On the Southern Literary Trail discussion

Nominations are now closed for for books that the group will be reading in July 2022.

We will consider books with a southern literary theme that have not been read by the group in the last 24 months. Per our recently revised criteria, the two categories are books originally published in or before 1990 or those published after 1990. 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 1990
1. Cool Hand Luke, by Donn Pearce
2. Gone with the Wind, by Margaret Mitchell
3. The Time of Man, by Elizabeth Madox Roberts
4. Corregidora, by Gayl Jones
5. The Night of the Hunter, by Davis Grubb
6. A Feast of Snakes, by Harry Crews
Books originally published after 1990
1. Take My Hand, by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
2. Nail's Crossing, by Kris Lackey
3. Simon the Fiddler, by Paulette Jiles
4. Charms for the Easy Life, by Kaye Gibbons
5. Southernmost, by Silas House
6. The Right-Hand Shore, by Christopher Tilghman

FYI: Laura has indicated that the Moderator’s Choice selection for July will be Requiem by Fire, by Wayne Caldwell. Those of us who read and enjoyed Cataloochee may enjoy a chance to revisit the same fertile Appalachian ground that provided the setting for Caldwell’s first novel.

I’d like to nominate The Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris for the post-1990 group read.

Vicki, this book was read and discussed in March of this year. It was Tom's MOD choice for that month. A great book, in my opinion. If you read it, you can still follow the discussion. But we can't accept it as a nomination.

Thanks, Diane. I missed that little detail! I’m reading it now.

I would like to nominate Cool Hand Luke by Donn Pearce for the Pre-1990 July read.
I would like too nominate Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez for the Post-1990 July read.

Requiem by Fire by Wayne Caldwell sounds very engaging. Look forward to reading it.

Thank you.

I would like to nominate Nail's Crossing by Kris Lackey for post 1990 - thanks

For On or before 1990
I nominate Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
1st published in 1936

Post 1990
I nominate Simon the Fiddler by Paulette Jiles

Pre 1990
I will nominate The Time of Man by Elizabeth Madox Roberts published 1926


Post 1990
I will nominate Charms for the Easy Life by Kaye Gibbons published 1993

I've been dying to read The Time of Man.

I’d love to read it too Diane. I’m going to try to find a copy now!

It's on Hoopla, and only 1.99 for Kindle.

It's on my short list as well, Lori. Great nomination.

For post 1990, I nominate Southernmost by Silas House, first published 2018.

I am only two months into this group, so please forgive me if this is not along the lines of what you normally consider. Post 1990- THE RIGHT HAND SHORE by Christopher Tilghman

The novel is set in Maryland - which IS a southern state, geographically and culturally. (Culturally - much more in the 20th century than now, and much more so outside of Baltimore and D.C.) There were several important CW battles here, including Antietam in 1862. Maryland was a neutral border state, and General Lee thought his army would receive great support from the citizens here. He did not. Events in MD are pertinent to the entirety of our southern heritage, and worth a look in a great novel.

https://www.amazon.com/Right-Hand-Sho...

Yes, Cheryl, The Right Hand Shore definitely qualifies as southern literature. I read it several years ago and loved it. We have not read anything by Christopher Tilghman in this group yet.

I do believe that gives us 6 nominations in the post-1990 category, but we still have 3 slots to fill in the pre-1990.

For pre 1990, i nominate Corregidora by Gayl Jones, 1975.

Another one I've never heard of, but it sounds good.

I'll nominate The Night of the Hunter byDavis Grubb for pre-1990.

I am pleased to be a part of the group, and to have found a worthy nomination! Suggestion for the Pre 1990 list - A FEAST OF SNAKES by Harry Crews.

(Tbh, one of the advantages to this group is that the nomination lists point me to books that I'm very likely to be interested in. A great group of readers, here!)

We first read Feast of Snakes way back in 2015, so that works as a nomination. I believe that does it. Nominations are now closed.

The next week will be busy for me but I will get the poll up by the 1st.

Here is the list of the books we will be reading in July. There are some great selections.

For the Pre-1990 selection:, we will be reading Cool Hand Luke, by Donn Pearce.

For the Post-1990 selection we will be reading Simon the Fiddler, by Paulette Jiles.

Finally, for the Moderator’s Choice selection for July. Laura has decided on Requiem by Fire, by Wayne Caldwell. This is a sequel to Cataloochee, that the group read a couple months back.

Discussion boards will be set up for each book soon.