A Southern Delight

The Tea-Olive Bird Watching Society by Augusta Trobaugh

Humor/Adult Fiction

This book had the feeling of "Aresenic and Old Lace"; therefore, I loved it! 

Who knew little old ladies from church were so mercenary and vengeful?  The Tea-Olive Bird Watching Society is made up of four gentle Southern women who like to drink tea and watch birds.  Whatever you do, do not fu$! with them.  They will mess you up!

The Society is made up of Zion, Wildwood, Beluah and Sweet, all named for Bible hymns and life-long friends.  They have grown up together in Tea-Olive, GA, but they couldn't be more different.  When Sweet marries for the first time at the age of 60+, the ladies are thrilled for her.....until her personality starts to change from 'sweet' to fearful.  When Sweet's happiness and health are threatened, the others go into full-on Ninja mode.  Beware when you mess with a Southern lady!  Friends and family will eviscerate you.  Usually, just figuratively.  But, in this book, more literally. 

Beulah and Zion aren't going to just hand over Sweet without a fight to her new abusive husband.  They come up with a plan to murder him.  The plan in ingenious-and hilarious-and fails in such an epic way.  But these ladies aren't quitters and they'll do whatever it takes to get their main--in a coffin!

I really loved this book.  It had moments of sweetness and sadness and just pure fun, both good-natured and the naughty kind.  It was a rare book that transcends age and one I whole-heartedly recommended to my very Southern Baptist mother.