On the Southern Literary Trail discussion

As 2019 winds down, we prepare to begin our eighth year of reading together. I'm now accepting nominations for our January, 2020, group reads. Nominations will be open five days or until we have received six nominations in the Pre and Post 1980 categories, whichever occurs first.

My thanks to all who keep "The Trail" the vibrant group it is.

Hello and for pre I would like to nominate Mark Twain s pudd'nhead wilson « chuckle » as this nomination could make you laugh or groan and I have lost count of how many times I have suggested it ;) actually it is very good

I would like to nominate The Road by John Ehle for post-1980.

I would dearly love to read The Road by John Ehle, but I'm afraid it might be difficult to locate. It's not available on Kindle, out of print so a lot of libraries don't have it, and Abebooks prices start at $17.

I would like to nominate Tell My Horse: Voodoo and Life in Haiti and Jamaica by Zora Neale Hurston for the January Pre-1980 read.

I would like to nominate The Yellow House by Sarah M. Broom for the January Post 1980 read.

Thanks.

Jane wrote: "Hello and for pre I would like to nominate Mark Twain s pudd'nhead wilson « chuckle » as this nomination could make you laugh or groan and I have lost count of how many times I have suggested it ;)..."

By all means, Jane, Pudd'nhead Wilson is nominated Pre-1980.

Roxy is one-sixteenth black and majority white, and her son Valet de Chambre (referred to as "Chambers") is 1/32 black. Roxy is principally charged with caring for her inattentive master's infant son Tom Driscoll, who is the same age as her own son. After fellow slaves are caught stealing and are nearly sold "down the river" to a master in the Deep South, Roxy fears for her son and herself. She considers killing her boy and herself, but decides to switch Chambers and Tom in their cribs to give her son a life of freedom and privilege.

And, yes, it IS good.😀

I'll nominate The Cumberland Killers: A Kentucky Mystery by James Aura for the
post- 1980 category in January.

I'll nominate A Gracious Plenty by Sheri Reynolds for the post-1980 category.

Judi wrote: "I would like to nominate Tell My Horse: Voodoo and Life in Haiti and Jamaica by Zora Neale Hurston for the January Pre-1980 read.

I would like to nominate The Yellow House by Sarah M. Broom for th..."

Thanks Judi. Both of your selections are nominated.

Grace wrote: "I'll nominate The Cumberland Killers: A Kentucky Mystery by James Aura for the
post- 1980 category in January."

Thank you, Grace. The Cumberland Killers: A Kentucky Mystery is nominated Post 1980.

John wrote: "I'll nominate A Gracious Plenty by Sheri Reynolds for the post-1980 category."

John, A Gracious Plenty bySheri Reynolds is nominated Post 1980.

Our next nomination was submitted by Jim Barber via goodreads email. At Home in Mitford byJan Karon is nominated Post1980.

Diane wrote: "I would dearly love to read The Road by John Ehle, but I'm afraid it might be difficult to locate. It's not available on Kindle, out of print so a lot of libraries don't have it, and Abebooks price..."

I did not realize how much a copy of The Road would cost and the difficulty in getting it from the library; therefore, I would like to withdraw this nomination.

Nominations are slow coming in, so I'll help it along by nominating The Golden Apples by Eudora Welty. For pre-1980.

Diane wrote: "Nominations are slow coming in, so I'll help it along by nominating The Golden Apples by Eudora Welty. For pre-1980."

Done! The Golden Apples byEudora Welty is nominated Pre-1980. Thanks, Diane.

I'd like to nominate The Best Cook in the World: Tales from My Momma's Table, by Rick Bragg for Post-1980

Pre-1980:
Weeds Edith Summers Kelley

First published in 1923, Weeds is set amid the tobacco tenant farms of rural Kentucky. This pioneering naturalist novel tells the story of a hard-working, spirited young woman who finds herself in a soul-destroying battle with the imprisoning duties of motherhood and of managing an impoverished household. The novel is particularly noteworthy for its heartbreaking depiction of a woman who suffers not from a lack of love, but from an unrequited longing for self-expression and freedom.

Post - 1980

The Devil's Dream Lee Smith

Moses Bailey, a preacher's son, forbade his fiddle-loving wife Kate Malone to play. But while he was gone on his travels, looking for God, Kate couldn't help herself, and began fiddling for her three children. For the love of music, Kate is willing to defy anyone who tries to stop her. From generation to generation, the gift and love of music cannot be stopped, and no Malone is immune from its spell.

Pre-1980
Let Us Now Praise Famous Men by James Agee

Tina wrote: "Pre-1980:
Weeds Edith Summers Kelley

First published in 1923, Weeds is set amid the tobacco tenant farms of rural Kentucky. This pioneering naturalist novel tells the story of a hard..."

Tina wrote: "Pre-1980:
Weeds Edith Summers Kelley

First published in 1923, Weeds is set amid the tobacco tenant farms of rural Kentucky. This pioneering naturalist novel tells the story of a hard..."

Oh now. Weeds sounds so very interesting. “...pioneering naturalist novel...” Oh my.

The polls are open:

For the Pre-1980 poll, Vote here!

For the Post-1980 poll, Vote here!

The polls are now closed and the selections for January have been chosen. Many thanks to all of you who voted. All of the books chosen look really great and I’m certain you will enjoy them.

The Yellow House, by Sarah M. Broom is the winner in the Post-1980 category. The winner in the Pre-1980 category is The Golden Apples, by Eudora Welty.

Finally, the Moderator’s Choice selection, chosen by Lawyer Stevens in honor of Jane's persistence in nominating this fine work, is Pudd'nhead Wilson by Mark Twain. I first read this book as a teen and look forward to reading it again. Overshadowed by Twain's more famous novels, it is an undeservedly neglected work.

the discussions boards are up and running for the January selections. They can be found here:

For Pudd'nhead Wilson by Mark Twain, (Moderator’s Choice):
Initial Impressions: Pudd’nhead Wilson, by Mark Twain- January 2020
Final Impressions: Pudd’nhead Wilson, by Mark Twain- January 2020

For The Golden Apples, by Eudora Welty, (Pre-1980):
Initial Impressions: The Golden Apples, by Eudora Welty - January 2020
Group Reads: Post-1980 > Final Impressions: The Golden Apples, by Eudora Welty – January 2020

For The Yellow House, by Sarah M. Broom, (Post-1980):
Initial Impressions: The Yellow House, by Sarah M. Broom – January 2020
Final Impressions: The Yellow House, by Sarah M. Broom - January 2020

Merry Christmas and Happy reading!

Big Daddy Tom