On the Southern Literary Trail discussion

We can spill over into August if needed.

I'm definitely in!! Wow! I really am looking forward to it!

Diane wrote: "I have MOD choice in June, but not sure how a 960 page book would be received."

It's the fastest reading long book I've ever read.

I love the idea. I think I will check out the kindle book.

Or someone could just ask for two months. I wouldn't mind picking Cane River some day.

I think it's a tremendous idea, I'd be up for 960 page book.

Count on it Dave.

Great idea. If it's spread out I would like to give it a go.

Lonesome Dove is my all time favorite book. I’ll look very forward to a reread.

I did get a kindle copy, so I’m up for it whether as a group or perhaps a buddy read at some point. I’m literally invested at this point. :-)

I'm going to try to fit it in June too. It's a book I've always wanted to read.

Ooooh ... I had an audible credit sitting waiting to be used so I snagged Lonesome Dove. I've read it before, will enjoy listening.

OMG ... I just read that Larry McMurtry passed away March 25.

He brought such reading joy to so many!

Book Concierge wrote: "Ooooh ... I had an audible credit sitting waiting to be used so I snagged Lonesome Dove. I've read it before, will enjoy listening."

BC, I was going to use one of my credits as well, then I read reviews on the narration and listened to a sample. He takes deep audible breaths after almost every sentence. I decided not for me; too distracting. Will be interested in what you think.

Odd that I've not read Lonesome Dove. My Aunt gave it to my grandfather for Christmas the year it was published. You couldn't pry it out of his hands. I figured I would be next in line to read it. My Uncle visited. Dang if he didn't snag it and take it back home. So, I'm taking the long road to Lonesome Dove. As McMurtry expanded on the Rangers, I decided to start at the beginning of the saga, Dead Man's Walk. My brief review is here. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show.... The next in chronological order is Comanche Moon I have it on my night stand to read after we finish our April discussion of Knight's Gambit. I like Diane's idea of strettching Lonesome Dove over two months. Count me in.

Looks like we will have a full house for this read. I read Lonesome Dove first and then the others, Mike. I always said I wanted to do them again chronologically, but alas not enough time... so, Lonesome Dove again.

I am a long time fan of Larry McMurtry's work. I have read a number of his books. I just purchased two paperbacks. In A Narrow Grave and Horseman Pass By. I have read Horseman Pass By. They arrived today. I will post them as nominations in future . . . . both are Pre 1980. Looking forward to reading his work. (Perhaps I shall re-watch the movie Hud, based on Horseman Pass By on Amazon with bag of buttered popcorn as a treat.)

You will have to wait a couple of years to nominate Horsemen, Pass By. The group just read it in January of this year.

Thanks Diane. I will nominate In A Narrow Grave.

Judi wrote: "I am a long time fan of Larry McMurtry's work. I have read a number of his books. I just purchased two paperbacks. In A Narrow Grave and Horseman Pass By. I have read Horseman Pass By. They arrived..."

I read Lonesome Dove last year (I think) and I was surprised at how readable a book that large was. It was terrific. Reminded me of James Clavell in that way.

Anne Rice, prolific author of the Interview with the Vampire series and countless other books, passed away yesterday. The following announcement was posted on her Facebook page by her son:

Dearest People of Page. This is Anne’s son Christopher and it breaks my heart to bring you this sad news. Earlier tonight, Anne passed away due to complications resulting from a stroke. She left us almost nineteen years to the day my father, her husband Stan, died. The immensity of our family’s grief cannot be overstated. As my mother, her support for me was unconditional — she taught me to embrace my dreams, reject conformity and challenge the dark voices of fear and self-doubt. As a writer, she taught me to defy genre boundaries and surrender to my obsessive passions. In her final hours, I sat beside her hospital bed in awe of her accomplishments and her courage, awash in memories of a life that took us from the fog laced hills of the San Francisco Bay Area to the magical streets of New Orleans to the twinkling vistas of Southern California. As she kissed Anne goodbye, her younger sister Karen said, "What a ride you took us on, kid." I think we can all agree. Let us take comfort in the shared hope that Anne is now experiencing firsthand the glorious answers to many great spiritual and cosmic questions, the quest for which defined her life and career. Throughout much of her final years, your contributions to this page brought her much joy, along with a profound sense of friendship and community. Anne will be interred in our family's mausoleum at Metairie Cemetery in New Orleans in a private ceremony. Next year, a celebration of her life will take place in New Orleans. This event will be open to the public and will invite the participation of her friends, readers and fans who brought her such joy and inspiration throughout her life.

Thank you Tom for sharing. I have yet to read her works but my MIL was a big fan. 2022 goal, read a Rice book.

Thanks Tom. Like Laura, I have yet to read Ann Rice’s work. Perhaps 2022 will be the year.

I read Interview With a Vampire many years ago and was hooked. I kept telling the friend who recommended it, "I don't read vampire books." Anne Rice was quite an author, making Lestat the vampire into a literary hero. She convinced me, and I don't read vampire books, unless they are written by Anne Rice.

I read her Mayfair Witches series, & Interview with a Vampire. They were very engaging, although at times her prose was a tad bit ornate for my taste. It did feel a bit like some of the style of the city of New Orleans crept into her writing. One of my students wrote long, overly complex sentences in my class, and did not appreciate my comments. His defense was that he was writing like Anne Rice, and while I admitted there was a place for Anne Rice, my classroom and the Navy at large was not it.

Diane, I have a vampire book which I think is exceptional, I reviewed it a while back. It is The Vampire Tapestry by Suzy McKee Charnas.

That certainly sounds different Kim, very intriguing. I may have to pencil that one in sometime next year.

I’ve added it too. Thanks Kim. It does sound like quite a different approach.

I read Rice's first two vampire books and then gave up. The Vampire Tapestry was very good. I also liked Fevre Dream by George R.R. Martin.

I am a huge fan of Anne Rice's work. I waited an hour in line at a bookstore in Pasadena for her to sign my copy of The Witching Hour. I was sooooo inspired by Interview With The Vampire that our family went to New Orleans and while in Louisiana we stayed several nights at Oak Alley Plantation where the movie based on that book was filmed. We were the only guests on the property at the time we visited. A little spooky at night. A forever memory.

Faith, thanks for mentioning Fevre Dreams. I’d never heard of that one before and it sounds intriguing.

That sounds like fun Judi.

I read Interview With the Vampire the year it was released and a score of the books that followed it. I was really on an Anne Rice rampage for a while, and then it was like I was sated and never wanted to read her again. Her writing was almost addictive.

Judi--that sounds like an amazing experience!

Just picked Interview With A Vampire off my bookshelf and am gonna give it another go.

Joan Didion has died 12/23/21 at the age of 87.

Another literary giant has left us. McCullough was the supreme master of his craft.

https://www.mvtimes.com/2022/08/08/ma...

That really hurts, Wyndy. He was indeed a giant.

I and daughter took this one as a blow. He was the best at his craft. Rest easy….

Very sorry to learn of the loss of McCullough. Gifted writer.

Also a gifted narrator ~ RIP

Both my husband and I enjoyed McCullough's books. He will be missed.

My non-fiction reader husband read all his books, and he's not easy to please.

Rest in peace Mr. McCullough.

I've only read The Wright Brothers of his. It was fabulous. I also own The Johnstown Flood and The Pioneers: The Heroic Story of the Settlers Who Brought the American Ideal West. I hope to get to one of these this year in honor of him.

This is such sad news to me. I hate it when we lose one of the great ones! McCullough was such a great researcher and writer. He will be sorely missed.

I loved The Wright Brothers, but I especially loved a lesser known book of his, The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris. I have many of his books on my TBR shelf, and I hope to get to them soon.

I’m sorry to admit I haven’t yet read any of his books though I have some on my shelf and kindle. He’s one of those people who you feel will always be there. I read that he was the narrator for Ken Burns Civil War. Perhaps another reason to watch that again.

Sue I've watched The Civil War series more than once. I loved his narration, also on Seabiscuit.

My daughter and I read Truman together one summer for school. We still talk as though we knew President Truman. That’s a special author who can do that. He’s not scared of years and years of research. I too have more I haven’t read and look forward to reading them.

In 2005 I listened to the audiobook John Adams by David McCullough. It was a fascinating and engrossing account of Adams and it read almost like a novel. He lived to be 89, a long life. RIP

It finally happened. Cormac McCarthy has died at the age of 89, from natural causes.

Wow.

Well, I guess we saw that coming.