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Customer Reviews (5)

A good collection of short stories
I am surprised by the reviewer who expected good endings.These stories are mainly about blues musicians and the people around them, and historically many of them came to bad ends.You have stories about musicians making pacts with the devil, musicians living out lives they wrote about, people reinventing themselves, and people dying.The stories are mainly set in the Mississippi Delta area, with some moving into adjoining states.The stories cover a span of time from the 1920s to the present, from the Jim Crow era to modern times.

Mystery Meets the Blues
Turn on your Lead Belly, sip at that lemonade and have a set down on the porch with some Delta Blues. Carolyn Haines has collected nineteen stories that "...tell about bad men and bad women who sometimes do good..." or so says Morgan Freeman who wrote the foreword. This is a solid collection where the big names slip it in good and hard and the same goes for the lesser knowns.

Ace Atkins deserves a pile of eyes (and if you haven't read his historical mysteries or Nick Travers series, you should). James Lee Burke's "Big Midnight Special" puts an inmate at Parchment Farm between a bastard big daddy inmate and an equally awful prison administration. Sticking with Parchment Farm, John Grisham gives us a sight of a dysfunctional family where prison time is a common theme for the three sons of an aging mother...death row in particular. It wouldn't be the blues if Robert Johnson wasn't mentioned and the most well known name to cover his supposed Devil-dealings is Charlaine Harris with "Crossroads Bargain."

Here's a collection of Southern-based stories that hand out redemption, rot, a bit of hellfire and a nod to the blues.

Delta Blues
My husband and I were looking forward to this book but was very disappointed! None of the stories had good endings!It seemed like the authors just did their duty and turned in a story! We do not recommend this book!

High quality short stories.
I love the story collections that I have read in the past that are supernatural themed (Charlaine Harris fan).However, those tend to be written in a different style.This collection of short stories really reminds me of high quality literature that you were required to read in college lit class.I really like the caliber of the writers, and they did not disappoint.This collection lives up to its name, and it really is all about the blues and blues fans/singers/musicians.There is a mystic element to it, which satisfies my need to buy it for the Charlaine Harris short story inside, which was great.It's a great book to curl up with and read from cover to cover if you can take the intensity in one sitting.

Delta Blues- short stories
Delta Blues
Edited by Carolyn Haines
(Tyrus Books, 2010)

James Lee Burke, John Grisham, Les Standiford, Beth Ann Fennelly, and more--a total of twenty of the best Southern writers--link music, crime, passion, the Blues and the Mississippi Delta in this remarkable new collection of short stories.

Whether playing out in modern-day Tunica's gambling casinos or traveling back in time to forge an unexpected connection to the assassination of President Kennedy, each story has been carefully chosen by the editor, Carolyn Haines, herself one of the contributors.

In Suzanne Hudson's"All the Way to Memphis," two unlikely characters set out on a road trip, stopping at Buck's Diner, a place where time has stopped. A lone waitress saunters to the table offering more tea, calling them honey and sugar and baby, her "blood red fingernails clicking against heavy glass."

The characters in Lynne Barrett's "Blues for Veneece" uncover, quite literally, a crime scene one family had hoped was buried forever. In another story, the wife of a captain of the Parchman State Penitentiary dreams of any life but the one she has.

In fact, most of the characters in these stories seem to dream of elsewhere, singing their own Blues tunes to the beat of an ordinary life.

Often played out against a backdrop of murder and misappropriation, the stories tell of second chances and new beginnings, lives wasted and more than a few rescued. Moonlit nights, shape shifting, concealed and un-concealed weapons make appearances, leaving readers with chills running up spines or hearts beating faster.

As if reading this collection for the pure enjoyment of the writing isn't enough, a portion of the sales will be donated to literacy efforts in the Delta. Well done, on many counts.

Augusta Scattergood ... Read more

Product Description
Meet Delta Burke--beloved star of Designing Women, accomplished actress, founding partner of Delta Burke Design, a sassy, glamorous actress for whom learning to live as a "real-size" woman has presented all kinds of opportunities.A beauty-pageant winner, Delta had a much-publicized weight gain during Designing Women and was the subject of press speculation and gossip.But as she started to come to terms with the fact that her body would always be full-figured, she found her fans loved her all the more, and the outpouring of support began to compensate for the emotional strain.

With wit, honesty, and directness, she discusses the pain she felt, her agonizing efforts to achieve a size 6 body, and her own journey to self-acceptance, which led her to found Delta Burke Design, a clothing company for the real-size woman.

Filled with inspirational, motivational advice, humorous anecdotes, and style tips from this nationally adored celebrity, Delta Style shows how positive thinking can transform your state of mind and give you the confidence to live up to your own--and only your own--expectations.

Beautiful Delta is a perfect role model for the millions of women who find coping with a real-size body requires strategy and acceptance, as well as for those captivated by her screen presence and smart, upbeat approach to life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (28)

Enjoyable read
I thoroughly enjoyed Delta's book. While I normally would've been anything but interested in a woman who spent so many years in beauty pageants, I've always liked this actress. She was talented and hilarious on "Designing Women," and there was always something about her that let you know she was interesting, quirky, good-hearted, andstrong. (She herself says she always knew pageants were a means to an end.) I was one of the people who sent her a letter of support when that ridiculous obession with her weight gain began. (And she sent back a lovely card of thanks.) Delta sort of had to go through it for all of us full-figured women first - through her experience, the media and U.S. as a whole seemed to realize for the first time that most women in this country are not a Hollywood size 0 (duh). I appreciate how she stuck out the difficult times and has stayed a beautiful person. Her book was a great mix of autobiography and style, makeup and clothing tips. I read it just after reading Carnie Wilson's homage to getting drastic surgery as a way to slim down, and while I realize that Delta was never as dangerously heavy as Carnie, it's such a relief to read about a full-figured woman who accepts herself as she is and is helping others do the same. Go Delta!

Just be yourself, big, small, or in between
Delta Burke has been a favorite of mine since I saw her on the HBO series 1st and 10.She has such a beauty about her,regardless of size.Her book tells about her life and struggles to meet everyone else's expectations. She didn't become comfortable with herself until she learned to accept herself for who she is. The first part of the book is dedicated to that search. I laughed and I cried along with her.To me, it took a lot for her to tell this story. I am not into the tabloids nor tabloid tv programming.I would much rather read about these things from the people involved.

She gives a lot of beauty advice and style advice in the second part. I did not always find her home formulas to be the best. Her tips, on style, however, I really enjoyed.

The thrid part, is a resource section that gives a lot of web sites. I really enjoyed surfing the sites listed.

The pictures of her family and throughout her career were enjoyable to me.Some of us can relate to these people and places.They are throughout the entire book.

Delta's way should be the way for all of us.Just be who we are, love ourselves for that, and let our inner beauty shine through.This book was really needed.Thank you, Ms Burke.

A book as great as the lady!
Ever since the 80s when Designing Women hit its peek I have adored Delta Burke. I have even had the pleasure of meeting her a time or two. Why it took me so long to get around to reading this book, I do not know. Even as an admirer of Ms. Burke I was pleasantly surprised with this book. I reads more like she's sitting in your living room telling her stories than stiff pages of an autobiography. Her personal style and sweetness come shining through in the pages. I could have lived without the beauty tips & dressing tips in lieu of more personal stories, but her shopping guide was a nice touch. There are lots of great pictures spanning her entire life. She is a true southern lady and a steel magnolia to boot.

Be yourself
I loved the book.I have always been heavy.I tried to lose weight for someone else not myself. At one time I did lose 50 pounds but I have put it back on and then some.Delta taught me to be myself and love myself for whom I am not how much I weigh. Her beauty tips were great also.I usually don't were make-up because I really don't now how to apply it.But Delta showed me how to be beautiful on the inside as well as on the outside.I have been wearing make-up and now I feel pretty.Thanks for always being there for the big girls.

Real Size Women Find a Mentor
This book is a fun, quick read. It practically jumped off the bookshelf in the "Biography" section. And though the first (and longest) chapter of the book is Delta's autobiography, this book is much more.

The second half of _Delta Style_ is full of Delta's tips about how to dress to fit your own shape and style. She also has good tips on make-up and recipes for various home-made facials along with other skin care tips. The third chapter is all about hair. And at the end of the book is a good reference guide to finding products and services geared to real size women -- including web resources.

What I liked best about the book is that Delta comes across as a real woman -- in size and personality. She shares with her readers the parts of her life that were hard to bear. And then she shares the process she took to get through the though times. She shows how she learned to accept herself and find her own sense of style. She even has a list of 24 questions that help you learn about yourself, the life you lead, and the life you *want* to lead so that you can start to define your own sense of style.

... Read more

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Word count: 887. ... Read more

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DELTA STYLE ... Read more

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1st & Ten, The Smash Hit Comedy As Seen On HBO, Complete Collection, All 80 Episodes (DVD Set, Color, Total Running time: 40 Hours) ... Read more