On the Southern Literary Trail discussion

The Southern Literary Trail nominations are now closed. is now accepting nominations for books that the group will be reading in October 2024.

We will consider books with a southern literary theme that have not been read by the group in the last 24 months. The two categories are books originally published in or before 1990 or those published after 1990. In the latter case, we will no longer consider nominations for new books unless they have been available for at least four months prior to the date we begin reading the book. 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 Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain
2. The Long March, by William Styron
3. The Souls of Black Folk, by W.E.B. Du Bois
4. The Marrow of Tradition, by Charles W. Chesnutt
5. The Hard Blue Sky, by Shirley Ann Grau
6. Our Southern Highlanders: A Narrative of Adventure in the Southern Appalachians and a Study of Life Among the Mountaineers, by Horace Kephart
Books originally published after 1990
1. The Witch of Tin Mountain, by Paulette Kennedy
2. Sleepovers: Stories, by Ashleigh Bryant Phillips
3. Escape Velocity: A Charles Portis Miscellany
4. Plum Orchard, by June Hall McCash
5. Where the Line Bleeds, by Jesmyn Ward
6. Annihilation, by Jeff VanderMeer

I would like to nominate for the 1990+ listing The Witch of Tin Mountain by Paulette Kennedy.

John wrote: "I would like to nominate for the 1990+ listing The Witch of Tin Mountain by Paulette Kennedy."
Sounds like the perfect nomination for October.

I would like to nominate for post 1990 a collection of short stories by Ashleigh Bryant Phillips: Sleepovers: Stories.

Phillips is from Woodland, North Carolina. From the blurb about the book:

Hailed by Lauren Groff as “fully committed to the truth no matter how dark or difficult or complicated it may be,” and written with “incantatory crispness,” Sleepovers, the debut short story collection by Ashleigh Bryant Phillips, takes us to a forgotten corner of the rural South, full of cemeteries, soybean fields, fishing holes, and Duck Thru gas stations.

John wrote: "I would like to nominate for post 1990 a collection of short stories by Ashleigh Bryant Phillips: Sleepovers: Stories.

Phillips is from Woodland, North Carolina. From the blurb abo..."

Thank you.

I came across a book called Plum Orchard by June Hall McCash. Historical Fiction, coastal Georgia.

Tom, did I fail to nominate The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in the proper thread? If so, I do so now, in the pre-1990 category.

I'm not sure if this title is allowed, as it contains some nonfiction, but if it is I will nominate Escape Velocity: A Charles Portis Miscellany, a collection of essays, journalism, short stories, and other writings by Charles Portis.

"Published in 2012, the book offers a unique insight into the lesser-known works of Portis, showcasing his versatility and distinct voice beyond his famous novels."

Published on January 1, 2012, according to Goodreads

Joan wrote: "I came across a book called Plum Orchard by June Hall McCash. Historical Fiction, coastal Georgia."

Hi Joan, Please let me know if this is for the pre-1990 or post-1990 category.

Terry wrote: "Tom, did I fail to nominate The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in the proper thread? If so, I do so now, in the pre-1990 category."

If you did, you've done it now.

Where the Line Bleeds by Jesmyn Ward (Post 1990)

"The Souls of Black Folk" by W.E.B. Du Bois pre 1990

pre-1990 The Long March

post 1990 Annihilation

Lisa (NY) wrote: ""The Souls of Black Folk" by W.E.B. Du Bois pre 1990"

Hi Lisa, I'm on the fence about this one. Du Bois is not what most people consider a southern writer and the subject of race/racism does not, in and of itself, automatically classify it as southern. On the other hand, race and racism is undeniably an intrinsic part of the southern experience and W. E. B. Du Bois did study at Fisk University and taught at Atlanta University. Coincidentally, John just recommended Promised Land: Thirteen Books That Changed America and The Souls of Black Folk is listed as number eight. For those reasons, and the fact that I have been wanting to read it for ages, I'm going to go ahead and allow it.

Sam wrote: "pre-1990 The Long March

post 1990 Annihilation"

I hadn't heard of The Long March, before. It looks interesting.

Unfortunately, I've read Annihilation and I don't recall that it can be considered southern, even though it is volume one of the Southern Reach trilogy. I'll be happy to hear any reasons why it should be included but I don't believe that either the author, the setting or the theme makes that case.

Tom, Jeff VandeerMer is a Florida resident, and Saint Mark's National Wildlife Refuge in Florida is the inspiration for Area X in the Southern Reach Trilogy.

Connie wrote: "Tom, Jeff VandeerMer is a Florida resident, and Saint Mark's National Wildlife Refuge in Florida is the inspiration for Area X in the Southern Reach Trilogy."

I suppose that will do it.

We have our six nominations for post-1990. We still need three nominations for the pre-1990 category.

For Pre-1980, how about Cormac McCarthy's 'Suttree'?

Josh wrote: "For Pre-1980, how about Cormac McCarthy's 'Suttree'?"

Suttree was last read in December 2022 so you will have to wait until we ask for January nominations (mid-November) for it to be eligible again.

Tom wrote: "Josh wrote: "For Pre-1980, how about Cormac McCarthy's 'Suttree'?"

Suttree was last read in December 2022 so you will have to wait until we ask for January nominations (mid-November)..."

I’ve only read one Cormac McCarthy book: Child of God. Probably the darkest book I have ever read.

Tom wrote: "Josh wrote: "For Pre-1980, how about Cormac McCarthy's 'Suttree'?"

Suttree was last read in December 2022 so you will have to wait until we ask for January nominations (mid-November)..."

How about Charles W. Chesnutt's 'The Marrow of Tradition'?

Josh wrote: "How about Charles W. Chesnutt's 'The Marrow of Tradition'?"

Good choice!

The Hard Blue Sky, by Shirley Ann Grau. Published 1955.

I'll try this again. Having just read it, I know there are Trail members who would appreciate and enjoy it also.

Our Southern Highlanders by Horace Kephart

With that, the nominations are now closed.