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 January 2022.

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 in or before 1980 or those published 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:

Books originally published in or before 1980
1. The Moonflower Vine, by Jetta Carleton
2. Gone with the Wind, by Margaret Mitchell
3. Giant, by Edna Ferber
4. Paper Moon, by Joe David Brown
5. The Trail of the Lonesome Pine, by John Fox Jr.
6. Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, by Harriet Ann Jacobs
Books originally published after 1980
1. Our Lady of Perpetual Hunger: A Memoir, by Lisa Donovan
2. Free Men, by Katy Simpson Smith
3. Citizens Creek, by Lalita Tademy
4. Bewilderness, by Karen Tucker
5. South Toward Home: Travels in Southern Literature, by Margaret Eby
6. Thirteen Moons, by Charles Frazier

I finished this book this month and it’s a worthy pre-1980

The Moonflower Vine by Jetta Carleton.

The Moonflower Vine, by Jetta Carleton is our first nomination.

AFTER 1980
Our Lady of Perpetual Hunger: A Memoir by Lisa Donovan

For Post-1980, I'd like to nominate Free Men by Katy Simpson Smith

Post 1980, I am nominating Citizens Creek Lalita Tademy

Great choice. I've been thinking about nominating one of Tademy's books for years.

Gone with the Wind 1936

Post 1980 Bewilderness by Karen Tucker
Pre 1980 Giant by Edna Ferber

Post 1980 Thirteen Moons by Charles Frazier

Pre 1980 Paper Moon by Joe David Brown

I nominate "South Toward Home: Travels in Southern Literature" by Margaret Eby (2015). It's a literary travelogue of classic Southern Literature.

Lori wrote: "Post 1980 Thirteen Moons by Charles Frazier

Pre 1980 Paper Moon by Joe David Brown"

I sense a theme here.

Tom wrote: "Lori wrote: "Post 1980 Thirteen Moons by Charles Frazier

Pre 1980 Paper Moon by Joe David Brown"

I sense a theme here."


HA! I didn't even notice!

Tom wrote: "Lori wrote: "Post 1980 Thirteen Moons by Charles Frazier

Pre 1980 Paper Moon by Joe David Brown"

I sense a theme here."

Indeed!

Perhaps inspired by the upcoming lunar eclipse. Our brains are focused on The Moon.

Some great nominations here. Looks like we need 2 more in the pre-1980 group.

Pre-1980 Dust Tracks on a Road by Zora Neale Hurston written in 1942.

Judi, thanks for trying to help out, but you're only allowed one nomination for pre 1980. You already nominated Giant.

Diane wrote: "Judi, thanks for trying to help out, but you're only allowed one nomination for pre 1980. You already nominated Giant."
I must chuckle. I was gonna add Other Voices, Other Rooms by Truman Capote 1948 to fill the remaining spot. Sorry. I get it. I shall nominate them at a future time. Hope the spots are filled and we can move on to vote.

We appreciate your enthusiasm.

Diane wrote: "We appreciate your enthusiasm."
I beyond love the reading group!!! Thank you for your work!!

Voting won't start until December 1st so I'm sure we will get nominations by then.

Pre 1980: The Trail of the Lonesome Pine

The Trail of the Lonesome Pine

John Fox Jr. published this great romantic novel of the Cumberland Mountains of Kentucky and Virginia in 1908, and the book quickly became one of America's favorites. It has all the elements of a good romance -- a superior but natural heroine, a hero who is an agent of progress and enlightenment, a group of supposedly benighted mountaineers to be drawn into the flow of mainstream American culture, a generous dose of social and class struggle, and a setting among the misty coves and cliffs of the blue Cumberlands.

Pre-1980 nomination. Incidents In The Life Of A Slave Girl.

And with that. nominations are now closed.

Polls

The polls for the January selections are open. Thanks to all of you who nominated and to all of you who participate. There are some excellent nominations on the ballot.

For the Pre-1980 nominations, Vote here!

For the Post-1980 poll, Vote here!

Sara has chosen for her debut Moderator’s Choice selection, Cataloochee by Wayne Caldwell. I’m looking forward to checking it out (pun intended).

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

This month’s selections

The discussion boards for the December selections are up and ready for your comments.
For the Moderator’s Choice Selection, Diane has selected The Speckled Beauty: A Dog and His People, by my favorite living author, Rick Bragg. The discussion folders for this and the other selections can be found here:

Initial Impressions: The Speckled Beauty, by Rick Bragg - December 2021
Final Impressions: The Speckled Beauty, by Rick Bragg - December 2021

For Delta Wedding, by Eudora Welty, (Pre-1980):
Initial Impressions: Delta Wedding, by Eudora Welty - December 2021
Final Impressions: Delta Wedding, by Eudora Welty - December 2021


For Saints at the River, by Ron Rash, (Post-1980):
Initial Impressions: Saints at the River, by Ron Rash- December 2021
Final Impressions: Saints at the River, by Ron Rash- December 2021

It is our sincerest hope that you all enjoy your holidays and get to spend them with your loved ones.
Stay safe and happy reading.


Big Daddy Tom