Britt Raborn

When it comes to decorating your southern home, one of the first things that comes to mind are books for book shelves and coffee tables. If you live in the south, filling those spots with local books is a must! There are some other ones you can definitely add to your list to check and can sit on that book shelf or coffee table all year round. Below are some perfect books for you that are inspired by the south! Read below for details and descriptions!

The Southerner’s Handbook: A Guide to Living the Good Life: As stated by amazon, “Whether you live below the Mason Dixon Line or just wish you did, The Southerner’s Handbook is your guide to living the good life. Curated by the editors of the award-winning Garden & Gun magazine, this compilation of more than 100 instructional and narrative essays offers a comprehensive tutorial to modern-day life in the South.”

Southern Cocktails: Dixie Drinks, Party Potions, and Classic Libations: According to Amazon, “Don’t mind if I do . . . ” Welcome to one of the South’s most cherished traditionsthe cocktail hour. This charming volume overflows with Southern spirit with classics like the Mint Julep and the Hurricane to new concoctions like the Blueberry Martini and the Peach Mojito, each drink is as relaxing as a riverboat ride down the Mississippi.”

Queen of the Turtle Derby and Other Southern Phenomena: As said by Amazon, “To hear Reed tell it, the South is another country. She builds an entertaining and persuasive case, using as examples everything from its unfathomable codes of conduct to its disciplined fashion sense. And then there is Southern food, which is an entire world apart: Gumbo, grits, greens, and, of course, fried chicken make memorable appearances in Reed’s essays, which will amuse, delight, and even explain a thing or two to baffled Yankees everywhere.”

Ham Biscuits, Hostess Gowns, and Other Southern Specialties: An Entertaining Life (with Recipes): Amazon states, “In Ham Biscuits, Hostess Gowns and Other Southern Specialties Julia Reed collects her thoughts on good cooking and the lessons of gracious entertaining that pass from one woman to another, and takes the reader on a lively and very personal tour of the culinary—and social—South. In essays on everything from pork chops to the perfect picnic Julia Reed revels in the simple good qualities that make the Southern table the best possible place to pull up a chair.”

One Man’s Folly: The Exceptional Houses of Furlow Gatewood: Explained by Amazon, “When it comes to interiors style, antiques, and Southern vernacular architecture, Furlow Gatewood is a one-of-a-kind classic-this book presents his magical private enclave for the first time. Antiques expert Furlow Gatewood’s highly personal property in bucolic Americus, Georgia, where he has meticulously restored his family’s carriage house and added intimate dwellings and outbuildings-several rescued from demolition-has evolved over decades to become a sublime expression of stylish living. The structures exemplify various architectural traditions-from mid-nineteenth-century Gothic to Palladian.”

Charleston Academy of Domestic Pursuits: A Handbook of Etiquette with Recipes: Amazon states, “he Academy’s unique curriculum includes everything from cocktail-party etiquette to business entertaining, dealing with household guests, and cooking for the holidays. Here, after a little gentle instruction from Deans Pollak and Manigault, interspersed with plenty of humor, students find they are living healthier, having stronger ties to friends and family, and using their houses to branch out in ways they never dreamed possible.”

Image source, Roost Blog