With sprightly humor and a lifetime spent observing Southern culture, beloved storyteller Kathryn Tucker Windham shares memories of her childhood in Thomasville, Alabama. She affectionately recounts stories about family members, friends, and favorite pastimes. Spit, Scarey Ann, and Sweat Bees recalls small-town life in the 1920s and '30s, garnished with ruminations about folktales and superstitions. Mrs. Windham recalls how Thurza, the family cook, tucked a wooden match in her hair to cure a headache, and how her father spit in his hat when a rabbit crossed the road. She ponders the origins of old sayings and the creativity of children's play before television and air conditioning. One thing leads to another, Mrs. Windham says, ticking off the items she wants us not to forget. In every phrase, the reader hears her voice, almost as if our favorite story teller was in the room.
"Spit, Scarey Ann, & Sweat Bees contains highly visual images, and it is written almost as if Windham is viewing mental photographs. She scrutinizes one, reminisces of the anecdote surrounding it, and moves on to the next. Windham's memoir is evidence of why she has earned the reputation of being Alabama's favorite storyteller."
Rebecca Dempsey
"Kathryn Tucker Windham continues to pursue many professions. Regardless of the genre, she succeeds. She captures her South with all its richness and complexity ... All ages can enjoy this book, which can easily bridge generation gaps through shared reading. These 'simple tales' are the 'stuff' of our heritage, Alabama's past. This master storyteller has done her readers the invaluable service of
