On the Southern Literary Trail discussion

I know there are some fans of Donald Harrington in this group - Lightning Bug was a group read awhile back. I thought some of you might enjoy reading this "imaginary autobiography" of an Arkansas artist written by Harrington, published in the Oxford American: http://www.oxfordamerican.org/article...

For reference on this topic, the following is a brief biography from Wikipedia:

Donald Douglas Harington (December 22, 1935 – November 7, 2009) was an American author. All but the first of his novels either take place in or have an important connection to "Stay More," a fictional Ozark Mountains town based somewhat on Drakes Creek, Arkansas, where Harington spent summers as a child.

Harington was born and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas. He lost nearly all of his hearing at age 12 due to meningitis. This did not prevent him from picking up and remembering the vocabulary and modes of expression among the Ozark denizens, nor in conducting his teaching career as an adult.

Though he intended to be a novelist from a very early age, his course of study and his teaching career were in art and art history. He taught art history in New York, New England, and South Dakota before returning to the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, his alma mater, where he taught for 22 years before his retirement on May 1, 2008.

Entertainment Weekly called him "America's greatest unknown writer." The novelist and critic Fred Chappell said of him "Donald Harington isn't an unknown writer. He's an undiscovered continent." Novelist James Sallis, writing in the Boston Globe: "Harington's books are of a piece -- the quirkiest, most original body of work in contemporary U.S. letters."

Sarah wrote: "I know there are some fans of Donald Harrington in this group ..."


Sarah, I was wondering if there is a sequence to his Stay More novels. Or what you might suggest as a first read. I just may start in on this guy.

John, I have only read two of his novels, but I am a big fan. As far as I can tell, there really is no sequence that is important, since all of them jump around regarding characters and time. We read "Lightning Bug" in this group a while back. I think that was his first Staymore novel. Then I read "The Architecture of the Arkansas Ozarks", which is the 3rd book. That one gave a history of the settlement of Staymore and it's founders, told through the different types of houses they built. That sounds rather dull, but I can assure you that it is brilliant and funny and wonderful. I intend to read them all, and recommend Donald Harington wholeheartedly. He is a treasure.

John wrote: "Sarah wrote: "I know there are some fans of Donald Harrington in this group ..."


Sarah, I was wondering if there is a sequence to his Stay More novels. Or what you might suggest as a first read...."

John, while Lightning Bug is the first Staymore novel written by Harington, The Architecture of the Arkansas Ozarks which appears later in the sequence of the novels sets the origin of the community of Staymore. It is a phenomenal read. I recommend this as a first Staymore read. From that point on you can weave through the works of Harrington at leisure.

Harington weaves recurring characters and families throughout the course of the Staymore chronicles.

Oxford American Magazine granted its first time Lifetime Achievement in Literature to Harrington. As mentioned above, Harrington is among the most overlooked treasures of American writers. By all means, give him a try.

We've had Haringtons nominated before. However, they have never carried a poll. Don't be surprised should you see a Harrington named as a Moderator's Choice.

I would love to see your response to Harington. He is truly a treasure and pleasure.

Mike

Sarah wrote: "I know there are some fans of Donald Harrington in this group - Lightning Bug was a group read awhile back. I thought some of you might enjoy reading this "imaginary autobiography" of an Arkansas ..."

Sarah, my sincere thanks for your post on Donald Harington. Perhaps this will lead to more group nominations of his works as group reads. As I told John, don't be surprised to see a Harington as a Moderator's Choice in the future if he doesn't climb in our nominations and polls. *smile*

Mike

Diane wrote: "John, I have only read two of his novels, but I am a big fan. As far as I can tell, there really is no sequence that is important, since all of them jump around regarding characters and time. We ..."

You know, Diane, sometimes I think we have simultaneous thoughts. *laughing* Having you as a co-moderator is absolutely wonderful.

Mike

We seem to have an issue on spelling. I think Harington is the correct one. The link in the header doesn't send me to his books, only one

btw, thanks for the reply Diane, I'm gonna take a look. Library doesn't have Lighting Bug, they do some others.

I think it's gonna be The Ozarks one. Do I feel another quiz coming on? I enjoy doing those more than book reports. Oh God, There's a phrase from my high school years

John wrote: "btw, thanks for the reply Diane, I'm gonna take a look. Library doesn't have Lighting Bug, they do some others."

John, interestingly enough, Amazon bought the rights to the complete works of Harington. They are all available for $1.99. If you have a Prime Membership, you may borrow the works of Harington on your Kindle, should you have one. Simply borrow the volume of your choice, return it when you're done, and check out another one.

Mike

John wrote: "I think it's gonna be The Ozarks one. Do I feel another quiz coming on? I enjoy doing those more than book reports. Oh God, There's a phrase from my high school years"

There's more material for a "John Quiz" than you ever dreamed of in Harington. *grin. I especially enjoy your work in that area. You're the group's Quiz Master.

Mike

oh crap it's not in the system. nor ***Bug. but there are others

No Kindle. I feel like I am a slave to my electronics as it is. I like turning pages. So here's a question. How many people absolutely LOVE there Kindle? Or rather, who has one and doesn't use it? That would be more interesting.

John wrote: "No Kindle. I feel like I am a slave to my electronics as it is. I like turning pages. So here's a question. How many people absolutely LOVE there Kindle? Or rather, who has one and doesn't use ..."

I have a nook HD. In addition to being able to buy nookbooks, I have the Kindle App installed on it. Although I prefer turning the pages of a fine read, I recommend an e-reader for many reasons. First, they are great for travel. Second, space in my library has become a limited quantity. I've actually built a library, office, and writing studio behind my home. I'm in the process of having the finish work done on it now. Third, I frequently find titles unavailable at my public library. Fourth, since I am a collector of signed first editions, I reserve coveted space for those volumes.

I would recommend the new Kindle Paperwhite. It is inexpensive, capable of being read outside without the glare previously associated with e-readers, and Amazon offers significantly better prices than Barnes and Noble at this time.

While you enjoy the beauty of a bound volume as I do, I definitely think an e-reader solves numerous problems that supplement your reading pleasure, especially, "Crap it's not in the system."

One alternate remedy on Haringtons, you can pick up inexpensive paperback additions of his works on www.abebooks.com.

Happy Hunting. Harington is a wonderful reading experience.

Mike

I will add a comment that I make to others who are trying to compare books and ereaders: There is nothing better than a real book, but an ereader is just another way to feed the addiction. I have a nook HD which enables me to download from B&N, Amazon and other sites as well, such as Google and Project Gutenberg. Add in the library and used book sites and sales, and ther's almost nothing I can't find.

John wrote: "Sarah, I was wondering if there is a sequence to his Stay More novels. Or what you might suggest as a first read...."

Goodreads does offer a suggested sequence at https://www.goodreads.com/series/5833... but it is evidently based on the order of publication. As you have already seen, our in-house experts seem to lean to "start here but then go in whatever order." Since there are thirteen books, resorting to choice based on what is available may be as good an option as any.

I have only read the "first" book because it was a group choice and have not been motivated yet to read a second book. I gave Lightning Bug three stars almost three years ago. That review can be found at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show.... It would be fair to say that I was not captivated at that time.

Mike wrote: "I would recommend the new Kindle Paperwhite."

This discussion of e-readers is one that comes up regularly and I would love it it there was a topic heading in this group that gathered them together in one location for our long term availability.

I have been resisting but I can see that in another year or two (or week or two!) I might undergo a change of mind and want to have some unbiased user observations from those who have gone before me down this well worn path.

Or maybe there is already such a place on Goodreads or elsewhere. Anybody know?

good idea

I read Lightning Bug last year, and loved his humor! Picked up The Cockroaches (Roosterroaches, excuse my vulgarity :D ) of Stay More, just to give me some light hearted reading in between some of the heavier themed books.

I recommend it :D

Larry wrote: "Mike wrote: "I would recommend the new Kindle Paperwhite."

This discussion of e-readers is one that comes up regularly and I would love it it there was a topic heading in this group that gathered ..."

Larry, there was a discussion topic in 2012 that delved into this subject. Go to Random Thoughts in topics and then to EReaders vs. Bound Books. It would be interesting to know how many of the "real books only" commenters now have some sort of device for reading.

I still don't use a reader ;)

I have a kindle paperwhite and I love it for the following reasons:
1)convenience of having several books/magazines with me at the same time
2)I seem to read faster on the kindle? I can't explain why but I just do.
3) I loved reading "Gone with the Wind" on it and other similarly long books. It was so nice not having to lug that beast (I say that with lots of affection:) around.

That said I tend to get nostalgic for the good old days and go through periods where I swear off technology and vow to just read "real" books by the candlelight and enjoy the feel of the book in my hands and the action of turning pages.