On the Southern Literary Trail discussion

In a way we are just holding our breath, knowing we will lose some of the greats soon. He was one of those.

Exactly Sara. Some of our bests are up there in age.

Yes, someone always comes to my mind, but I refuse to say his name because I don't want to jinx him. Maybe he will live, and write, until he is 100+.

Yes, I have 3 names. And they say things come in “threes” so mum I will be.

Good thinking.

I just saw a news report. He lived a very long life!

As we all expected - The Passenger and Stella Maris would be his last. I sure wish he would have given a good long explanation of those two books before we lost him.

Now there will be a surge in his books - all of them. Always happens once they pass. Too bad it can't happen for them to see.

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

One of the greatest authors. He lived a very fulfilled and long life it seems, though. He made a great impression on his readers.

He was a brilliant man. Rest in peace, Cormac.

He stayed with us and long time, and left us with so much. And as long as his books are read, he will never be forgotten.

https://www.theguardian.com/books/202...
Some good quotes here

Thanks Dave. What a great way to memorialize him, with his own words.

Diane wrote: "It finally happened. Cormac McCarthy has died at the age of 89, from natural causes." My favorite western writer who wrote about my homeland west of the 100th meridian.

Thanks Dave. A wonderful set of tributes.

I consider Cormac McCarthy one of my favorite authors even though I have read only three of his books. Blood Meridian, or, the Evening Redness in the West and The Road are two of my all-time favorites.

RJ - Slayer of Trolls wrote: "I consider Cormac McCarthy one of my favorite authors even though I have read only three of his books. Blood Meridian, or, the Evening Redness in the West "

I only have Outer Dark to go before I've finished all of his novels. His books were what inspired me to join this group.

Tom wrote: "RJ - Slayer of Trolls wrote: "I consider Cormac McCarthy one of my favorite authors even though I have read only three of his books. [book:Blood Meridian, or, the Evening Redness in t..."

Tom, that's a really powerful statement. I suspect you are not alone there. I've not read Outer Dark either, so maybe it should be nominated at some point soon.

8 years ago when in Santa Fe, my husband saw Cormac walk through our hotel lobby. He briefly spoke to him for 60 seconds. This week we sat at lunch in Santa Fe, NM discussing McCarthy and the Santa Fe institute we had passed earlier that morning. It was 75 min later when I got a text from my aunt in Mississippi that he had passed. It was a strange moment.

Not a Southern author, but one I very much admired. A.S. Byatt died on November 16, 2023 at the age of 87. Possession was a remarkable book.

I loved her work too. Not an easy author, she made you work for it.

Yes, she did, Diane. Worth the effort.

I loved The Children’s Book, one of my all time favorites. I’ve read it twice and, not long ago, bought a collection of stories. It may be time to consider reading Children’s Book again.

I have not yet read it, Sue. I will pop it up the list for next year.

Let me know if you do, Sara. Maybe I’ll try to fit it in around the same time. But, be warned, it is a big book. It covers so much, essentially most of the social and cultural movements of Britain and Western Europe from the late 19th century through WWI through the lens of one English family.

I think the heft is what has held me off for so long. Don't know why that should bother me--some of the best books are the long ones. I will definitely keep you in mind for when I am set to read it.

Great. I loved it.

Ellen Gilchrist, a Mississippi writer and National Book Award winner for Victory Over Japan: A Book of Stories, died on Jan 30, 2024.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/obitua...

I haven't read her in a long time,but she could tell some good stories.

I’ve been nominating her In the Land of Dreamy Dreams and would love to read her stories. I don’t know she passed away.

I've had her on the TBR for a long time and never read her. Always makes me feel sad, as if I have missed something important.

https://aworldontheedge.com/2024/05/0...

Thank you for sharing. I think we read one of her books many many years ago on the trail.

Dennis Covington has passed away… 💔 rest in peace.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...

Debbie wrote: "https://aworldontheedge.com/2024/05/0......"

Thank you for sharing this. Kaye was a lovely warm-hearted human being.

Recently found out Dorothy Allison died on November 6th. "Bastard out of Carolina" is all I have to say.

Greg Iles died on 08/15/25. Never read his books, but knew his work was loved by many.

Josh wrote: "Greg Iles died on 08/15/25. Never read his books, but knew his work was loved by many."

I read several of them and enjoyed them. I finally had to stop, though, as they became way too long and each book started up right where the previous book left off. His death is a serious loss to the genre, though.

Tom wrote: "Josh wrote: "Greg Iles died on 08/15/25. Never read his books, but knew his work was loved by many."

I read several of them and enjoyed them. I finally had to stop, though, as they became way too ..."

I put "The Quiet Game" on hold. I will see for myself.

Greg was cousin-in-law to two of the ladies in my old book club. We were able to chat with him ages ago when his first Mississippi books came out. Really nice fellow who later cheated death in a bad car accident.

While he became famous for his later works, I really enjoyed Greg’s first two novels that were based on intriguing aspects World War II history. He was a proud history geek beyond the period genre he became famous for. Spandau Phoenix and Black Cross were for me enthralling reads.

LA wrote: "Greg was cousin-in-law to two of the ladies in my old book club. We were able to chat with him ages ago when his first Mississippi books came out. Really nice fellow who later cheated death in a ba..."

Thank you for those recommendations.