On the Southern Literary Trail discussion

Dear Members

I am now accepting nominations for our March, 2016, group reads. Four years ago, On the Southern Literary Trail began its first journey with A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole. From that initial madcap tour of New Orleans we have traveled through almost every area of the South you can imagine. Through Flannery O'Connor's "Christ haunted South," Faulkner's South, where the past is never dead, it's not even past. Through the hills of Appalachia. We have listened to voices old and new, a mammoth choir who sings of people and places haunted by tragedy and celebrating the joys of life. We have examined the burden of Southern history. The horrors of Slavery, the injustice of racism, the martyrdom of those who kept alive the flame of the Civil Rights Movement. And still, we read on, for the South, as does every other place moves on. Is ever changing. Some say we are growing less unique. More homogeneous. In some places, perhaps. But I travel the back roads. I still find the places that I find uniquely Southern, embracing the good and the bad of life, as it is everywhere. But, I do believe this. That whether the South is losing its unique identity as a region of this nation, its authors have maintained a unique voice tied to the land, to the people, and have a particular view of this world we call the South. And this journey we call On the Southern Literary Trail holds an illusive draw to me and many of our members.

So, readers, what will it be this next month? Tell us. We want to know. I can hardly wait to receive your nominations. Our group continues to grow. As of this morning, membership stands at 1,076. Oh, I know, our more conversive members do not reflect those numbers. But I want everyone to know, I'm happy to have each one of you a member of this group. If you find one book here that captures your imagination, I believe this group has accomplished this purpose for you. Never feel compelled to launch into a discourse. On the other hand, no your thoughts are valued by each of us who read them. Each of you is very special to me, and I know I speak for each of my fellow moderators.

Along the way, a new member suggested, here's a bit of information you need to know about nominations.

You may nominate a work in TWO categories. Those categories are PRE-1980 and POST-1980. Those dates refer to WHEN a book was PUBLISHED. Not when a book was set in time.

The book SHOULD be a work of SOUTHERN LITERATURE. Just what is that? Well, I could write a book on the subject. But, very briefly, a work of Southern literature is written by an author born in the South dealing with Southern settings, characters, historical events such as the Civil War, Reconstruction, and many more. Think William Faulkner. However, it may also be a work by a Southern writer who has LEFT the South, who lives, for instance, in Brooklyn, New York, who observes life with the values of his growing up in the South. A Prime example would be Sophie's Choice by William Styron.

But, to broaden the definition, hopefully not to confuse you, a work can be Southern literature, even when written by an author born in the North. Think Beloved by Toni Morrison, a work you will find on many "Lists of Best Southern Literature."

Now to the nitty gritty. I accept SIX nominations in each category. OR, the Nominations remain open for FIVE DAYS. The nominations are CLOSED upon receiving the required number of nominations or the passage of five days, WHICH EVER HAPPENS FIRST. I then set up the POLLS on which YOU VOTE.

Many of our members have been around since I founded this group in February, 2012. The group has changed in membership since it was formed. I recognize that newer members may wish to read a novel which has been previously chosen as a group read. AND WE DO THAT! However, I ask that you NOT NOMINATE A WORK READ WITHIN THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF. Groups work best where everyone plays well with others. How do you know WHAT HAS BEEN READ WHEN? Go to the BOOKSHELF on the GROUP'S HOMEPAGE. SEARCH for the title you're interested in. You will see if a work has been read before and when it was. And, of course, if you have a question, e-mail me via goodreads. I'll let you know.

AUTHORS IN THE GROUP--YOU MAY NOT NOMINATE YOUR OWN WORK.

I'm sure some of you may have other questions. You may always write to me through goodreads e-mail. I ALWAYS respond. It may not be right away. All of us have lives outside the goodreads community. BUT I ALWAYS RESPOND!

ONE LAST THING! I believe in this group being member driven. I do not nominate. I do note vote. My fellow moderators do. I couldn't do without them. As a group, each of us take turns offering an alternate read each month called the MODERATOR'S CHOICE.

And, a question for YOU! Have suggestions to improve "The Trail"? Just let me know. Write me with your suggestions. The Mod Squad listens to you.

Happy Reading,
Mike Sullivan
"Lawyer Stevens"

Post-1980:

Voices of Protest: Huey Long, Father Coughlin & The Great Depression -- Alan Brinkley

Pre-1980:

Red Hills and Cotton: An Upcountry Memory - - Ben Robertson

Hey, Mike!

I'd like to suggest Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison for the pre-1980 read.

Pre-Internet:
Stars In My Crown by Joe David Brown (1974)
Stars in My Crown

Ray Celestin s The Axeman's Jazz for post please

Shelby Foote s Love in a Dry Season for pre please

Post-1980: Beloved by Toni Morrison. Thanks!

Oh, I sent this in by email - oops!
Rivers

"Rivers" is considered to be in a cross-over literary genre, part Southern Lit and part dystopian adventure. The book is set in the near-future on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. After years of repeated hurricanes and tropical storm damage, the weather patterns have led the federal government to say "enough is enough." Having given businesses and home owners months, if not years of forewarning. they have established a no-go zone. Anyone choosing to stay south of a geographical boundary extending from Hattiesburg to Shreveport is on his own.

No hospitals. No grocery stores, utilities, gasoline, police, or firefighters. And obviously, no FEMA to bail them out financially.

Of course, there are always those who want to stay, and our hero, Cohen, is one of them. The love he has for his wife and unborn child keep him tethered to the land, and he cannot bring himself to evacuate north of the Line until he encounters others whose need to escape is greater than his reluctance.

To add meat onto this, this is an excerpt from Roxane Gay's review...

"Rivers is a captivating novel, and its ravaged landscape is particularly believable. Farris Smith is meticulous in detailing the reshaped Gulf Coast region, the abandoned husks of buildings, and what happens to both man and nature when a world becomes untamed. "Left to itself, the region below the Line had become like some untamed natural world of an undiscovered land. The animals roamed without fear.… The constant flooding and drying out and temperature swings had split the asphalt of parking lots and roadways, the separations becoming the refuge of rats and skinny dogs." Cohen is a compelling figure amid all this devastation; whatever calamities he encounters, this grief-stricken man remains a relatively calm eye in the storm.

Rivers walks a fine line between a meditative literary novel and dystopic thriller. Though the first half of the book takes its time, fully immersing the reader in Cohen's mind, the second half is explosive and gripping. Many dystopic novels work too hard to depict the way things have gone wrong—belaboring the point with excessive, overly descriptive reminders of the differences between the disastrous fictional world and the actual world that readers live in. Rivers avoids this hyperbole by carefully detailing the back story of how the Line came to be, doling out the history so that questions are answered when and how they need to be answered, no more and no less."

LeAnne wrote: "Oh, I sent this in by email - oops!
Rivers

"Rivers" is considered to be in a cross-over literary genre, part Southern Lit and part dystopian adventure. The book is set in the near-..."
Definitely sounds interesting , LeAnne

This is going to be an interesting poll!

Tom wrote: "This is going to be an interesting poll!"
I love these polls ! Such fun ! and ,I get to learn something or discover a book I did n t know about every time.

LeAnne wrote: "Oh, I sent this in by email - oops!
Rivers

"Rivers" is considered to be in a cross-over literary genre, part Southern Lit and part dystopian adventure. The book is set in the near-..." There s a great interview online with Farris Smith about how he was inspired too.

Brand new read with a great bit of talk already for first big book of 2016 new author novel -- title is based on an old Neil Young song ,
ONLY LOVE CAN BREAK YOUR HEART by Ed Tarkington! Got the news from Square Books he will be here for a huge signing during a Thacker Mountain Radio Show for this one . Out main State Nespaper voted his book best new book for 2016 already ! Look up his author page on goodreads and you can see a synopsis! IT IS A GOOD 'un !!! I red River last year - sorry . Dawn

Post 1980 American Pain: How a Young Felon and His Ring of Doctors Unleashed America's Deadliest Drug Epidemic by John Temple

Pre 1980 The Quest of the Silver Fleece by W.E.B. Du Bois

Oh Yeah ! Forgot to say , ONLY LOVE CAN BREAK YOUR HEART IS post - 1980 ! A- Duh! Sorry !

For pre - 1980 lets do Flannery O'Conner' s collected stories I don't know the exact title , but I have wanted to read her forever ! PLEEEEEEEEASEEEEE!

We could do A Good Man Is Hard to Find and Selected Stories, I was reminded of how much I loved that book while reading The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry.

Kim wrote: "We could do A Good Man Is Hard to Find and Selected Stories, "

If it is eligible I would definitely support that. I have a copy on my bedside table that I need to get to.

For the pre 1980 poll I nominate The Great Santini.

Post 1980:

A Story of Deep Delight by Thomas McNamee.

Pre 1980 A Good Hard Look, which is a take on Flannery.

Tom wrote: "For the pre 1980 poll I nominate The Great Santini.
"

Good one! I've read it twice and watched the movie a couple of times.

Re: The Great Santini.
My brother did the one-on-one basketball thing...to my niece, who ended up at the Naval Academy. He had some odd ideas about parenting. He seems to be a better grandfather. When I read it the first time, it was a little too familiar.

Dawn wrote: "For pre - 1980 lets do Flannery O'Conner' s collected stories I don't know the exact title , but..."

Let's! I second/third your and Kim's nomination of A Good Man is Hard to Find and Other Stories. That and Everything That Rises Must Converge: Stories are two of the best short story collections I've ever read and I'd be happy to read anything by Flannery O'Connor again. Thanks for nominating.

Tom wrote: "This is going to be an interesting poll!"
Indeed it will be interesting!

Post-1980: All the Living, C.E. Morgan

Pre-1980 seems pretty well covered.

post
I saw the film of this and it was so good that I wanted to read ther book.
The help
pre the color purple

The Kitchen House
If the proposal window is still open, I would like to propose the Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom (2010). Such a wonderful book! It's about an Irish girl who was indentured to a slave owner after her parents died on the voyage, her relationship with the slaves and the masters, the masters and their indiscretions. In part, it deals with Southern Society in the South before the war, but also with gender roles, racial roles, and just plain ol' kindness. It'll break your heart, but honestly, Southern Literature has a tendency to do that. And it's a good kind of hurt.

Melissa wrote: "The Kitchen House
If the proposal window is still open, I would like to propose the Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom (2010). Such a wonderful book! It's about an Irish girl who was ..."

Excellent!

I like the sound of that one, Melissa.

Post 1980 - A Fine Dark Line - Joe R.Lansdale
A Fine Dark Line

Tina wrote: "Post 1980 - A Fine Dark Line - Joe R.Lansdale
A Fine Dark Line"Tina, this one has been on my to read list for a while too

Howard wrote: "Post-1980:

Voices of Protest: Huey Long, Father Coughlin & The Great Depression -- Alan Brinkley

Pre-1980:

Red Hills and Cotton: An Upcountry Memory - - Ben Robertson"

Thank you, Sir. Done!

Post-1980: Voices of Protest: Huey Long, Father Coughlin & the Great Depression by Alan Brinkley,
and
Pre-1980: Red Hills and Cotton by Ben Robertson are both nominated.

Renato wrote: "Hey, Mike!

I'd like to suggest Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison for the pre-1980 read."

Renato! So good to hear from you. Excellent nomination.

Pre-1980: Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison is nominated.

Tina wrote: "Pre-Internet:
Stars In My Crown by Joe David Brown (1974)
Stars in My Crown"

Chuckle. Tina. You and your Pre-Internet. Laughing. YES!

Pre-1980: Stars in My Crown by Joe David Brown is nominated.

Jane wrote: "Ray Celestin s The Axeman's Jazz for post please"

And, as Groucho Marx said on his game show, "Say the magic word, the duck will come down and pay you a hundred dollars." Yes! Please is the magic word, Jane.

Post-1980: The Axeman's Jazz by Ray Celestin is nominated.

Jane wrote: "Shelby Foote s Love in a Dry Season for pre please"

And, thank you, Ma'am. :)

Pre-1980: Love in a Dry Season by Shelby Foote is nominated. (I wish he could read this aloud to us.)

Renato wrote: "Post-1980: Beloved by Toni Morrison. Thanks!"

Renato, you're welcome. Another great nomination.

Post-1980: Beloved by Toni Morrison is nominated.

LeAnne wrote: "Oh, I sent this in by email - oops!
Rivers

"Rivers" is considered to be in a cross-over literary genre, part Southern Lit and part dystopian adventure. The book is set in the near-..."

GRIN! Yes, you did. But that's fine.

Post-1980: Rivers: A Novel by Michael Farris Smith is nominated.

Tom wrote: "This is going to be an interesting poll!"

Laughing. Indeed, Big Daddy. Indeed.

Lawyer Stevens

Dawn wrote: "Brand new read with a great bit of talk already for first big book of 2016 new author novel -- title is based on an old Neil Young song ,
ONLY LOVE CAN BREAK YOUR HEART by Ed Tarkington! Got the n..."

Dawn, how are things over in Faulkner Country? Yes, I've been hearing lots about this one.

Post-1980: Only Love Can Break Your Heart by Ed Tarkington is nominated.

Kim wrote: "I like the sound of that one, Melissa."

Kim, I wasn't so sure about it at first, but my aunt recommended it to me after her friend recommended it to her and it was so good. I threw the book when I finished it because the end made me mad lol. You know what I mean?

Jane wrote: "Tina wrote: "Post 1980 - A Fine Dark Line - Joe R.Lansdale
A Fine Dark Line"Tina, this one has been on my to read list for a while too"

Does anyone else think that this plot summary is reminiscent and similar to "The Bottoms"?

Judi wrote: "Post 1980 American Pain: How a Young Felon and His Ring of Doctors Unleashed America's Deadliest Drug Epidemic by John Temple

Pre 1980 The Quest of the Silver Fleece by W.E.B. Du Bois"

Judi, thank you.

Pre-1980: The Quest of the Silver Fleece: A Novel by W.E.B. Du Bois,

and, Post-1980: American Pain: How a Young Felon and His Ring of Doctors Unleashed America's Deadliest Drug Epidemic by John Temple are both nominated.

Lawyer wrote: "Judi wrote: "Post 1980 American Pain: How a Young Felon and His Ring of Doctors Unleashed America's Deadliest Drug Epidemic by John Temple

Pre 1980 The Quest of the Silver Fleece by W.E.B. Du Boi..."

Do you think you could give an update on the number of nominations up for both category so far? it would help to recognize the number of nomination spaces left. :)

Doug wrote: "Dawn wrote: "For pre - 1980 lets do Flannery O'Conner' s collected stories I don't know the exact title , but..."

Let's! I second/third your and Kim's nomination of A Good Man is Hard to Fin..."</i>

<i>Tom wrote: "Kim wrote: "We could do A Good Man Is Hard to Find and Selected Stories, "

If it is eligible I would definitely support that. I have a copy on my bedside table that I need to get to."</i>

<i>Kim wrote: "We could do A Good Man Is Hard to Find and Selected Stories, I was reminded of how much I loved that book while reading The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry."</i>

<i>Dawn wrote: "Oh Yeah ! Forgot to say , ONLY LOVE CAN BREAK YOUR HEART IS post - 1980 ! A- Duh! Sorry !

For pre - 1980 lets do Flannery O'Conner' s collected stories I don't know the exact title , but I have w..."</i>

OKAY, OKAY, OKAY. We've kinda got a wave going here for O'Connor. Sorta. Now, Dawn has called for [book:The Complete Stories. THAT's kind of massive.

Kim has suggested A Good Man Is Hard to Find And Other Stories. We have read that, but not within the proscribed period. It IS eligible.

Tom says he would be fine with that, he has a copy on his bedside table if it is eligible. (It's eligible Big Daddy) THEN, Tom nominates The Great Santini for Pre-1980. (We're down to Pre-1980 nomination number six, Big Daddy. What to do, what to do... )

Doug says, YES, YES, YES. I'll have what she's having. Ahem. And, he names not only A Good Man Is Hard to Find And Other Stories BUT! Also, Everything That Rises Must Converge: Stories. And he says they are the best anthologies he's ever read.

Well, well, well. So, here's my solution. The nominated work IS The Complete Stories by Flannery O'Connor, containing all the stories in both anthologies mentioned by Doug, plus seven additional stories previously unavailable in a single edition until the publication of this volume in 1971. Should this volume take the poll read as many as you wish! (Psssst...They're all good. Every one of them.)

"Lawyer Stevens"

Folks, the nominations came in as fast as an afternoon summer thunderstorm. And the nominations are now closed. I will have the polls up this evening or tomorrow morning. Thanks to all of you who submitted nominations. For those of you whose nominations came in after we received the required number, please consider resubmitting those titles next month. Everyone of them looks good.

As always, happy reading.

"Lawyer Stevens"

Melissa wrote: "Jane wrote: "Tina wrote: "Post 1980 - A Fine Dark Line - Joe R.Lansdale
A Fine Dark Line"Tina, this one has been on my to read list for a while too"

Does anyone else think that this ..."Have not read The Bottoms yet but looking forward to it

Lawyer wrote: "Tom says he would be fine with that, he has a copy on his bedside table if it is eligible. (It's eligible Big Daddy) THEN, Tom nominates The Great Santini for Pre-1980. (We're down to Pre-1980 nomination number six, Big Daddy. What to do, what to do... )."

What can I say? I just want to make sure that the poll has lots of good books to choose from. When a book the readers will read wins regardless of which one they voted for, we all win.

I do know what you mean, indeed, Melissa. Wonder if everyone will be throwing the book across the room if it wins the poll. ;-). I often ending up procuring and reading other books that are "also rans" in the polls because they sound so interesting. This group is bad for my book budget.

Tom wrote: "Lawyer wrote: "Tom says he would be fine with that, he has a copy on his bedside table if it is eligible. (It's eligible Big Daddy) THEN, Tom nominates The Great Santini for Pre-1980. (We're down t..."

Now, Tom. GRIN. I do hope you know I was razzing you all in good humor. Yes, I think we all win when a book wins that all readers will read. Course, I have never seen that happen. Laughing.