On the Southern Literary Trail discussion

Greetings all!
The Southern Literary Trail is now accepting nominations for books that the group will be reading in July, 2021.

We will consider books with a southern literary theme that have not been read by the group in the last 24 months. 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. 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.

The eligible nominations received will be listed below:

Pre-1980 nominations
1,. The Member of the Wedding, by Carson McCullers
2. Fancy Strut, by Lee Smith
3. Lion on the Hearth, by John Ehle
4. Sophie's Choice, by William Styron
5. Call Your Daughter Home, by Deb Spera
6. Airships, by Barry Hannah

Post-1980 nominations
1. Salvation on Sand Mountain: Snake-Handling and Redemption in Southern Appalachia, by Dennis Covington
2. The Good Brother, by Chris Offutt
3. Hard Cash Valley, by Brian Panowich
4. Father and Son, by Larry Brown
5. Smonk, by Tom Franklin
6. Something Rich and Strange: Selected Stories

The Member of the Wedding, Carson McCullers (pre 1980)
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, Carson McCullers
Salvation on Sand Mountain: Snake-Handling and Redemption in Southern Appalachia, Dennis Covington (post 1980)
Flannery O'Connor, The Complete Stories (pre 1980)
Confederacy of Dunces, John Kennedy Toole (published 1980)

Hi Elle,
You may nominate one book in each category. A Confederacy of Dunces and The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter have been chosen within the past two years and are therefore ineligible. Please let us know which of the remaining pre-1980 selections you would like to nominate.

Salvation on Sand Mountain: Snake-Handling and Redemption in Southern Appalachia is nominated as a Post-1980 selection.

Hi Tom: I nominate The Member of the Wedding by Carson McCullers for pre-1980

I am glad Salvation on Sand Mountain by Dennis Covington will be considered for post-1980: it’s really good
Thank you

Im not sure why we are off to such a slow start on July nominations, but in an attempt to get it rolling I nominate:

Pre 1980 - Fancy Strut, by Lee Smith. Publication 1973.

Post 1980 - The Good Brother, by Chris Offutt

For the Post-1980, I would like to nominate Hard Cash Valley by Brian Panowich.

Pre 1980 Lion on the Hearth - John Ehle
Post 1980 Miss Jane - Brad Watson

Dave wrote: "Pre 1980 Lion on the Hearth - John Ehle
Post 1980 Miss Jane - Brad Watson"

If Miss Jane has been chosen in the past two years then instead I'll nominate
Father and Son - Larry Brown

Dave, we did read Miss Jane in November of 2020, so Father and Son it is. It was last read in October of 2013, so maybe newer members can become acquainted with Larry Brown.

I'd like to nominate The Land Breakers by John Ehle for pre 1980 but since we already have a nomination by the same author in that category and if that isn't appropriate then I'll nominate Sophie's Choice by William Styron.

For post 1980 I'll nominate Smonk by Tom Franklin.

Well that was certainly a productive little spurt.

It most certainly was, with some great nominations too.

I'll nominate Call Your Daughter Home by Deb Spera for pre-1980. Oops! Post 1980 :)

Ohhhh boy! Some great reads nominated!

I would like to nominate Airships by Barry Hannah as the Pre 1980 option.
I would like to nominate Something Rich and Strange by Ron Rash for Post 1980
Thank you.

And that will do it. Nominations are now closed.

Greetings all! I hope you all enjoyed your Memorial Day weekend and that you all took time to remember the sacrifices of those whose passing we commemorate on this occasion.

That said, the polls for the July selections have been posted and will go live at midnight EDT. Thanks to all of you who nominated and to all of you who participate. There are some excellent nominations on the ballot. Due to an error on my part, there are only five nominations for the Pre-1980 category but there are seven nominations for the post-1980 category.

For the Pre-1980 nominations, Vote here!

For the Post-1980 poll, Vote here!

The polls will remain open for ten days and the winners will be announced mid-month.

As for the June selections, the discussion boards are up and ready for your thought. They can be found here:

For Lonesome Dove, by Larry McMurtry., (Moderator’s Choice):
Initial Impressions: Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry-June/July 2021
Final Impressions: Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry-June/July 2021

For Child of God, by Cormac McCarthy, (Pre-1980):
Initial Impressions: Child of God, by Cormac McCarthy - June 2021
Final Impressions: Child of God, by Cormac McCarthy - June 2021


For Cold Mountain, by Charles Frazier, (Post-1980):
Initial Impressions: Cold Mountain, by Charles Frazier – June 2021
Final Impressions: Cold Mountain, by Charles Frazier – June 2021


Stay safe.

Happy reading!

Big Daddy Tom