On the Southern Literary Trail discussion

The Southern Literary Trail is now accepting nominations for books that the group will be reading in May 2025.

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 them 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. God's Little Acre, by Erskine Caldwell
2. Crimes of the Heart, by Beth Henley
3. The Grandissimes: A Story of Creole Life, by George Washington Cable
4. The Story of My Life, by Helen Keller
5. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, by Mark Twain
6. The Education of Little Tree, by Forrest Carter
Books originally published after 1990
1. Last Days of the Dog-Men: Stories, by Brad Watson
2. The Light Pirate, by Lily Brooks-Dalton
3. Billy Creekmore by Tracey Porter
4. Tom Lake, by Ann Patchett
5. The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had, by Kristin Levine
6. The Barn: The Secret History of a Murder in Mississippi, by Wright Thompson

Im going to re-nominate Last Days of the Dog-Men: Stories by Brad Watson. It came close to winning last time and I'm a big fan of Watson so I went ahead and ordered a copy. I think these stories are excellent for discussion.

For post-1990.

pre 1990 God's Little Acre by Erskine Caldwell

Post 1990 recommendation: The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton. Although the author is from LA, the novel is set in Florida.

Post 1990 recommendation: Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

Patchett has lived in Nashville since she was six. The book is set in Michigan, but as a family story it has a bit of the "Southern lit" vibe.

Crimes of the Heart by Beth Henley

pre 1990

125 pages, Paperback First published January 1, 1982
Literary awards Pulitzer Prize for Drama (1981)

Billy Creekmore by Tracey Porter

post 1990

320 pages, Hardcover Published June 26, 2007

For post-1990 I'm going to re-nominate The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had by Kristin Levine

Whether it wins, or not, some of ya'll need to read this little book,
because it is really good. And that's all I have to say about that.

Book Concierge wrote: "Post 1990 recommendation: Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

Patchett has lived in Nashville since she was six. The book is set in Michigan, but as a family story it has a b..."

If this is selected or not, the audiobook has an extra thrill since it is narrated by Meryl Streep.

pre-1990 The Grandissimes: A Story of Creole Life by George Washington Cable
post-1990 The Barn: The Secret History of a Murder in Mississippi Wright Thompson

That's it for the Post-1990 nominations. We still need a few Pre-1990 suggestions.

For pre1990 (published 1902) The Story of My Life by Helen Keller.

Pre 1990 - The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain

I believe this leaves room for just one more in the pre-1990 category.

I will nominate The Education of Little Tree by Forrest Carter

Thanks Lori. That wraps up the May nominations.

Yup. That does it. I'll set up the polls at the first of the month. Thank you everyone for the nominations.