Journal Entry 1 by weeblet from Jacksonville, Florida USA on Wednesday, August 11, 2004

From Publishers Weekly
Bethany Bultman presents Redneck Heaven: Portrait of a Vanishing Culture, one that she asserts is "much-maligned." She spent five years in "redneck" territory, trying to discover who these people are. "I met self-styled rednecks from every part of America, from Seattle to the Southwest to the Deep South to Maine and everywhere in between." She concludes that rednecks are probably the descendants of Celts who came to the new world from the 17th century on. Bultman discusses values, traditions, religious conviction, politics, style and cuisine. She lists redneck likes and dislikes, including tastes in music, dress, decor and especially food. Who could resist the recipes for deep-fried turkey (heat oil "until a wooden match ignites on contact"), Coca-Cola roast and the essential Spam treats? And the desserts are even better.
 

Journal Entry 2 by weeblet from Jacksonville, Florida USA on Wednesday, August 11, 2004

Journal Entry 3 by weeblet from Jacksonville, Florida USA on Friday, August 13, 2004

Journal Entry 4 by ottoshumato from Madison, Wisconsin USA on Tuesday, August 24, 2004

Received yesterday (with some kickASS RABCKs from weeblet). I had people over for dinner so we read aloud the recipes (we intend to make a PBR Black-out Cake, if I can find Blue Ribbon mayonnaise, and possibly some moonshine-this book insists I throw a theme party) and redneck beauty tips. Hilarious.

I began reading the text this morning, and the author (so far) treats her subjects with humor and sympathy, even admiration. She is a conscientious ethnographer, penetrating this exotic culture while retaining her objectivity, a road I found it tough to hoe when surrounded by rednecks during my ill-fated trips across the southeast. She is careful to record faithfully the words of her (surprisingly self-conscious subjects) and treats them with the one thing a redneck prizes above all: dignity. 

Journal Entry 5 by ottoshumato from Madison, Wisconsin USA on Saturday, August 28, 2004

Wow! Apparently I am a redneck, to the extent that Bultman defines rednecks as Americans of Celtic origin who defy obedience to the corporate/political mainstream.

Bultman is sure to disentanble rednecks from the Klan, whom most rednecks view as white trash, and from knee-jerk political conservatism, most shockingly vis-a-vis reproductive rights. She also portrays them as being extremely 'Christian' to outsiders in need, a trait from which I have certainly benefitted during my time stuck in truckstops, etc.

All in all, a balanced portrait of a much-maligned minority culture.

My favorite passage, paraphrased: "my marriage has lasted more than fifty years because I get my man to church each week, and I have a pussy tighter than a mouse's ear."

So help me, God, if I ever open a profile on Match.com, that last bit will be my "headline"

 

Journal Entry 6 by ottoshumato from Madison, Wisconsin USA on Saturday, August 28, 2004

Wow! Apparently I am a redneck, to the extent that Bultman defines rednecks as Americans of Celtic origin who defy obedience to the corporate/political mainstream.

Bultman is sure to disentanble rednecks from the Klan, whom most rednecks view as white trash, and from knee-jerk political conservatism, most shockingly vis-a-vis reproductive rights. She also portrays them as being extremely 'Christian' to outsiders in need, a trait from which I have certainly benefitted during my time stuck in truckstops, etc.

All in all, a balanced portrait of a much-maligned minority culture.

My favorite passage, paraphrased: "my marriage has lasted more than fifty years because I get my man to church each week, and I have a pussy tighter than a mouse's ear."

So help me, God, if I ever open a profile on Match.com, that last bit will be my "headline"

 

Journal Entry 7 by ottoshumato from Madison, Wisconsin USA on Saturday, August 28, 2004

Off to Stensler of Milwaukee, WI, on Monday.

Thanks again, weeblet!

 

Journal Entry 8 by ottoshumato from Madison, Wisconsin USA on Monday, August 30, 2004

To Stensler of Milwaukee, WI by media mail today 

Journal Entry 9 by Stensler from Milwaukee, Wisconsin USA on Friday, September 03, 2004

Received in the mail today.

Portrait of A Vanishing Culture? Not from where I am standing. Having a wealthy redneck in the Oval Office hardly seams like a sign of a dieing culture to me.... Hope the author does something to justify this subtitle ;)

Thanks and will get to it soon. 

Journal Entry 10 by Stensler from Milwaukee, Wisconsin USA on Wednesday, September 22, 2004

Journal Entry 11 by icanfly from Grand Blanc, Michigan USA on Tuesday, September 28, 2004

Received 9/27 as part of a bookring. Looking forward to reading it--I'll start it this weekend! 

Journal Entry 12 by icanfly from Grand Blanc, Michigan USA on Wednesday, October 20, 2004

Released yesterday (10/19) by mail to grover3d. I can't say I really enjoyed this book that much--Actually I didn't finish it but came close. Loved the story about the hunting dog that took back the duck confiscated by the game wardens and delivered it to his master who was hiding in the bushes. 

Journal Entry 13 by grover3d from Charleston, West Virginia USA on Monday, November 22, 2004

Not sure how I missed logging this when it got here - so sorry!

Anyway, I've finished now. I've nearly always lived in "redneck" country and I hate to say that I don't think Ms. Bultman has a handle on the culture or on the people. A GREAT idea, but poorly executed - I would love to see someone take up this great topic and do it justice.

Thanks for sharing!

DC# - 0304 0370 0002 0973 4392 

Journal Entry 14 by Mountainwren from Rockville, Maryland USA on Thursday, December 09, 2004

Thanks to all who sent this along its way! This looks like a book I'll dip into rather than peruse thoroughly, as Mt TBR is threatening to erupt. I like cultural explorations and I'm interested in what the author has to say. 

Journal Entry 15 by Mountainwren from Rockville, Maryland USA on Monday, January 03, 2005

This made for interesting skim-reading over the holidays. Florafloraflora asked to be skipped, so the book is off to Virginia to visit with Famfatale. Thanks for the chance to read this! 

Journal Entry 16 by FamFatale from Chantilly, Virginia USA on Wednesday, January 05, 2005

"Women might get kicked down to our knees by life, but never forget you're in the perfect position to bite the balls off what put you there." 

Journal Entry 17 by FamFatale at BookRing in Book Ring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, January 20, 2005

Released 7 yrs ago (1/20/2005 UTC) at BookRing in Book Ring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

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Released to mysterylady36 - bookring 

Journal Entry 18 by mysterylady36 from Ashland, Missouri USA on Monday, January 24, 2005

Arrived today. Looks like a lot of fun! 

Journal Entry 19 by mysterylady36 from Ashland, Missouri USA on Saturday, February 05, 2005

This was a lot of fun and I living in a small midwestern town, I certainly could identify with some of the things she wrote about.

Mailed to JustJen today. 

Journal Entry 20 by JustJen from Bourbon, Missouri USA on Tuesday, February 08, 2005

Received today in the mail. I will get to reading this ASAP. Thanks for sharing. 

Journal Entry 21 by JustJen from Bourbon, Missouri USA on Friday, February 18, 2005

Not my type of book. Read about half of it and just couldn't get into it. Thanks for sharing. Off to the next bookcrosser. 

Journal Entry 22 by tenneh from Verdon, Nebraska USA on Thursday, February 24, 2005

Received today - I have a couple rings ahead of it but I promise to hurry! :-)

Not really my type of book. Although Bultman says she likes the "redneck" culture, it seems to me most of the book is written to make the everyday working people look silly or dumb. Passing this one on. 

Journal Entry 23 by tenneh at Controlled Postal Release in Falls City, Nebraska USA on Tuesday, March 22, 2005

Released 7 yrs ago (3/23/2005 UTC) at Controlled Postal Release in Falls City, Nebraska USA

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going to Luintaurien 

Journal Entry 24 by Luintaurien from York, Nebraska USA on Tuesday, March 29, 2005

Got it yesterday. Will read and pass on asap. 

Journal Entry 25 by Luintaurien from York, Nebraska USA on Tuesday, May 03, 2005

I am just getting started on this. I am pming the next person for their address now though. 

Journal Entry 26 by Luintaurien from York, Nebraska USA on Saturday, May 07, 2005

Finished this today. Thought it was rather interesting and entertaining. Thank you for the chance to read it. 

Journal Entry 27 by Luintaurien at -- By Hand or Post, Ray/Ring, Rabck in York, Nebraska USA on Tuesday, June 28, 2005

Released 6 yrs ago (6/28/2005 UTC) at -- By Hand or Post, Ray/Ring, Rabck in York, Nebraska USA

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Journal Entry 28 by AnnaLibrarian from Richmond, Virginia USA on Thursday, July 07, 2005

The book is here. I'm swamped at the moment, but I'll have it read in the next few weeks. Looks good. 

Journal Entry 29 by AnnaLibrarian from Richmond, Virginia USA on Tuesday, August 23, 2005

I've been a bad bookring member. Sorry about that. I haven't read much this summer, including this book. Now that I've kept it for too long, I'm going to send it on unread. I'll get it in the mail as soon as I have the address of the next participant. 

Journal Entry 30 by AnnaLibrarian at Bookring in n/a, Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, August 24, 2005

Released 6 yrs ago (8/24/2005 UTC) at Bookring in n/a, Bookring -- Controlled Releases

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in the mail to the next participant 

Journal Entry 31 by sgscarcliff on Wednesday, August 31, 2005

will read and send on its way 

Journal Entry 32 by sgscarcliff on Monday, September 26, 2005

I enjoyed the book. Many parts were very funny. I think I will pass on the recipes.

I am mailing to nwpassage today or tomorrow 

Journal Entry 33 by nwpassage from Prince George, British Columbia Canada on Wednesday, October 12, 2005

Arrived today. WOW, it's a lot thicker then I expected! :) I will start this as soon as possible. Thanks for including me weeblet, and thank you sgscarcliff for mailing to me. TBR. 

Journal Entry 34 by nwpassage from Prince George, British Columbia Canada on Wednesday, October 26, 2005

Finished tonight. To be honest I was rather disappointed. I agree with several of the other readers: this was a great idea for a book, but it was poorly executed.

I consider myself a redneck born and bred, but I didn't see much of myself or the rednecks I know & love in this book. In spite of being told repeatedly by the author that she respects and is actually defending rednecks, the overall tone of this book seems much more laughing at, not laughing with. I also found the continuous Celtic-Redneck comparisons to be overused but underjustified. I found the book to be poorly organized; there seemed to be no rhyme or reason, no flow, just random pieces of information.

The thing that makes this book worthwhile is that there are some great one-liners (such as the many bumper stickers quoted) and some real anecdotal gems (such as the guy who earns his living with his tattoo). FamFatale already quoted my favorite passage in her review. :)

Oh, and if any of the other readers get up the nerve to try the recipes, I am very curious to hear how they are... though I'm not nearly brave enough to try them for myself! :)

Thanks for sharing this book, weeblet. Oh, and I love the card you sent with the ring... very appropriate & redneck of you! :) I have R2's address and will have this book in the mail by Thursday... which should put it into the next reader's hands sometime next week. 

Journal Entry 35 by R2 from Calgary, Alberta Canada on Wednesday, November 02, 2005

This arrived in the mail yesterday. I started it this morning and hope to finish it soon. 

Journal Entry 36 by R2 from Calgary, Alberta Canada on Friday, November 04, 2005

I enjoyed the book. I found the Celtic origins of rednecks interesting but suspect the accuracy of it. It was interesting to see some similarities between the Canadian rednecks I know and the American onse the author was writing about. At times the author gave a good insight redneck culture but would then seem to look down on rednecks.
I am giving this to my wife to read before I passs it on. 

Journal Entry 37 by C3 from Calgary, Alberta Canada on Saturday, November 12, 2005

I grabbed this book to read when R2 finished it. I enjoyed the book, but it wasn't quite what I thought it was going to be. I did notice in several places that I (and R2) qualify as rednecks. I haven't quite finished it, but will finish it for sure before I mail it off on Monday Morning.

Thank you weeblet for doing this bookring, and thank you to everyone who has participated in it so far for such interesting comments. 

Journal Entry 38 by C3 at Bookring in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, November 17, 2005

Released 6 yrs ago (11/17/2005 UTC) at Bookring in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

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Journal Entry 39 by Flicki from Emden, Niedersachsen Germany on Friday, December 23, 2005

Received this a few days ago! Hope to get to it soon - it looks quite good! :-) Thanks a bunch for sending and sharing! 

Journal Entry 40 by Flicki from Emden, Niedersachsen Germany on Saturday, May 06, 2006

Finally finished this one today - and sent it right off to Kernow8!

The book was okay but not soo funny to me as a German... I'm afraid I didn't get all the jokes because I lack a bit of cultural knowledge around here. :-) Still, the book was fairly interesting in most parts (I won't try any of the receipes, though...) and I will certainly give a copy of it (still available 2nd hand...) to a friend in the US for Christmas! :-)

Thanks for sharing and for your patience! :-)

Thanks a lot for sharing. 

Journal Entry 41 by Kernow8 from Southampton, Hampshire United Kingdom on Monday, May 22, 2006

Arrived a few days ago. I had a quick flick through and noticed that rednecks are descended from the Celts, so now I'm intrigued to read the rest... 

Journal Entry 42 by Kernow8 from Southampton, Hampshire United Kingdom on Monday, September 11, 2006

I finished this a while ago and wrote to taniazed at the start of August for her address. No reply yet, so I've just PM'd her again - if that draws a blank too I'll be in touch with you weeblet to send it back home. 

Journal Entry 43 by Kernow8 from Southampton, Hampshire United Kingdom on Saturday, October 07, 2006

Sent back to weeblet this morning. I really did enjoy reading this - it was fascinating, although I can't say that any of the recipes really appealed! I did like the list of (non-edible) uses for Coke though! Thanks weeblet, I hope it gets back to you safe and sound. 

Journal Entry 44 by weeblet from Jacksonville, Florida USA on Saturday, October 14, 2006

home safe :)
thanks everyone!!