On the Southern Literary Trail discussion

I am now accepting nominations for our group reads for April, 2017. I look forward to seeing what y'all suggest!

How about :
The Violent Bear It Away
Flannery O'Connor
(pre-80's)

I tried to review the group's read shelf, and didn't see it, but if you've already read it please disregard my nomination...

Dustincecil wrote: "How about :
The Violent Bear It Away
Flannery O'Connor
(pre-80's)

I tried to review the group's read shelf, and didn't see it, but if you've already read it please disregard my nomination..."

Thank you, Dustin, The Violent Bear It Away was published in 1960, and was a finalist for the National Book Award in 1961. Flannery O'Connor's novel is nominated Pre-1980. That's ONE!

and post 1980:

A Shelter of Others
A Shelter of Others
by Charles Dodd White

Dustincecil wrote: "and post 1980:

A Shelter of Others
A Shelter of Others
by Charles Dodd White"

Dustin, you're two for two. A Shelter of Others, by Charles Dodd White , has garnered high praise by writers such as David Joy. And he has his following among members of "The Trail," including our own "Tall Woman," Laura Webber. This one is nominated Post-1980. That's ONE!

Post 1980:
Chinaberry Sidewalks

From the acclaimed musician comes a tender, surprising, and often uproarious memoir about his dirt-poor southeast Texas boyhood.

The only child of a hard-drinking father and a Holy Roller mother, Rodney Crowell was no stranger to bombast from an early age, whether knock-down-drag-outs at a local dive bar or fire-and-brimstone sermons at Pentecostal tent revivals. He was an expert at reading his father’s mercurial moods and gauging exactly when his mother was likely to erupt, and even before he learned to ride a bike, he was often forced to take matters into his own hands. He broke up his parents’ raucous New Year’s Eve party with gunfire and ended their slugfest at the local drive-in (actual restaurants weren’t on the Crowells’ menu) by smashing a glass pop bottle over his own head.

Despite the violent undercurrents always threatening to burst to the surface, he fiercely loved his epilepsy-racked mother, who scorned boring preachers and improvised wildly when the bills went unpaid. And he idolized his blustering father, a honky-tonk man who took his boy to see Hank Williams, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Johnny Cash perform live, and bought him a drum set so he could join his band at age eleven.

Shot through with raggedy friends and their neighborhood capers, hilariously awkward adolescent angst, and an indelible depiction of the bloodlines Crowell came from, Chinaberry Sidewalks also vividly re-creates Houston in the fifties: a rough frontier town where icehouses sold beer by the gallon on paydays; teeming with musical venues from standard roadhouses to the Magnolia Gardens, where name-brand stars brought glamour to a place starved for it; filling up with cheap subdivisions where blue-collar day laborers could finally afford a house of their own; a place where apocalyptic hurricanes and pest infestations were nearly routine.

But at its heart this is Crowell’s tribute to his parents and an exploration of their troubled yet ultimately redeeming romance. Wry, clear-eyed, and generous, it is, like the very best memoirs, firmly rooted in time and place and station, never dismissive, and truly fulfilling.

Tina wrote: "Post 1980:
Chinaberry Sidewalks

From the acclaimed musician comes a tender, surprising, and often uproarious memoir about his dirt-poor southeast Texas boyhood.

The only child of ..."

Thank you, Tina, Chinaberry Sidewalks by Rodney Crowell is nominated, Post-1980. That's TWO!

Pre-1980: I nominate All the King's Men by Robert Penn Warren. This is a book I have never read that I should have and always wanted to.

Yet, I like Dustin's nomination of Flannery O'Connor. That's what is nice about being in this group. You never lose.

Joey wrote: "Pre-1980: I nominate All the King's Men by Robert Penn Warren. This is a book I have never read that I should have and always wanted to.

Yet, I like Dustin's nomination of Flannery O'C..."
You're right, Joey. No matter which work takes the poll, particularly with the Pre-1980 "Classics" there are no losers. All the King's Men by Robert Penn Warren is nominated, Pre-1980. Without any intention to influence any vote, this is one of my favorite novels and Warren one of my favorite authors. Thanks, Joey. That's TWO!

I would like to nominate Barrowfields by Phillip Lewis it is a recent one

Pre I would like to nominate Chestnutt s , Conjure Woman , please

Well Finally on March 7th David Joy 's book is Released and I do not even care what it is called ! I believed it is THE WEIGHT OF THE WORLD ! I want to read it really bad !!! Post 1980 of course !

Pre-1980 I will add in next !

Smiles !!!

Post-1980: Lincoln in the Bardo.
This first novel from Saunders seems to be a hit with everyone who's read it.

I have just ordered Lincoln Book , Doug after reading reviews on here

I would like to nominate Nick Caves - And The Ass Saw The Angel for post 1980. It is Southern Gothic set in Ukulore Valley,(Arkansas). The author is Australian.

Dawn wrote: "Well Finally on March 7th David Joy 's book is Released and I do not even care what it is called ! I believed it is THE WEIGHT OF THE WORLD ! I want to read it really bad !!! Post 1980 of course ! ..."

Thanks, Dawn. The Weight of This World, the second novel by David Joy is nominated Post-1980.

Jane wrote: "I would like to nominate Barrowfields by Phillip Lewis it is a recent one"

Hello, Jane, The Barrowfields by Phillip Lewis is garnering excellent reviews. It is nominated, Post-1980.

Jane wrote: "Pre I would like to nominate Chestnutt s , Conjure Woman , please"

Of course, Jane. The Conjure Woman by Charles W. Chesnutt is nominated pre-1980. I admire your persistence in nominating this work. For what it is worth, I recently ordered the complete works by Chesnutt compiled by the Library of America.

Doug wrote: "Post-1980: Lincoln in the Bardo.
This first novel from Saunders seems to be a hit with everyone who's read it."

Good on ya, Doug! Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders is nominated Post-1980. I'm itching to get my hands on this one. I will be seeing Saunders February 21 at The Alabama Booksmith in Homewood, Alabama!

Kirk wrote: "I would like to nominate Nick Caves - And The Ass Saw The Angel for post 1980. It is Southern Gothic set in Ukulore Valley,(Arkansas). The author is Australian."

Done, Kirk! And the Ass Saw the Angel by Nick Cave is nominated Post-1980. That's SIX. THE NOMINATIONS FOR THE POST 1980 APRIL GROUP READ ARE CLOSED.

Lawyer wrote: "Kirk wrote: "I would like to nominate Nick Caves - And The Ass Saw The Angel for post 1980. It is Southern Gothic set in Ukulore Valley,(Arkansas). The author is Australian."

Done, Kirk! [book:And..." Thanks!

Pre-Internet:
Meridian
The second novel written by Alice Walker, preceding The Color Purple is a heartfelt and moving story about one woman's personal revolution as she joins the Civil Rights Movement. Set in the American South in the 1960s it follows Meridian Hill, a courageous young woman who dedicates herself heart and soul to her civil rights work, touching the lives of those around her even as her own health begins to deteriorate. Hers is a lonely battle, but it is one she will not abandon, whatever the costs. This is classic Alice Walker, beautifully written, intense and passionate. (less)
Paperback, 262 pages
Published September 1st 2004 by Orion Publishing Group (first published 1976)

Tina wrote: "Pre-Internet:
Meridian
The second novel written by Alice Walker, preceding The Color Purple is a heartfelt and moving story about one woman's personal revolution as she joins the Civil..."

Perfection, Tina. Meridian byAlice Walker is nominated, Pre-1980.

I received the following no.ination from Trail Member Judi via goodreads email. The Gilded Age by Mark Twain is nominated, Pre-1980.

It's going to be difficult to choose this month! so many good looking reads nominated.

Dustincecil wrote: "It's going to be difficult to choose this month! so many good looking reads nominated."

Yes, indeed. That's what makes each poll so interesting. Our readers are treasures, all nominating books worthy of reading and re-reading!

Were there ever polls set up that I just missed? I didn't nominate this time around because I can't commit to much in April but everything looks interesting.

Brina wrote: "Were there ever polls set up that I just missed? I didn't nominate this time around because I can't commit to much in April but everything looks interesting."

Brina, I just broadcast a message to all members that the polls are created and will open tomorrow. Thanks.

Thank you.