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kitsuneheart's review against another edition
4.0
Huh. Doesn't end on a tear-jerker. Not what I've come to expect from Browne. These books are generally so funny, right up until a heartbreaking end. Not here. Browne apparently had a good year.
Definitely not a financial planner, but if you went into this book with this cover expecting actual money matters, wow, I am sorry for you. Recipes, however, there are in spades. But every damn one IS going to kill you. It will. So much bacon. This is not the kind of recipe book you pull out for a fancy dinner party. This is the "boyfriend just broke up with me," "dog puked on the couch," "the office asshole got my promotion" type of food. A frequent joke is to make 1 lb of bacon for a recipe, which means cook 2 lbs and eat one as its cooking. It's...actually a bit unappetizing, sometimes.
Interspersed with all the gooey, fatty, salty goodness are stories from our...well, gooey, fatty, salty Sweet Potato Queens. The third-wave feminist in me is sometimes a bit turned off, because Browne does delight in making it seem like her male friends are just a step above horny animals, but she does take a fair number of digs at the female side of her harem.
For me, in the SF Bay Area, I can't see myself every handing this book off to someone as a recommendation or a gift. Browne doesn't show prejudice beyond assigning differences to the sexes, but that would be enough in my local circle of friends to get some eyebrow raises. Back East, I don't know. Judging by my family's posts on Facebook, might be fine.... :/
Basically, this is my guilty pleasure. And entirely, always secret.
Definitely not a financial planner, but if you went into this book with this cover expecting actual money matters, wow, I am sorry for you. Recipes, however, there are in spades. But every damn one IS going to kill you. It will. So much bacon. This is not the kind of recipe book you pull out for a fancy dinner party. This is the "boyfriend just broke up with me," "dog puked on the couch," "the office asshole got my promotion" type of food. A frequent joke is to make 1 lb of bacon for a recipe, which means cook 2 lbs and eat one as its cooking. It's...actually a bit unappetizing, sometimes.
Interspersed with all the gooey, fatty, salty goodness are stories from our...well, gooey, fatty, salty Sweet Potato Queens. The third-wave feminist in me is sometimes a bit turned off, because Browne does delight in making it seem like her male friends are just a step above horny animals, but she does take a fair number of digs at the female side of her harem.
For me, in the SF Bay Area, I can't see myself every handing this book off to someone as a recommendation or a gift. Browne doesn't show prejudice beyond assigning differences to the sexes, but that would be enough in my local circle of friends to get some eyebrow raises. Back East, I don't know. Judging by my family's posts on Facebook, might be fine.... :/
Basically, this is my guilty pleasure. And entirely, always secret.
alewo27's review against another edition
5.0
The authorities on all things Queenly also happen to be the authorities on all things delicious as well! Just like everything else the Queen Bee does, she did not write your average, basic cookbook. The recipes are integrated into hilarious anecdotes that may make you pee... The armadillo story was my favorite. And the recipes themselves include instructions like "smoosh" this or "beat the snot" out of that. I agree with one of the reviews on the jacket that says: "You do not have to be from the South..... you just have to like laughing out loud. a lot." Even being a "fetus" as Jill would call a young'en like me I find the Queens so gloriously wonderful that I want to live vicariously. I haven't been able to make any of these sweet, salty, fried, or au gratin foods yet, but I can't wait to start baking and laughing.
reneeguill's review against another edition
5.0
I got this audiobook from the library. Btw, are we allowed to say the A word if it's part of the title? lol
Sweet Potato Queens Big-Ass Cookbook and Financial Planner written by Jill Conner Browne. Narrated by Jill Conner Browne.
This is a unique way of writing a cookbook and autobiography. She also gives financial tips.
I admit, I read this a few times in the past, it was written in 2003. I thought it was a hoot back then, but now that I am older I can relate to it better, and it's even funnier, if that's possible. It may have been over a decade ago, but a lot of her advice is still good for today. I love how she adds recipes to her stories, which are gems of wisdom. And the recipes, oh my goodness, or should I say egads, according to Jill Conner Browne. I mean I was wishing I had bookmarked or written some of them down. I really need to buy a real copy of this book when I can afford it. She has recipes like Pig(bacon) Candy, and Pralines and Apple Cake. I should warn you, do not read this book on an empty stomach, it will just get louder. She also had some great financial tips, not the fuddy duddy kind, but funny and actually useful kind. I think the older you are, the more you will appreciate this book. But youngsters should read it and learn from it, write things down if you have too. I'm in the Midwest, so I was grateful that Jill Conner Browne explained some words that might confuse us.
Now, Jill Conner Brown does the narration which makes it seem like she's telling you her stories instead of having someone else tell them. I love her accent, tho I guess the Southerners wouldn't notice it? And she does such a great job with the extras, like when there's a sigh, she actually does the sigh, not say it. This is a great example of what storytelling is all about.
This book is in a series, but you don't have to read them in order to understand them. If you are in a mood for a laugh out loud read, then I definitely recommend this one.
Sweet Potato Queens Big-Ass Cookbook and Financial Planner written by Jill Conner Browne. Narrated by Jill Conner Browne.
This is a unique way of writing a cookbook and autobiography. She also gives financial tips.
I admit, I read this a few times in the past, it was written in 2003. I thought it was a hoot back then, but now that I am older I can relate to it better, and it's even funnier, if that's possible. It may have been over a decade ago, but a lot of her advice is still good for today. I love how she adds recipes to her stories, which are gems of wisdom. And the recipes, oh my goodness, or should I say egads, according to Jill Conner Browne. I mean I was wishing I had bookmarked or written some of them down. I really need to buy a real copy of this book when I can afford it. She has recipes like Pig(bacon) Candy, and Pralines and Apple Cake. I should warn you, do not read this book on an empty stomach, it will just get louder. She also had some great financial tips, not the fuddy duddy kind, but funny and actually useful kind. I think the older you are, the more you will appreciate this book. But youngsters should read it and learn from it, write things down if you have too. I'm in the Midwest, so I was grateful that Jill Conner Browne explained some words that might confuse us.
Now, Jill Conner Brown does the narration which makes it seem like she's telling you her stories instead of having someone else tell them. I love her accent, tho I guess the Southerners wouldn't notice it? And she does such a great job with the extras, like when there's a sigh, she actually does the sigh, not say it. This is a great example of what storytelling is all about.
This book is in a series, but you don't have to read them in order to understand them. If you are in a mood for a laugh out loud read, then I definitely recommend this one.
amy_south's review against another edition
3.0
I did enjoy this book, but I didn't love love it the way i thought i would. The best part was that everyone in the club brought a recipe from the book.
jodiec's review against another edition
3.0
This was my least favorite in the series, but see my review of:
The Sweet Potato Queens' Field Guide to Men: Every Man I Love Is Either Married, Gay, or Dead
The Sweet Potato Queens' Field Guide to Men: Every Man I Love Is Either Married, Gay, or Dead
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