Monday, May 14, 2012

Teaser Tuesday - How to Be Texan

While going through my bookshelves, trying to find books to recycle - to make room for new ones! - I came across How To Be Texan by Michael Hicks. Both of us authors of I.O.U. SEX are native Texans, so I guess I don't need this book, do I? But I've moved to the Pacific Northwest, so maybe it will remind me of my roots. I'm keepin' it.


I hope y'all enjoy this excerpt. It's from about the middle of the book (the pages aren't numbered):

Actually, the Chicken Ranch was a whorehouse of sorts, named in honor of the many thousands of chickens bartered for services. Tragically, the Chicken Ranch was brought to its knees and finally closed by a publicity-hungry newsman from Houston who was eager to get a five-minute news story. The legend lives on, though, in the successful stage musical The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.

This book was written in 1981. In 1982 a movie (based on the Broadway musical) was released, starring Dolly Parton and Burt Reynolds (he was such a hunk back then). Here's a cute trailer:


For more two-sentence excerpts from readers, visit Miz B here: Teaser Tuesday

48 comments:

  1. So, is the movie based on this novel, by chance? You're right about Burt Reynolds back in those days (look at me dating myself!), a definite hunk!!

    Here's my Teaser Tuesday: http://shirley-mybookshelf.blogspot.ca/2012/05/teaser-tuesdays-is-weekly-meme-hosted.html

    Be sure to check out my contest when you stop by! :)

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    1. Hi, Shirley. I don't think you're dating yourself by saying Burt Reynolds was good looking back then. Anybody who sees an old picture of him would agree! I think the movie is based on the Broadway musical which was based on the novel.

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  2. What a name for a whorehouse! My husband and I lived in Texas for 6 years and we were given a book on how to speak Texan. We got teased a lot, but we teased everyone right back. My teaser comes from Heart of Glass by Jill Marie Landis

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    1. Hi, Beth. Thank you for leaving a comment. It sounds like you and your husband have a good approach to life. Teasing right back is the way to go!
      (I just visited your blog, read your post, and left a comment.)

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  3. Great teaser, and the trailer sure brought back memories too. Awesome choice this week, thanks for sharing!

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    1. I'm glad you enjoyed it, Janet Ruth. It brought back memories of the movie for me too.

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  4. never seen the movie but i need to!

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    1. It's hard for me to believe that movie is thirty years old! I must have been a baby when it was made. (Yeah. Right.) I wonder if it's still available anywhere?

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  5. I have not seen the movie in years and, though I did not get to it, the musical was recently performed by a local theater. There were some good songs in it. My teaser: The Descendants by Kaui Hart Hemmings.

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    1. Hi, Heather. We don't see many musicals these days, do we ... well, except for Mama Mia, which I loved!

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  6. Oh my goodness! I haven't seen that movie but think I need to rent it. Too funny! My teaser is here: http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/2012/05/15/teaser-tuesdays-may-15/#comment-48346

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    1. I'm glad you enjoyed the movie trailer. If you like musicals, then you'll probably enjoy this one. For me, just watching a young Burt Reynolds was reason enough to rent it!

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  8. I haven't seen the movie but sounds interesting. Thanks for stopping by My TT!

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  9. As soon as I saw the title I smiled while sitting here in Dallas :)

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    1. Dallas is my hometown! I'm glad you enjoyed today's post.

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  10. I loved that movie...and this book sounds delightful. Thanks for sharing.

    Here's MY TUESDAY MEMES POST

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    1. I liked it too. I think I'll see if Netflix has it and watch it again.

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  11. I'm not surprised the news person is from Houston at all lol. Great teaser! Thanks for stopping by!

    Ning @ Reading by Kindle Fire

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  12. Awesome teaser and very interesting information!

    Here's my TT.

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  13. Never saw the movie either, a great teaser!

    http://tributebooksmama.blogspot.com/2012/05/teaser-tuesday_15.html

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  14. This isn't a book I would read, but it's interesting :) I didn't know it was a broadway and movie made book. How awesome! Thank you for stopping by :) I hope you have a great day!

    -Neyra

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    1. Ooops. I'm afraid my original post was misleading. The movie and broadway show were not based on this book. A book entitled The Whorehouse Papers is associated with those productions, but it seems to have been written afterwards. I revised my post to correct that error. I guess I shouldn't believe everything I find online.
      My apologies.

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  15. OMG! I have to see this! I knew it was out there but nver thought it would interest me.
    Thanx for the gr8 TT :)
    My Teaser Tuesday

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    1. The book has articles about chicken fried steak, pickup trucks, boots, music, holidays, etc. So it's really a reference book. I hope you get to see the movie and enjoy it!

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  16. I always figured books about Texas were made for Texans in the first place.

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  17. Great teasers :) Seems like an interesting book ;) Enjoy it :D
    Thank you for commenting on my Teaser Tuesday. <3
    Love, Carina @ Carina's Books

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  18. Great teaser. As a former Texan (is there any such thing) I love Texas stories. Here is my teaser:

    TT

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    1. I'm laughing at your comment! After all the Texas history I learned in school and after living there about half my life, being Texan is something that sticks with me like my accent.
      Thanks for leaving a comment.

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  19. That certainly is an interesting tidbit of state history. I had no idea that was based on a true story. Nice teaser!

    Thanks for visiting my blog today!

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    1. Yes, Cecelia, there really was a Chicken Ranch. Hard to believe, isn't it?

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  20. Wonderful what you re-find when going through the book shelves isn't it? Thanks for visiting my blog today.

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    1. It sure is, and I have a hard time parting with books.

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  21. I haven't even heard of this before, and I'm from Texas! Thanks for sharing, it's nice to know a little more about my home state. :)

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    1. That's not the sort of thing they taught us in Texas History classes!

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  22. Hi! Thanks for dropping by my blog!

    Nice teaser.

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  23. Ha! This was one of my fav movies as a kid. Which is weird.
    Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Andrea, that is kind of weird! Maybe all that lively music and dancing appealed to you.

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  24. Interesting teaser and such a cute trailer! I'm really tempted to track down a copy of the movie now lol. Thanks for stopping by my blog :)

    Claire @ Project to be Read

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    1. Claire, it's a fun fluffy musical -- pure escapism.

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  25. Great teaser. I have to check this one out.

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  26. Nice addition of video! Thanks for dropping by Read@UTS!

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  27. That is a very interesting teaser! Thanks for stopping by! Happy reading!

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