On the Southern Literary Trail discussion

Greetings all!
With the spiking pandemic and recent events at the capitol, it appears that 2021 is starting out as chaotic as last year was. Fortunately, with vaccines and a new president, there is reason for hope.

While we wait for that day, let’s come together and nominate books that we can share to keep us occupied.

As always, there are two categories, books originally published before 1980 or those published in or after 1980. You may make one nomination in each category. Books read by the group in the last 24 months are not eligible. Authors may not nominate their own works. Please post your nominations below and specify which category you are nominating it for.

Nominations will stay open for one week or until we receive six nominations in each category. Voting will take place in the first ten days of next month.

Here are the nominations to date:

Pre-1980 Nominations
1. A Confederacy of Dunces, by John Kennedy Toole
2. God's Little Acre, by Erskine Caldwell
3. Ain't God Good!, by Jerry Clower
4. Of Time and the River: A Legend of Man's Hunger in His Youth, by Thomas Wolfe
5. The Right Stuff, by Tom Wolfe
6. A Curtain of Green and Other Stories, by Eudora Welty
Post-1980 Nominations
1. The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had, by Kristin LevineAmy Engel
2. Call Your Daughter Home, by Deb Spera
3. Lowcountry Boil, by Susan M. Boyer
4. Shiner, by Amy Jo Burns
5. Refuge: A Novel, by Dot Jackson
6. The Familiar Dark, by Amy Engel

Post 1980: The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had
by Kristin Levine

I nominate Call Your Daughter Home by Deb Spira. for Post 1980.

I would like to nominate Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole for the Pre 1980 March read. (We could use a bit of humor.)

I would like to nominate Lowcountry Boil by Susan Boyer for the Post 1980 March read.

Thank you.

I'd like to nominate Shiner by Amy Jo Burns for post 1980.

Refuge: A Novel, by Dot Jackson, for post 1980.

Been a while since I have been able to hit one of these, but what about Of Time and the River: A Legend of Man's Hunger in His Youth by Thomas Wolfe for the pre 80 list?

Pre-1980 God's Little Acre by Erskine Caldwell, 1933.

I read Caldwell's Tobacco Road several years ago, can't say I was thrilled, but I'm interested in giving him another try.

Pre-1980 Ain’t God Good! by Jerry Clower

Bob wrote: "Pre-1980 God's Little Acre by Erskine Caldwell, 1933.

I read Caldwell's Tobacco Road several years ago, can't say I was thrilled, but I'm interested in gi..."

Thanks for nominating this. I had the same experience with Tobacco Road and am curious to see if this is different.

Tina wrote: "Pre-1980 Ain’t God Good! by Jerry Clower"

Why does this name sound familiar. Was he a comedian or something?

Josh wrote: "Been a while since I have been able to hit one of these, but what about Of Time and the River: A Legend of Man's Hunger in His Youth by Thomas Wolfe for the pre 80 list?"

Hi Josh! It has been awhile. I swear, there is a whole pack of wolves circling around in southern literary circles. Just to confuse everyone I'm going to nominate another: The Right Stuff, by Tom Wolfe.

We're moving right along here. Can we get one more nomination in each category?

I'm nominating The Familiar Dark by Amy Engel for post 1980. Thanks

Kathryn in FL wrote: "I'm nominating The Familiar Dark by Amy Engel for post 1980. Thanks"

Done. That leaves us needing only one more nomination for the pre=1980 group. Any suggestions?

Pre-1980:

A Curtain Of Green And Other Stories

And now the nominations are closed.

The polls are up and running for the March selections. Thanks to all of you who nominated and to all of you who participate.
For the Pre-1980 nominations, Vote here!

For the Post-1980 poll, Vote here!

The polls will remain open until February 10th.

For the Moderator’s Choice, Laura has selected Edisto, by Padgett Powell for March.

In addition, the discussion boards are up and ready for your thoughts on the February selections. They can be found here:

For A Gracious Plenty, by Sheri Reynolds, (Moderator’s Choice):
Initial Impressions: A Gracious Plenty, by Sheri Reynolds February 2021
Final Impressions: A Gracious Plenty, by Sheri Reynolds- February 2021

For A Place on Earth, by Wendell Berry, (Pre-1980):
Initial Impressions: A Place on Earth, by Wendell Berry - February 2021
Final Impressions: A Place on Earth, by Wendell Berry - February 2021

For The Coal Tattoo, by Silas House, (Post-1980):
Initial Impressions: The Coal Tattoo, by Silas House - February 2021
Final Impressions: The Coal Tattoo, by Silas House -February 2021


Stay safe.

Happy reading!

Big Daddy Tom