On the Southern Literary Trail discussion

Good afternoon All,

What shall we read in May? I'm now accepting nominations. Nominations will remain open for five days or until we have received six nominations in both Pre and Post 1980 categories, which ever occurs first.

As always, happy reading!

Lawyer

Maybe for post-1980, Rising Out of Hatred: The Awakening of a Former White Nationalist.

I would like to nominate Run With the Horsemen by Ferrol Sams for post-1980.

For pre-1980, I'll nominate Oh, Promised Land by James H. Street.

For the post-1980, I would like to nominate Sugar Run by Mesha Maren.

Pre-Internet 1959

Alas, Babylon

"Alas, Babylon." Those fateful words heralded the end. When a nuclear holocaust ravages the United States, a thousand years of civilization are stripped away overnight, and tens of millions of people are killed instantly. But for one small town in Florida, miraculously spared, the struggle is just beginning, as men and women of all backgrounds join together to confront the darkness.

Our first nomination comes from Susan via goodreads email. She wrote:

"Light in August!" Well, Susan, done! Light in August byWilliam Faulkner is nominated Pre-1980. Definitely my favorite Faulkner, Susan!

Perry wrote: "Maybe for post-1980, Rising Out of Hatred: The Awakening of a Former White Nationalist."

Done, Perry. From the goodreads summary:

From a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter, the powerful story of how a prominent white supremacist changed his heart and mind


Derek Black grew up at the epicenter of white nationalism. His father founded Stormfront, the largest racist community on the Internet. His godfather, David Duke, was a KKK Grand Wizard. By the time Derek turned nineteen, he had become an elected politician with his own daily radio show – already regarded as the “the leading light” of the burgeoning white nationalist movement. “We can infiltrate,” Derek once told a crowd of white nationalists. “We can take the country back.”
Then he went to college. Derek had been home-schooled by his parents, steeped in the culture of white supremacy, and he had rarely encountered diverse perspectives or direct outrage against his beliefs. At New College of Florida, he continued to broadcast his radio show in secret each morning, living a double life until a classmate uncovered his identity and sent an email to the entire school. “Derek Black…white supremacist, radio host…New College student???”
The ensuing uproar overtook one of the most liberal colleges in the country. Some students protested Derek’s presence on campus, forcing him to reconcile for the first time with the ugliness his beliefs. Other students found the courage to reach out to him, including an Orthodox Jew who invited Derek to attend weekly Shabbat dinners. It was because of those dinners–and the wide-ranging relationships formed at that table–that Derek started to question the science, history and prejudices behind his worldview. As white nationalism infiltrated the political mainstream, Derek decided to confront the damage he had done.
Rising Out of Hatred tells the story of how white-supremacist ideas migrated from the far-right fringe to the White House through the intensely personal saga of one man who eventually disavowed everything he was taught to believe, at tremendous personal cost. With great empathy and narrative verve, Eli Saslow asks what Derek’s story can tell us about America’s increasingly divided nature. This is a book to help us understand the American moment and to help us better understand one another.

Nominated Post-1980.

Warren wrote: "I would like to nominate Run With the Horsemen by Ferrol Sams for post-1980."

Excellent,Warren. This was a favorite Read for my Grandfather.

From the goodreads summary:

Porter Osborne Jr. is a precocious, sensitive, and rambunctious boy trying to make it through adolescence during the depression years. On a red-clay farm in Georgia he learns all there is to know about cotton chopping, hog killing, watermelon thumping, and mule handling. School provides a quick course in practical joking, schoolboy crushes, athletic glory, and clandestine sex. But it is Porter's family - his genteel, patient mother, his swarm of cousins, his snuff-dipping grandmother, and, most of all, his beloved though flawed father - who teach Porter the painful truths about growing up strong enough to run with the horsemen.

Ferrol Sams' Run with the Horsemen is nominated Pos-1980.

Richard wrote: "For pre-1980, I'll nominate Oh, Promised Land by James H. Street."

Done, Richard. Oh, Promised Land by James H. Street is nominated Pre-1980.

From the goodreads summary:

In 1795 the rugged and dangerous Mississippi Territory is open for exploration and settlement by the rare few who have the courage and determination to survive. When pioneers Sam'l Dabney and his sister, Honoria, lose their parents in a Creek attack and must leave Georgia to begin new lives, they head for French-held Louisiana in order to find "Lock Poka", which in Choktaw means "here we rest" or "promised land".

Sam Dabney is a man of rare strength and size and resolute spirit — a larger-than-life hero who rises by his boldness and acumen from being "ol' man Dabney's brat" to a man of consequence in the settling, trading, and armed protection of the land. Sam, his sister Honoria, his wife Donna, and his Choktaw companion, Tishomingo, form the core of this panoramic saga — Sam is an opportunist and is quick to take risks in order to establish himself and support his family; Donna, devoted but delicate, finds her life threatened by fever, but helps Sam guard a dangerous secret; Honoria, beautiful, unscrupulous and greedy, makes money her only standard; and Tishmingo works to develop an English alphabet for the Cherokee language and fulfills a debt of hatred. The story also teems with historical characters, Indians, renegades, politicians, pioneers, slaves and richly portrayed incidental figures as well as facts about French, Spanish, British and American interests that enhance or impede progress on every page.

Oh Promised Land is the first book in a five novel saga of the unforgettable Dabney family. A robust and entertaining picture of a period (1795-1817) meticulously researched and convincingly portrayed.

Tina wrote: "Pre-Internet 1959

Alas, Babylon

"Alas, Babylon." Those fateful words heralded the end. When a nuclear holocaust ravages the United States, a thousand years of civilization are strip..."

Tina, this is a classic novel of a post nuclear war. Alas, Babylon byPat Frank has given me the shudders twice.

Nominated Pre-1980.

John wrote: "For the post-1980, I would like to nominate Sugar Run by Mesha Maren."

It's nominated, Post-1980, John.

From the goodreads summary:

On the far side the view was nothing but ridgelines, the craggy silhouettes rising up against the night sky like the body of some dormant god. Jodi felt her breath go tight in her chest. This road went only one way, it seemed, in under the mountains until you were circled.

In 1989, Jodi McCarty is seventeen years old when she’s sentenced to life in prison for manslaughter. She’s released eighteen years later and finds herself at a Greyhound bus stop, reeling from the shock of unexpected freedom. Not yet able to return to her lost home in the Appalachian mountains, she goes searching for someone she left behind, but on the way, she meets and falls in love with Miranda, a troubled young mother. Together, they try to make a fresh start, but is that even possible in a town that refuses to change?

Set within the charged insularity of rural West Virginia, Sugar Run is a searing and gritty debut about making a run for another life.

Re Rising out of Hated. How ironic we have this nomination and Mike Sullivan's post to remind us of our place in history, which is not even history yet.

In the face of Christchurch's tragedy.
Last night's PBS News Hour w commentary by Mark Shields and David Brooks was insightful.

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/mar...

I was going to nominate Light in August but I see it's already made the list, excellent!

Hey Y’all - I have to put one in for that series starter nominated by Richard , Oh Promised Land ! I love a good series and that one sounds great ! I recently reread Fallen Land for St. Patrick’s Day ! I have heard for ages that Mississippi is called “ God’s Country” or the “ Promised Land”! This must be the book of origination!

I was born in Louisiana and then we were off to Columbus Mississippi! My Daddy was in the Air Force but my Mom was born on the screen side porch of the house in Tula, Mississippi in 1938! She was the first baby born there and her name was take out of an old fashion magazine off the label of a dress , Betty Rose! My Great Great Grandma Alice Coleman named her and everyone in Tula had hand in raising her. The war came soon and Mom was also the first sad baby of divorce just as soon as she entered the world and got her Daddy’s sorry name. That is the only thing she ever got out of him too!
No matter how much love she appropriately gave.

Since this series of books is about my home area , I would certainly love to read this for pre- 1980 ! Sounds like wonderful historical fiction.

For Post - 1980 , I am all over Sugar Run nominated by my favorite David Joy !

But y’all don’t forget Brian Panovich ‘s new novel comes out in April that continues from Bull Mountain ! Now I am going to be after that one too!

Now , y’all didn’t think I had been paying attention?

Now make this Lil’Rebel happy and vote this way!

Dawn Copley
Cheer for Ole Miss Baseball playing against Bama! Oh! By now we already lost but y’all come visit ! It is real snazzy in Oxford now! No room for us local folk! And , I live on William Faulkner Highway ! LOL!

I would like to nominate Lamb in His Bosom by Caroline Miller for the May 2019 Pre-1980 read. Thanks.

Our next nomination is North Towards Home by Willie Morris. Nominated via goodreads email by John. It is nominated Post-1980.

Good to hear from you, Dawn. Sugar Run by David Joy is nominated Post-1980.

Judi, Lamb in His Bosom was read in September, 2017. So, it's too early for a re-read.

Sugar Run may be a different author.

Since this poll is for May, I am going to take Dawn's recommendation and nominate Like Lions by Brian Panowich. This book hits the shelves in April so ask your libraries to get copies of it.

For pre-1980: Apostles of Light by Ellen Douglas.

The nominations are now closed and the polls are open.

Here is the link to the post-1980 poll.

Here is the link to the pre-1980 poll.

The May Post-1980 poll ended in a tie so we are holding a run-off for the next week. Please vote for the book you would most like to read. Here's the link.
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/1...

By the way, the winner of the Pre-1980 poll is Light in August by William Faulkner.

Lawyer has chosen Lunch at the Piccadilly by Clyde Edgerton as the Moderator's Choice selection for May.