At Least They're Reading

In its regular feature "What We're Reading, " lifestyle magazine Southern Living does its best to refute the stereotype promoted by Bill Hicks of Southerners as illiterate white trash. Here's what they're reading in April:


READ OF THE MONTH: THE PURRFECT MURDER BY RITA MAE BROWN (BANTAM, $25)

Writing duo Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie Brown celebrate a triumphant return with The Purrfect Murder, the latest installment of their best-selling feline series. It seems there's always trouble in Crozet, Virginia, and as usual, it's up to clever cats Mrs. Murphy and Pewter, along with indomitable corgi Tee Tucker, to solve the mystery. These pets are on the scent to help their owner, Mary Minor “Harry” Haristeen, sniff out and uncover the clues of a small-town murder and the identity of a killer who grows more dangerous every day. Amid a backdrop of thought-provoking arguments ranging from Second Amendment rights to Roe vs. Wade, this novel follows a hair-raising mystery of money, morals, and misbehavior in the moneyed South. With a wacky menagerie of unforgettable characters—and a few of their human friends—The Purrfect Murder is sure to keep you (and a furry companion) glued to your seat until the cat's let out of the bag. (Elisabeth Parrish)


NOT FLESH NOR FEATHERS BY CHERIE PRIEST (TOR BOOKS, $14.95)

When it rains in Chattanooga, it pours, unearthing charred zombies from the deep waters of the Tennessee River. In Cherie Priest's Not Flesh Nor Feathers, protagonist Eden Moore wades through floodwaters to intercept their destructive path through the panicked city. Come hell or high water, Eden digs for the truth to uncover the facts about a historical event that city officials would rather keep buried. As torrents of rain threaten to wash away the remnants of the devastating incident, Eden and a local journalist seek the answers from every angle—even from the deceased. Priest's story, the third in a series, is chock-full of chilling details and soaked to the bone with suspense. (Cory Bordonaro)


HISTORIC HOTELS OF TEXAS BY LIZ CARMACK (TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY PRESS, $23)

The Lone Star State is reputed to do everything bigger and better. This travel guide backs up that claim. Historic Hotels of Texas encompasses 20,000 miles' worth of the author's trekking and checking on the best hotels that are at least 50 years old, have operated for most of their existence as a lodging, and remain open today. The book is divided into regions—Big Bend Country, Gulf Coast, Hill Country, Panhandle Plains, Piney Woods, Prairies and Lakes, and South Texas Plains. The variety of styles ranges from the charming Driskill Hotel in Austin (1886) to the cowboy-with-cash Stockyards Hotel (1907) in Fort Worth. Each entry comes with a handy box of essentials, including contact information, amenities, and the author's personal tips. For anyone living in, traveling to, or just fond of the state, this packable Texas guidebook is a valuable companion. (Wanda McKinney)



Yes, that's Rita Mae Brown of Ruby Fruit Jungle fame, now co-writing mysteries with one of her cats. Here's an interview with her in a recent issue of Time magazine.


Stereotype refuted.