"My Sister Can Write Better Than Yours"

"Southern Fried divorce" by Judy Conner, older sister of Jill Conner Browne, author of the Sweet Potato Queens series. Gotham Books 223 pages $23*

This is the woman's point-of-view about divorce in New Orleans. As we all know whether we've actually been there or not, New Orleans is a very strange place. "That Ex" at the time of the divorce was running a couple of clubs (apparently successfully, too) so one of the terms in the decree was a lifetime free bar tab at any joint he owned.

He showed up post-divorce to give her a home protection service -- a pistol and a puppy, saying that the dog would grow up to be a fine watchdog. She accepted both and wondered about a man who would give his ex-wife gun. Easpecially a wife who said she had a disposition like a wolverine at times. Frequent times.

"That Ex" (as she annoyingly refers to him all through the book; she could have used his name since he wound up dead at the end) was apparently one of those frat boy, hard-drinking idiots that The South manages to turn out so frequently. He loved outwitting authority figures (with some success; he managed to stay out of prison) and practical jokes.

He was filled with outrageous charm and (according to his ex-wife) was extremely handsome. It's an amusing read; I knocked the whole thing off yesterday afternoon (which goes far to explain the state of this house.)

*It cost me 50 cents and is in pristine condition. I cannot stress too much the importance of library book sales to the budget.