On the Southern Literary Trail discussion

It's time to start looking forward to Spring. We have a great bunch of nominations for you to vote on. Here are the choices and links to the polls.

Pre-1980 Nominations ----Vote here!----

1. Hunter's Horn, by Harriette Arnow
2. The Awakening and Other Stories, by Kate Chopin
3. Cross Creek, by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
4. Men of the Mountains, by Jesse Stuart
5. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, by Tennessee Williams
6. True Grit, by Charles Portis

Post-1980 Nominations ----Vote here!----

1. The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row, by Anthony Ray Hinton
2. Sugar Run, by Mesha Maren
3. The Race Beat: The Press, the Civil Rights Struggle, and the Awakening of a Nation, by Gene Roberts
4. All Over But the Shoutin', by Rick Bragg
5. Clay's Quilt, by Silas House
6. Gap Creek, by Robert Morgan

For pre-1980:
The Awakening and Other Stories by Kate Chopin

Post 1980: The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row by Anthony Ray Hinton

For Post 1980:

Sugar Run by Mesha Meren.

I nominate Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by Tennessee Williams for the Pre-1980 April group read.
I nominate The Race Beat: The Press, The Civil Rights Struggle and the Awakening of a Nation by Gene Roberts for the Post-1980 April group read.

Pre- 1980's -Tobacco Road - Erskine Caldwell
Revolutionary Road - Richard Yates

Post 1980's- Innocent Blood - P.D. James

Pre 1980's -Cross Creek-Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
Post 1980's- It's All Over but the Shouting- Rick Bragg

Post 1980 - Clay's Quilt

Post 1980s: Gap Creek - Robert Morgan

Pre 1980s: Hunter's Horn - Harriet Arnow

Post 1980- The Cumberland Killers: A Kentucky Mystery

and for pre-1980- I'll second Hunter's Horn

Not nominating either no ideas this time ;)

Wendy, I love P.D. James, but she is a British author, and the book is not set in the south, so that one doesn't qualify under any circumstance.

Neither does Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates.

Pre 1980 published 1941


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7...

My library has a copy and it looks like abe books is reasonable. A little more pricey on Amazon.

I do love Jesse Stuart.

I just finished "Of Love and Dust by Ernest J. Gaines", it was a powerful story and lends itself to discussion. It falls under pre 1980.

Pre Internet:
The Past Is Never

A compelling addition to contemporary Southern Gothic fiction, deftly weaving together local legends, magical realism, and the search for a missing child.

Winner of the Willie Morris Award for Southern Fiction, the Janet Heidinger Kafka Prize, the Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters Fiction Award, and Mississippi Author Award for Adult fiction.

Siblings Bert, Willet, and Pansy know better than to go swimming at the old rock quarry. According to their father, it's the devil's place, a place that's been cursed and forgotten. But Mississippi Delta summer days are scorching hot and they can't resist cooling off in the dark, bottomless water. Until the day six-year-old Pansy disappears. Not drowned, not lost . . . simply gone.

After years with no sign, no hope of ever finding Pansy alive, Bert and Willet have tried to move on. But as surely as their mother died of a broken heart, they can't let go. So when clues surface drawing them to the remote tip of Florida, they drop everything and drive south. Deep in the murky depths of the Florida Everglades they may find the answer to Pansy's mysterious disappearance . . . but truth, like the past, is sometimes better left where it lies.

Perfect for fans of Flannery O'Connor and Dorothy Allison, The Past Is Never is an atmospheric, haunting story of myths, legends, and the good and evil we carry in our hearts. (less)

We may be getting close to our limit. I'll check in the morning and let you know.

We have definitely gone over in both categories. No more nominations please.

Tobacco Road was read last year so is not eligible. Hunter's Horn was read in April, 2018, so cannot be nominated again until next month. I am going to exercise a moderator's prerogative and add True Grit to the list in honor of Charles Portis who passed away this week.

Tina and Esther, we already have six nominations for Post-1980 so please keep them in mind and nominate them again next month.

Tom,
I don't see "Of Love and Dust", in the poll, so do I need to nominate later? Thanks.

Kathryn in FL wrote: "Tom,
I don't see "Of Love and Dust", in the poll, so do I need to nominate later? Thanks."

I'm sorry. I goofed on this one. It was my intention to include it but I messed up. I will make sure it is added next month although it wouldn't hurt to remind me. Unfortunately, I just realized that Lawyer chose this as a moderator's choice in September 2018 so it is not currently eligible.

If it helps of love and dust can take my spot. I already have mod choice for March

Sorry, I just saw voting at top so it would complicate things. Sorry.

It might be helpful if all active members of OTSLT browsed through the group bookshelf (link below), particularly newer members. I found it to be a great source for books I want to read but missed before joining the group. Also, scanning through the group’s previous picks would help eliminate the renomination of recent reads. Speaking of which, I know it’s been mentioned here before, but what exactly is the rule for renominating a book we’ve already read? It seems more and more books are renominations, particularly in the pre-1980 category, but there are still so many early Southern novels and nonfiction books we haven’t read yet that were written by authors besides McCarthy and Faulkner 😉 We may all need to readjust our thinking caps in this category. Just my two cents . . .

Here’s the OTSLT bookshelf link for anyone interested: https://www.goodreads.com/group/books...

Wyndy thanks for the quick link. My mind runs together so bad. I thought Shiloh was my first Foote but when looking over the list, what do you know, I had read Foote before I’m dying for the group to try Byron Herbert Reece but the books are so hard to find.

Laura wrote: "Wyndy thanks for the quick link. My mind runs together so bad. I thought Shiloh was my first Foote but when looking over the list, what do you know, I had read Foote before I’m dying for the group ..."

Ha - I was thinking you read Follow Me Down with the group :-) I’ll keep an eye out for BHR and also Jesse Stuart. I have not heard of either of these authors, so I’m excited.

I know, it runs together. All these great authors just lost bc no one is republishing them.

Wyndy and Laura,
I live in the suburbs of Orlando, my library usually only has 3 or 4 of the nominations of 6. Though I check out hundreds of books each year and have been for more than 30 years, they often reject my requests for literature, historical or Christian books. They instead focus on spy novels, fantasy, dystopian and vampires.
I am in a number of book clubs and buying copies of books that are out of print and hard to find isn't in my budget (I've had 2 hospitalizations and a maj. surgery this year).
There are terrific books nominated here but I vote for a book that may be my 3rd choice simply because I can't get a copy for a book I want to read.
Surely, I am not the only one who does that.

I understand that Kathryn. I check about 4-5 sources bf I nominate a pre 1980. We need some of these oldies republished and back on the shelves. We need to get your library “in love” with southern lit. I’m glad you are voting and participating, it’s tough to get a book through. Fingers crossed for your April selection!!!

Thanks Laura, I appreciate that you are so considerate about due diligence prior to nomination.

In my case, it isn't just the older books that are "missing" in my area library. Unless that person is on television then they have hundreds of copies of a book that mirrors basic common sense and few check out.

My library rejects requests for recent releases using the excuse that my request doesn't me management policy criteria (though my requests for access to that policy is always ignored) or that their select vendors don't carry that book. Which makes me wonder what prevents them from obtaining other "vendors"...

I can't remember specific titles but there were a few that were about to be released or recently released that I requested, they rejected and later the books became big hits, so they had to "bend" their policy.

One I do remember, hit author, Jane Harper's books. They seem to have a strong dislike for any other continent unless it is British.
Considering this is in the south, they seem to forget that (I was surprised that they had Ernest Gaines), perhaps because we are a larger, metropolitan city with many immigrants the south is forgotten?

Regardless, libraries are to enrich our lives and provide learning, yet, their policies seem to be focused on other issues.

Thanks for letting me rant.

That’s a shame....25 copies of best sellers but not 1 copy of just as worthy books. Keep requesting, maybe they will break.

It is very irritating to see libraries go with the best sellers and discard more worthy books. I go in a lot of times and check out books In not going to read, just to try and save them by making them look popular.

Diane,
I do the same thing!
I will also focus on books I've read in the past, which were substantive that I hope others will "discover".
Most of those in my library are under 30 and more interested in Manga and fantasy genres. I ask questions sometimes or make references to authors popular like Robin Cook or Michael Crichton they don't know and sadly don't care. Few know very basic research techniques. They are there for a check, some don't even like to read (they have said that to me).

Laura wrote: "That’s a shame....25 copies of best sellers but not 1 copy of just as worthy books. Keep requesting, maybe they will break."

I do Laura, but it has been nearly 3 decades and I see it getting more restrictive not less!

Sigh. I have volunteered and been employed at a local library in the recent past. I fear that libraries are becoming obsolete. Tactile books will disappear. Many of the folks that visit libraries these days are only interested in accessing the computers or are homeless and seeking shelter from the storm. I still savor the pleasure of reading an actual book, but I also use "Amazon audible books on my cell phone" when I am working in the yard. A different world.

Judi,
You are right. People have stopped enjoying the quote moments to reflect on the value of stories. Where else can you explore another culture or another time without driving, flying or cruising the high seas? Television rarely challenges us, the way a storyteller does.

I've joined local book clubs and they target pop-sugar stuff promoted by folks that are celebrities. I'm not saying the celebrities don't pick some good books, I'm saying the messages are more focused on entertainment, than intellectually challenging or cautionary.

I'm surprised how often I have to resort to purchasing a book because I cannot get a copy through the library. I thought it would be much better when I moved to the city and a large library system, but alas I find that Kathryn is right...lots of books chosen by Oprah and Reese, but few of the classics I want to get hold of.

Kathryn in FL wrote: "Wyndy and Laura,
I live in the suburbs of Orlando, my library usually only has 3 or 4 of the nominations of 6. Though I check out hundreds of books each year and have been for more than 30 years, t..."

You are definitely not the only one, Kathryn. The first thing I do before voting on a Trail nomination is check accessibility through my various free sources. If I can’t get a nominated book for free or under $7 (my personal random cutoff), I don’t vote for it. Fortunately, many of the nominations in this group are fairly accessible through most library/online systems. I applaud all the nominators/moderators in this group for being conscious of pricing, particularly with out-of-print or hard-to-find authors/books. Harry Crews is just one example of a now off-limits Southern author due to price, and that makes me sad.

I’ll ditto Sara. Books are my vice, my addiction, my sanctuary. With our bookstore closed (!) I’ve turned to apple e-books. They have had everything, and I read some obscure books also.

Oh! Pat Conroy lovers: I found a copy of his elusive sister’s poetry volume, The Beauty Wars. You might be the only folks who would find this as riveting as I do. I would call her an abstract expressionist.

Tom wrote: "Kathryn in FL wrote: "Tom,
I don't see "Of Love and Dust", in the poll, so do I need to nominate later? Thanks."

I'm sorry. I goofed on this one. It was my intention to include it but I messed up...."

Okay.

I do the same thing when choosing books for my real life book club, but a lot of our members don't, and it causes problems. I check library availability, audio and paperback versions, and possible free or cheap downloads. Some members like to go for the best-seller list, but those are usually hardcover only with huge waiting lists at the library, and Kindle prices around $15.00. And others remember something they read in the past, and assign it without realizing it's out of print. There's definitely an art to choosing group reads.

This is all just terrible news about books. This is my first book club so this is wretched news to learn. The closing of our bookstore is making new tragic sense to me.

I do the same, Diane, and almost always pass on reading a new best seller, even if it is something I intend to read in the future. My budget just doesn't allow for buying new books when I know I could buy three or four older ones for that price.

Bookstores have become an endangered species, Kimberlee. We had a great used bookstore where we lived, but I have not found one yet in the new area. Before you buy, remember to check Gutenberg for the really old books and openlibrary is another good source. I am often surprised at finding free copies, but sometimes you have to buy, so I keep an eye out for digital deals as well.

I just had a chance to read all the comments about libraries, bookstores and availability/price of books. I appreciate that Trail members think about availability and cost before nominating and voting, as do I.

Katherine, I'm appalled to hear that your library is so rigid about ordering books, especially seeing you live in a "metropolitan" area.

I'm an advocate of libraries, volunteering in my neighborhood for general duties and in a library in our system that provides English language education for immigrants and refugees. I realize that I must live in some kind of bubble here in Minneapolis/St Paul. Our Hennepin County library has 41 locations and many more in the St Paul area. (my sweetheart and I are trying to visit all 41. It has been an eye-opener as to how they cater to their community with books, programs and services that fill community needs/demographics.) We also have many excellent independent book stores - most keep going with book clubs and author talks and by carrying more obscure titles.

I was assuming that libraries were having a sort of resurgence and am sad to see that many of you are frustrated with your local library offerings.

To follow the reading dates on here I have to plan way ahead to get the books as I live in France and so nothing much in English is available and certainly nothing Southern so I have to rely on my on line bookstores usually Amazon (oh no ! ) or Blackwells in Oxford but even the choice of online shops is dwindling.

Pre 1980
-The Awakening and Other Stories by Kate Chopin
Post 1980
- Clay’s Quilt by Silas House

*Side note Cross Creek by Marjorie Kidman Rawlings was a very good book! All of hers are worthy reads.

I’m very grateful to learn updated modern resources to find the sort of books I’ve lived to read. Thank you Sara and everyone. I’m hoping this thread stays open as we’ve stumbled upon a topic of vital interest:)

Cathleen are these your April selections? If so, go to the top of the feeds and submit selections.

Cathleen, you have to vote via the polls. On the website, polls are located in the top right corner. Click on that, then you can vote. There is no way to vote on the app.

Tom has it set up that you can scroll to the very top click on link and vote. At least I can on the app, I have an Apple phone. But of course, everything works better on the desk top.