On the Southern Literary Trail discussion

Jane , I have seen the horrible attack and the victims , their families are in my prayers. Hope you are okay and out of the hospital soon .

I am doing very well and will be leaving on Monday thank you , unlike so many ..

Scary, Jane, that you were so close. There seems to be no place to hide these days.

This senseless killing is just as horrible the millionth time as it was the first. I pray for everyone who is touched by this attack, victims and their friends and families. I'm glad you are safe, Jane.

Xx

Jane wrote: "Please say a prayer for the victims of the attack in Nice last night

From my hospital bed I saw many arrive in the services last night and heard the helicopters ."

I haven't even been able to make myself look at the news yet. I am so sick at heart that this kind of thing is happening so constantly. What a tragedy.

This hospital says many children ....

Jane wrote: "This hospital says many children ...."

Oh, God. As if it couldn't get worse. . . I am glad you're safe, Jane, but this is so heartbreaking. Prayers, definitely.

Xxx

Stay strong Jane. It's for reasons like these that I try to tune out the news.

You do well to tune out

what is wrong with the world and people today? why cant everyone just get along without attacking places and people.

So sorry, Jane. My husband used to spend a lot of time in Nice while in the Navy. Three students from UC Berkeley where my husband works were injured, and one is missing. The world is too much with us some days.

Lawyer wrote: "Remembering William Faulkner

We lost great Author William Faulkner, on July 6, 1962 at a private sanitarium in Byhalia, Mississippi. It was a place to which Faulkner went to "dry out" after a peri..."

Alcohol did him in, not much doubt about it. By any definition a stone cold alcoholic. He was very lucky to have made it to 64. He escaped a near-death alcohol episode in 1940 while out hunting. I read somewhere that he was a Four Roses bourbon drinker, perhaps when Jack Daniels unavailable. No matter. I also went looking for the sanitarium 4 yrs ago. Interesting to see the above drawing of same. He once had about 300 acres (Greenfield Farm) some 15 or so miles north of Oxford. Not sure what became of that land. He might have sold it during his lifetime. Don't recall.

One of my forever favorite writers. A Light in August likely is at the top of the list of his works for me.

Judi wrote: "One of my forever favorite writers. A Light in August likely is at the top of the list of his works for me."

I agree. A Light in August is an interesting story and easier to follow than a work like The Sound and the Fury. Faulkner was a literary genius and probably the top American writer of the 20th century. He was and is still popular in France.

I shall give The Sound and the Fury a go.

Judi wrote: "I shall give The Sound and the Fury a go."

Judi, It is a very tough book to understand, especially the first section (the Benji section). Took me more than 30 yrs to read from beginning to end. I simply gave up ten or more times after trying to comprehend what the heck was going on. A little help - golf. Ha. I used the Norton edition of the book which helps explain things. Please don't let me discourage you. It's well worth the work. Good luck.

Thanks B.R.

Went from giving up on The Sound and the Fury as a freshman at Berry College to writing a doctoral dissertation on the Master at Florida State University. Along the way I came to recognize that even if I don't always know what he is up to, Faulkner does. I learned to trust and read on. My reward? The ultimate experience of a reading life. The downside? After the dissertation, it took me more than thirty years to stop writing bad Faulkner. Still have lapses.

Oscar, that is exactly the approach I finally took after years of thinking I could never "get" Faulkner. A friend told me to just read without trying make sense of things, just let the language wash over me , and it would all make sense in the end. I did that with "Absalom, Absalom" and finally realized what a genius he really was.

I always contended you can't read Faulkner the first. You have to get to the end and start all over again. It's worth the effort.

Diane wrote: "Oscar, that is exactly the approach I finally took after years of thinking I could never "get" Faulkner. A friend told me to just read without trying make sense of things, just let the language was..."
Diane, yes. I think we don't ever get Faulkner; he gets us.

Oscar wrote: "Went from giving up on The Sound and the Fury as a freshman at Berry College to writing a doctoral dissertation on the Master at Florida State University. Along the way I came to recognize that eve..."

I appreciated your comments. "He gets us." That is something I need to remember.

I don't remember who it was who first mentioned to me about letting Faulkner's words wash over me, especially in the stream of consciousness segments, but it has certainly made my reading more enjoyable and understandable (though I won't go so far as to say I understand Faulkner). I also pass that advice on to everyone else I know who plans to read him.

Funny how the mood of his writing can sink in after you read something you don't feel you've understood at all!

Sue, you capture the essence of reading Faulkner.

Judi wrote: "Sue, you capture the essence of reading Faulkner."

Thanks Judi. I know Diane mentioned some of the same above (but then she and I have discussed this before) and I want to continue reading Faulkner until I have completed his works. I have goals of reading as many of Faulkner and Willa Cather's works as possible. I really picked two completely different writers! Though they both are very American writers, I believe.

I am deeply saddened to announce that Kirk Smith die suddenly in a motorcycle accident minutes after midnight on the morning of Saturday, September 1, 2017.

Kirk joined us as a member on September 25, 2014. We owe thanks to Josh Webber, the husband of Moderator Laura Webber for bringing Kirk's knowledge and regular contributions to this group.

Kirk was a vital and vibrant member of the Trail. You can find his articulate comments throughout the discussion topics of our group. He regularly contributed valuable opinions and thoughts throughout his time with us.

However, Kirk's involvement with the Trail extended beyond that. He reached out to many members of this group in friendship, not only as a reader in the goodreads community, but by his correspondence, and sharing his personal life with a number of us through Facebook.

Many people scoff online friendships, questioning the genuine nature of connections formed there. I have never believed that. And it was clear to me that what Kirk posted was as real and genuine as information shared by people who meet face to face.

Kirk was more than a reader. He was a husband, family man, the father of a son. He was a talented craftsman in interior and architectural design. In fact, Kirk was talented in pursuing anything that caught his interest.

I will miss Kirk Smith not only here, but his friendship that extended beyond "The Trail." I am sure that all of you who came to know him will as well.

Following is his obituary, should you wish to send your condolences.

From News Oklahoma.

Goodbye, my friend. I will miss your presence.

Mike Sullivan
"Lawyer Stevens"

None of us will remotely feel Kirk's loss like Janice and the boys, his extended family, and Oklahoma friends, But since we started doing buddy-reads together a year ago, darling Kirk has been part of my daily life and that of a few others here.

Our little group is terribly torn up, but Kirk's words live on in his insightful, generous, and funny comments here in the world of Goodreads. He was our Mark Twain. Our friend and our brother. Please pray for Janice and the boys, and embrace your friends.

Sail on, darling boy. We love you.

At first I was amazed at the grief I felt when I heard about Kirk's sudden death. How could I feel so strongly about someone I had never met in person? I knew him only as a fellow reader, a book lover, a kindred spirit of sorts, and our conversations were about books, writing, shared reviews, favorite authors. He introduced me to some of his favorite books, and I introduced him to mine. But I feel as though a family member has been lost.
On further reflection though, that's exactly what has happened. This group IS a family, full of jokesters, sensitive souls, serious thinkers, from every state and many different countries, men, women, different religions or no religion, and certainly, different views on any subject under the sun. But we all love books, and reading, and sharing our thoughts. That is the glue that holds us together. For me, reading makes us all citizens of the world, not just our own little corner of it. Kirk had a giant soul, and leaves a void for those of us who knew him, even if we only knew him through his words.
As one of his Facebook friends remarked, "I don't know if Kirk believed in such things, but if there's a heaven, I hope it's got a big-ass library".
Good-bye, Kirk. I hope you spend eternity with a book in your hand.

Thanks for letting us know about this Lawyer. Really sad news about Kirk, and I'm a little bit shocked. It was always great getting comments from Kirk on my reviews and vice versa, and discussing books and thoughts about many other things. Prayers for his family, friends, and others close to him. Rest in peace, my friend.

I agree with the comment from Facebook, Diane. If an essence that is "me" exists post-death, it will still seek books and stories. I talk way more with y'all than I do my own family some
weeks, my kids are busy running campaigns and overseeing lawsuits and going to school. When we see each other, it is lovely, but never leisurely enough to have a lengthy discussion about books.

This has made me very sad. RIP, Kirk. You added something to the lives you touched, even those you touched across miles and space.

Our little community will feel a lot smaller without Kirk. He has recommended so many books that have enhanced my understanding of and appreciation for the literature of the American South. I'm sure I am not alone in saying that he will be greatly missed. I believe that I'll put on my favorite version of The Parting Glass and pour a glass of muddy water and drink a toast to a good friend. 'Goodnight sweet Prince. May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.'

I'm very sad to hear this news. Thank you for posting, Mike. I echo your comments about online friendships.

"He wanted to think of words that would make some difference but there were none in any language he knew that were sufficient to the moment or that would change a single thing."
Kent Haruf, Eventide (Plainsong, #2)

Kirk was a remarkable man. Josh and I had an opportunity to meet and dine with Kirk and Janice a couple of years back. He was a true gentleman. He was such a humble man and was never stingy with his compliments and encouragements. He was the GR friend that you checked their status daily to make sure you weren't missing out on what he was reading or what his thoughts were on a book. It makes me smile to see other GR members with shelves called "kirk recommended". From one of my favorite books comes the mountain saying, "A tall woman casts a long shadow." In this case, Kirk cast a long shadow. He made mine and Josh's life better. This tragedy leaves a void but we are better for having known him. We adore him and will miss him so very much. Rest easy our friend.

Is it possible to mourn someone you never met face-to-face? Yes. Kirk was a beautiful, kind, talented, man and my life was blessed by getting to know him first via The Trail and later via mutual friendships. I watched the sun go down today and Kirk and his love of sailboats and sunsets filled my mind as tears filled my eyes. I can only imagine the sadness his sweet wife Janice, his sons, and his family are feeling right now. I wept when I heard the news. I felt like Kirk's last chapter was not written. That he had so much more to share and give to his family and friends. More beautiful designs to create. More books to read and collect. More stories to tell and share. More boats to sail and items to restore. But it was time for Kirk to go Home.

Kirk, sail on sweet friend. You were well loved and I am thankful for all the good conversations we had about books and life. Thankful for the interesting things I learned about you and all the times you made me laugh when I needed a laugh more than anything.

This is sad news and a beautiful tribute to a remarkable person. He will be greatly missed.

I'm reading all these beautiful comments about a man I never knew or interacted with. I'm fairly new to this group, and have not yet actually become a real part of it. But your words about a man who was loved and will be missed by so many here makes me glad I joined this group, and makes me want to get to know all of you. What a lovely family you seem to be, and my most sincere condolences to all of you in the loss of your dear friend.

And I have been here for some time and somehow missed out on getting to know Kirk. I can tell from these comments that he is someone I would have enjoyed talking books, and probably other things, with.

I never got to know Kirk either but my condolences to his family and friends , having just lost my dear mother I understand the grief of his family and friends here and elsewhere and may he rest in peace

I also missed knowing Kirk, but the comments left by everyone give me some insight into what a special person he was. Condolences to his wife and children, and to all the Trail members who so keenly feel his loss.

I also sadly did not know Kirk well but he was my goodreads friend and he thought to leave constructive comments on my reviews, usually recommending books that he thought I'd like. He will be missed here in this group and on goodreads as a whole. I offer comfort to his family.

I also did not know Kirk well, but remember his humorous and knowledgeable comments. I'm sending my condolences to his family and friends. Rest in peace.

The news of Kirk's death has deeply saddened me, though like Diane, Tina, and LeAnne I too never met him in person. Still his time was tragically short and I feel very blessed to have called him a dear friend. We laughed about an unlikely friendship, as he was always recommending the likes of Harry Crews (sending copies of The Gospel Singer, Blood and Grits, and such) and I was alway accusing him of trying to get me to the Southern gothic " dark side". Besides really liking that style of book, he also had a bookshelf called strong women, and appreciated a story such as Ava's Man by Ricky Bragg and even listing Gone With The Wind in his favorite 20. And I allowed that these books were more my style.
As I read the FB accounts it's obvious that Kirk had a gift of making friends and I always felt that he was both at peace with and enjoyed life to the fullest.He talked often of his family and wife Janice and once sent a CD of her music in which her sweet voice evoked lullabies that became my Grandchildren's favorites. I know he recently bought a sailboat, so I 'll chose to just envision him sailing somewhere, a book in hand. Goodreads will not be the same without you. Rest in peace my friend.

Camie wrote: "he was always recommending the likes of Harry Crews (sending copies of The Gospel Singer, Blood and Grits, and such) and I was alway accusing him of trying to get me to the Southern gothic " dark side". Besides really liking that style of book, he also had a bookshelf called strong women, and appreciated a story such as Ava's Man by Ricky Bragg and even listing Gone With The Wind in his favorite 20. And I allowed that these books were more my style.

Camie's comments have given me a thought on how we might best pay tribute to our friend. This group exists because of our shared love of books and because we like to tell others about the books we have enjoyed and hopefully get them to read them too.

This is something that Kirk was especially good at and he has a remarkable collection of great books on his favorites list.

I suggest that those of us who wish to honor Kirk's memory may do so by choosing, as individuals, a book from Kirk's bookshelf and think of it as his last request to us to read and pass on one of the books that he has loved and shared with us.

If others find this idea agreeable we can we up a thread where we can tell others about the book we have chosen from his list.

Excellent idea, Tom. He has so many great books on his shelves.

I've thought the same. Might even be we could add a collection to the OKC public library in honor of Kirks favorites, etc.

This morning, I went out and bought a giant stack of used books from the local Goodwill - titles that Kirk would approve of - and distributed them at a couple Little Free Libraries in and near my neighborhood. Passing around really good reads felt like the right way to honor him.

Big hugs to all of us - we were his tribe and are still one another's.