On the Southern Literary Trail discussion

The Southern Literary Trail is now accepting nominations for books that the group will be reading in December 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. The Ponder Heart, by Eudora Welty
2. Suttree, by Cormac McCarthy
3. Blues for Mister Charlie, by James Baldwin
4. A Long and Happy Life, by Reynolds Price
5. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, by Tennessee Williams
6. A Foxfire Christmas: Appalachian Memories and Traditions, edited by Eliot Wigginton
Books originally published after 1990
1. Southern Christmas: Literary Classics of the Holidays, edited by Judy Long
2. Darktown, by Thomas Mullen
3. Yellow Crocus, by Laila Ibrahim
4. The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had, by Kristin Levine
5. A Thorn Among the Lilies, by Michael Hiebert
6. Wingwalkers, by Taylor Brown

FYI: As the December Moderator’s Choice selection, Diane has chosen Wendell Berry’s new book, How It Went: Thirteen Late Stories of the Port William Membership that will be published on November 8th. Diane describes this book as a Christmas present to herself. With all of the WB fans in the group, I’m sure that there will be many folks joining her.

Pre-1990: The Ponder Heart,publ 1954

Post-1990: Southern Christmas: Literary Classics of the Holidays, publ 1998

POST 1990 - Darktown by Thomas Mullen

Pre-1990: Suttree by Cormac McCarthy - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

I apologize if this has been read in the past by this group, I only started following about a year ago. My nomination for post 1990 is Yellow Crocus by Laila Ibrahim.

Pre 1990

Blues for Mister Charlie by James Baldwin

Sheila wrote: "I apologize if this has been read in the past by this group, I only started following about a year ago. My nomination for post 1990 is Yellow Crocus by Laila Ibrahim."

I don't believe this has been read by the group although it has been nominated. Thank you for the nomination.

Nick wrote: "Pre 1990

Blues for Mister Charlie by James Baldwin"

Thanks, Nick! I nominated this last month. Are you a Baldwin fan?

The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had Post 1990

December Pre 1990 nomination Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by Tennessee Williams.

Pre 1990 A Long and Happy Life by Reynolds Price

Post 1990 (1996)

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

Pre1990 from member Dave.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8...

That should wrap up pre1990.

for the Wendell Berry book do you all recommend I read any particular collection of his stories beforehand? Or can I go into it blind, so to speak?

You can go into it blind, Cheryl. Port Wiiliam is an imaginary township, but with every book you come to know the characters and history of the town. Timelines crisscross, characters come and go; but it's like going to visit older relatives and listening to their stories, it's cumulative. There is no "first book in the series." The Memory of Old Jack will introduce you to a lot of characters. so will Jayber Crow, and That Distant Land is short stories that go back a ways too.

I would like to nominate A Cry Of Angels by Jeff Fields for pre 1990 December read

Laura wrote: "Post 1990 (1996)

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1..."

A Foxfire Christmas: Appalachian Memories and Traditions was first published in 1990 which puts it in the Pre category, and would close out that category. This means that Dave and Judi will need to wait until next month to submit their nominations for the pre-1990 category.

I thought I secured it with 1996 but I somehow missed it being 1990. I’ll gladly give my spot up for Dave’s pre1990 nomination.

Thanks for the info Diane! If I get time, I'll read the Berry collection from our recent club readings.

I’ll add for post 1990 These Silent Woods by Kimi Cunningham Grant

edit: I totally just remembered the post earlier in our Giant thread about reading Wingwalkers by Taylor Brown. I will take back the first nomination I made in place of this one for Post 1990.

I think there is one more spot for post 1990. I would like to nominate A Thorn Among the Lilies by Michael Hiebert.

It is my understanding that this book is third in a series, but that each book of this series is also a stand alone book.

Judi wrote: "I would like to nominate A Cry Of Angels by Jeff Fields for pre 1990 December read"

This is an excellent book but the pre-1990 list was full by the time your nomination was received. Please resubmit it next month.

Lori wrote: "edit: I totally just remembered the post earlier in our Giant thread about reading Wingwalkers by Taylor Brown. I will take back the first nomination I made in place of this one for Post 1990."

Happily!

And with that, our dance card is full and the nominations are closed. The polls will be set up and voting will commence at the beginning of the month.