On the Southern Literary Trail discussion

Nominations are now closed

The Southern Literary Trail is now accepting nominations for books that the group will be reading in December 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 Shepherd of the Hills, by Harold Bell Wright
2. A Long and Happy Life, by Reynolds Price
3. I'll Take My Stand: The South and the Agrarian Tradition, Intro by Susan V. Donaldson
4. Dust tracks on the road, by Zora Neale Hurston
5. Travels of William Bartram, by William Bartram
6. Wise Blood, by Flannery O'Connor
Books originally published after 1990
1. The Little Friend, by Donna Tartt
2. Gator Country: Deception, Danger, and Alligators in the Everglades, by Rebecca Renner
3. Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books, by Kirsten Miller
4. I Hate to See That Evening Sun Go Down: Collected Stories, by William Gay
5. Sleepovers: Stories, by Ashleigh Bryant Phillips
6. Orange World and Other Stories, by Karen Russell

Matt wrote: "I nominate The Shepherd of the Hills by Harold Bell Wright for pre-1990.

For post 1990, I nominate The Little Friend by Donna Tartt."

Excellent choices.

I nominate "I hate to see that evening sun go down" by William Gay. Short Stories. for post 1990.

And I nominate "Dust Tracks on a Road" by Zora Neale Hurston (an autobiography) for pre 1990.

I nominate
Pre 1990. I'll Take My Stand: The South and the Agrarian Tradition Twelve Southerners; Susan V. Donaldson (intro) I am linking the latest publication though the introduction is a modern critical approach. The book is a Southern literary academic classic but can be polarizing for its views. I am nominating for its historical contribution to Southern literature.

Post 1990. Gator Country: Deception, Danger, and Alligators in the Everglades Rebecca Renner

If it's not bad etiquette to recommend a book that was recently recommended by someone else but didn't get the votes, may I try again and nominate A Long and Happy Life for December's pre-1990?

And for something light and humorous during the stressful holidays, for post-1990 I nominate Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books.

Oh! And if it's not cool to duplicate a recent recommendation, how about (don't hate me) Tobacco Road for pre-1990? Lordy, lordy, I just read it, a "classic," and sure need to understand what the heck kind of thing that was.

Debi, it's perfectly okay to renominate a book. It may have better luck this time. I've always liked Reynolds Price. Lula Dean sounds like a fun book.

Thanks, Diane! Good to know.

It was on a recent Trail nomination that I became aware of Price. The nominated title interested me so much that I bought a copy, in spite of it not being the winner. The book just came in and think taking the Trail with others for it would still be nice.

I'm not doing so good advancing in The Souls of Black Folk, but I will re-read Their Eyes for November so I can--at last--participate with the group.

Debi wrote: "If it's not bad etiquette to recommend a book that was recently recommended by someone else but didn't get the votes, ..."

There's no rule against it but I tend to abide by the old W. C. Fields maxim of "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again, then quit. There's no use being a damn fool about it." In other words, if a book has been nominated several times and hasn't ever been a contender, I'll likely give preference to a book that hasn't yet been considered by the group.

W. C. Fields, a man of wisdom. ha

I have no idea how many times it's been nominated since I'm new to the group. If it has, no need in including it, I offered an alternate above if there's still a slot.

Thanks Tom!

Tom wrote: "The Southern Literary Trail is now accepting nominations for books that the group will be reading in December 2024.

We will consider books with a southern literary theme that have not been read b..."

For after 1990 -- I propose Karen Russel's Orange World and Other Stories

For before 1990 -- I propose William Bartram's Travels

Tom, don't forget to post Lisa's nominations. 4th comment in.

I am glad to see consideration again for Reynolds Price, a great writer. I would like to nominate Ashleigh Bryant Phillips’ Sleepovers: Stories. (Post 1990).

Set in eastern North Carolina, these are some of the most quietly harrowing stories I’ve ever read.

If my counting is correct, that completes our nominations for the Post-1990 group. We still have one open slot for the pre-1990 group.

After reading (and feeling cheated by) Tobacco Road, I just finished Wise Blood and feel, well, redeemed.

May I nominate another book for pre-1990? If so, I nominate Wise Blood. A million things in it beg discussion!

I'm sorry. Readers are limited to one nomination per category. By all means, feel free to nominate Wise Blood next month.
(BTW, I agree with you regarding Tobacco Road.)

Will do! Thanks, Tom.

How about if I nominate Wise Blood? Does that work?

That works Terry! That fills out our nominations in both categories.

Thank you Terry <3 I'm excited.

And that wraps up the nominations for this month. For those of you who are not totally exhausted by the thought of elections, I'll be posting the polls at the first of the month.