading this, I could hear their voices in my head with their accents. It's better with the accents! I'd recommend this to anyone who has ever lived in one of the places they mention, because you will love and hate your entry in equal measures!

[Shelbe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, Mary, for the recommendation. It was the perfect book to read after Doppelganger scared the ever lovin' shite outta me.
These two are some of the sweetest, funniest hillbillies around. What makes their humour so delightful-yes, I used that word-is they KNOW they're hillbillies and they KNOW how they're seen by the rest of the world. And they embrace it and are embarrassed by it all at the same time. They play the dichotomy/duality perfectly.
Their bits on England and Scotland were my absolute favorites.
They say the quiet parts out loud and with a drawl.
I listened at 1.25. And you are reading this with a southern accent.

[Penny · Rating 1 out of 5]

I may be in the minority here, but these two guys are not funny. They belittle southerners, they keep claiming they’re not racist, which, in my opinion, means they are and they consistently think that being gay is an insult. Don’t appreciate it. Don’t like it. Don’t recommend it. Oh, and for some reason, claiming that they’re progressives is just Clickbait.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always relate to these guys so much. The way they describe their views of themselves as Appalachians in the larger world is so similar to things I've been working on in myself, and it is refreshing to encounter it so honestly presented in what was still such a fun ride.

[McCarthy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perfectly charming book. Plenty of laughs.
A lot of interesting compartmentalized anecdotes abut specific cities and regions. However, overall the book lacks substance. It doesn’t really say anything of note or connect everything together.
Listen to the audiobook to get the full experience.

[April Lowrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really hope Trae and Corey write another travel book. This was most excellent, especially in audiobook. Laughed myself silly!

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forget Frommer’s, Fodor’s, Lonely Planet, or any other upstanding and well-researched travel guide creators. I’ll be taking the off-beat and irreverent travel advice of Trae and Corey from now on.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Total hoot! Especially liked their descriptions of England. I had the same damn observations!😀. I loved England btw. Can’t emphasize enough that comedy books should be listened to. This one was so much fun to hear their stories in their southern accents!

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

The concept of the book was great, the content not so much. Horrible language and drinking!

[Chris McCoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious read, especially if you have any connection to the South.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook

Enjoyed the Over Over Yonder section (part 3) more than others.

Even though they spoke about Kentucky's split personality it was too bad they didn't speak about the confused souther/midwestern city of Louisville. Besides, there is a bunch of stuff to do in Louisville and much to make fun of.

[Bookishbrookeish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to @librofm and @harperhorizon for the ALC!

Matt and I listened to this together while driving back from the East Coast and it was especially fitting to listen to while traveling!

Matts Thoughts: He liked it overall. Sometimes he would zone out if a section got too long and some parts were funnier than others. But it was a fun and short listen!

My thoughts: I thought this was entertaining enough. I laughed many times. However, there was A LOT of negativity from Trae about his body and everyone has their own journey and feelings but so many times I thought "maybe talk about these thoughts in therapy?" I did appreciate his talk about mental health and therapy - I've noticed a trend lately of more men sharing mental health struggles and experiences in therapy and I think that's really great. Overall a fun listen with Matt but take care if body image stuff is triggering!

[Joe · Rating 1 out of 5]

This has been a painful read, I picked it up thinking it would be funny, but it was not. Maybe I am too old and just did not connect with the author but give me a break. The south I grew up in was not as unaware as the author seems to be, maybe he was too drunk or high all the time and did not bother to read a book.

If the author would tone back the language and stop trying to convince the reader he is not racist it might be a good read. I know the old saying is "The lady doth protest too much, methinks", however I think it applies here.

If you belittle someone then say no offense does not make it any less offensive.

Everyone has an opinion and mine may not be popular, but I did not enjoy this book at all.

[Laura L · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook, which I think is the way to go on this one. It was entertaining, pretty much what you expect of two southern comedians who travel around the country and give you their impressions of the cities they visited. The second half was better than the first, perhaps, because they were out of the country for the first time.

[GT · Rating 1 out of 5]

After reading this I would be ashamed to call myself a southerner, if this guy had apologized once more for being white I think I would have screamed. If you have to say you are not a raciest a 100 times you need to take a step back and think seriously about what you are.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

There were parts where I laughed until I cried. This was a great travel book, with enough humor to make it all worthwhile! 🥳

[scarlett pierson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect audiobook
I’m
Excited to find out they also have a podcast!

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before we begin, I’d like to thank HarperCollins Publishing and NetGalley for making an advance copy of this book available to me.

If you’ve listened to enough stand-up comedy routines, you’ve heard your fair share of jokes about places comedians came from and places they’ve visited as they’ve performed. But can you imagine two comedians from the South who’ve described themselves as “progressive hillbillies” providing their witty and incisive outlook on not only their part of the country, but places beyond that they’ve visited? Well, whether or not you can wrap your head around this concept for a travel guide, it does in fact exist, and I have to say that it’s a pretty good book. So let’s take a trip “Round Here and Over Yonder” with Trae Crowder and Corey Ryan Forrester!

Corey and Trae are successful stand-up comedians, and Trae has made a name for himself on TikTok and other social networks sharing his thoughts about Southern culture and American politics in this day and age. They’ve traveled all over the country plus made a couple to stops just outside our borders and a few places beyond - not too shabby for a couple of guys who grew up poor in rural Georgia and Tennessee, respectively - and in “Round Here and Over Yonder”, they share their perspectives on some of the best places they’ve seen. For this book, Trae and Corey have broken down the places into three categories: “Round Here” consists of their hometowns to their favorite places to visit in the South, “Over Yonder” are the places that stood out to them outside the South (including Canada and Mexico”, and “Yonder Yonder”, which mainly consists of England and Scotland. Their reviews of places found Round Here dwell on the reasons certain places are their favorites and/or how these places reflect their experiences living in and coming from the South. Their favorite places “Over Yonder” reflect what their favorite places outside the South have taught them about America in general and the differences in culture in the regions they’ve experienced in particular. As for Yonder Yonder”, they note the things they’ve learned about their ancestors by visiting the places they came from, and some of the joys and quirks of British culture.

Make no mistake - if you’re looking for the typical guidebook info as far as where to stay, dine, and shop, you’re not going to find that in this book for the most part. However, if you’re looking for a better understanding of why the South is the way it is, how it contrasts with the rest of the country and the UK, with a couple of suggested comedy clubs to visit or suggested signature dishes in some of the more significant cities in the South, this may be the book you’re looking for, or at least something to enjoy while you search the guide or book of travel essays you are expecting.

Given that Trae has no issue with sharing how he feels about politics in his TikTok videos, you may be surprised to see that he tends to pull his punches in this book; I think he and Corey have a lot to say about the negative effects or race and economic inequality on our country and on the South in particular, but they also recognize that such discussions are beyond the scope of this book. Enjoy the laughs Trae and Corey give you, but recognize that, as Bill Cosby used to say, “…if you’re not careful, you may just learn something before you’re done.”

“Round Here and Over Yonder” isn’t your typical collection of travel essays - and thank goodness for that, I’d say. This book has the potential to get folks on both sides of today’s political and cultural divide to understand each other better by sharing a laugh or two, and I’m sure that Trey and Vorey will tell you that that wasn’t the goal they had in Ming in writing this book. It’s a fun and fairly quick read, more than a bit self-deprecating, and a lot of fun to read, If you have a choice as to how to enjoy this book, go with the unabridged audiobook, which feature narration by the authors and a couple of PDFs of what I’d call “hillbilly MadLibs” not thatI’d be crazy enough to actually call them that to anyone from the South). Highly recommended!