On the Southern Literary Trail discussion

Nominations are now closed and the polls are open

The Polls are up and running for the October selections. Thanks to all of you who nominated and to all of you who participate.
To vote for a Pre-1980 selection Vote here!

For the Post-1980 selection poll, Vote here!

We will also be reading a third book, chosen on rotation by one of the moderators. October is my month and, because of the recent passing of Rep. John Lewis, I have decided to read His Truth Is Marching on: John Lewis and the Power of Hope, by Jon Meacham. This book is scheduled for publication on August 25th so you may want to get a request in to your library early for a copy.

The nominations are:

Post-1980
1. Hard Cash Valley, by Brian Panowich
2. Fay, by Larry Brown
3. The Nickel Boys, by Colson Whitehead
4. In the Valley: Stories and a Novella Based on Serena, by Ron Rash
5. Blacktop Wasteland, by S.A. Cosby
6. Audubon's Watch, by John Gregory Brown

Pre-1980
1. The Man Who Moved a Mountain, by Richard C. Davids
2. Pale Horse, Pale Rider, by Katherine Anne Porter
3. The Bad Seed, by William March
4. A Confederacy of Dunces, by John Kennedy Toole
5. Confederates, by Thomas Keneally
6. The Hard Blue Sky, by Shirley Ann Grau

For the Post-1980, book I would like to recommend Hard Cash Valley by Brian Panowich.

For Pre-1980: Richard C. Davids, 'The Man Who Moved a Mountain"

“Fay” by Larry Brown

Kimberlee wrote: "“Fay” by Larry Brown"

This book was last read by the group in 2014. It has been nominated for the post-1980 category.

Jeff wrote: "For Pre-1980: Richard C. Davids, 'The Man Who Moved a Mountain""

This sounds interesting.

For Pre-1980, I’d like to nominate Pale Horse, Pale Rider. Try to stay cool out there, Tom.

Wyndy wrote: Try to stay cool out there, Tom."

I'm trying. It's trying. ;>}

Just a bit of news. In the Valley: Stories and a Novella Based on Serena by Ron Rash was published August 4, 2020. Just sayin'. After all, I don't nominate. And I don't vote. LAUGHING. But since it IS nominations time, I figgered one of Rash's fans on the Trail might want to know. AHEM...

For POST 1980 ..

The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

For Pre-1980 perhaps a revisit to The Bad Seed

Laura wrote: "For Pre-1980 perhaps a revisit to The Bad Seed"

That would be easy for me as another of my groups is reading that now and I will be starting it today.

For Post-1980, I’d like to nominate In The Valley. This one’s for you, Mike 😉

Wyndy wrote: "For Post-1980, I’d like to nominate In The Valley. This one’s for you, Mike 😉"

Thank you.

I would like to nominate Blacktop Wasteland by S. A. Cosby as a post 1980 nomination.
I would like to nominate The Grass Harp, Including A Tree of Night by Truman Capote as a pre 1980 nomination.

Thank you.

Judi wrote: "I would like to nominate Blacktop Wasteland by S. A. Cosby as a post 1980 nomination.
I would like to nominate The Grass Harp, Including A Tree of Night by Truman Capote as a pre 1980 nomination.
..."

Blacktop Wasteland is nominated. The Grass Harp was last read in March 2019 so is ineligible.

I would like to nominate, once again, A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole as a pre 1980 nomination.

Thanks.

Pre-1980: Confederates

By the acclaimed author of the Academy Award-winning movie Schindler's List, this Civil War saga is both a riveting account of America at war and a tapestry of human drama.

Confederates and A Confederacy of Dunces are both nominated. We now have one opening left in each category.

Wyndy wrote: "For Post-1980, I’d like to nominate In The Valley. This one’s for you, Mike 😉"

Thanks, Wyndy. I normally don't intrude on nominations. BUT, Rash has been such a Trail favorite, I wanted folks to know his latest was out. The movie Serena didn't capture her evil Rash captured in the novel. Oh, I'll be glad when we once more have authors on tour. Damned Pandemic.

Book Concierge wrote: "For POST 1980 ..

The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead"

Read it. loved it. Whitehead is dynamite. A slight heads up. This is a BRUTAL read.

Lawyer wrote: "Book Concierge wrote: "For POST 1980 ..

The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead"

Read it. loved it. A slight heads up. This is a BRUTAL read."

If it's chosen I'll be sure to add it to my "Not for the squeamish" bookshelf.

Pre: The Hard Blue Sky by Shirley Ann Grau, who just passed away recently. Pub. Date. 1955

Post: Audubon's Watch, by John Gregory Brown.
Pub. date. 2003

The Polls are up and running for the October selections. Thanks to all of you who nominated and to all of you who participate.
To vote for a Pre-1980 selection Vote here!

For the Post-1980 selection poll, Vote here!

I am a huge Rash fan, Mike, and met him at a book signing, so his new one was an easy nomination. Not sure where the Serena “novella” will take us, but I’m very curious to find out. Damn pandemic indeed. I really miss attending author events and recently heard that a longtime favorite library book sale has been canceled for October 😢

Our book sale cancellation broke my heart. What will I look forward to in October now?

Wyndy wrote: "I am a huge Rash fan, Mike, and met him at a book signing, so his new one was an easy nomination. Not sure where the Serena “novella” will take us, but I’m very curious to find out. Damn pandemic i..."

My quick go to bookstore is The Alabama Bookstore in Homewood, Al. No word on when author signings will resume. I first met Rash there. My trips to Faulkner Country are on hiatus as well. Square Books in Oxford allows 4 customers in the store. Customers are urged to make an appointment to shop. Sigh...

The loss of the book festivals is very disheartening. I think the Southern Festival of books in nashville is now a 10 day virtual venue instead of 3 days of listening, meeting and buying.

Welcome to September, Trail riders!

The polls are now closed and the selections for October have been chosen.

The winner in the Post-1980 is The Nickel Boys, by Colson Whitehead. The winner in the Pre-1980 category is Pale Horse, Pale Rider, by Katherine Anne Porter.

For the October Moderator’s Choice selection, I have chosen His Truth Is Marching on: John Lewis and the Power of Hope, by Jon Meacham.

Also, the discussions boards are up and running for the September selections. They can be found here:

For Storming Heaven, by Denise Giardina (Moderator’s Choice):
Initial Impressions: Storming Heaven, by Denise Giardina- September 2020
Final Impressions - Storming Heaven, by Denise Giardina- September 2020

For The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter, by Carson McCullers, (Pre-1980):
Initial Impressions: The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, by Carson McCullers- September 2020
Final Impressions: The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, by Carson McCullers - September 2020

For Spook Lights: Southern Gothic Horror, by Eden Royce, (Post-1980):
Initial Impressions: Spook Lights: Southern Gothic Horror, by Eden Royce- September 2020
Final Impressions: Spook Lights: Southern Gothic Horror, by Eden Royce- September 2020

Stay safe. Happy reading!

Big Daddy Tom