Downhome: An Anthology of Southern Women Writers

by Susie Mee (Editor/Contributor)

A collection of diverse voices and experiences, all springing from a shared legacy: memories of the american South, of being “downhome.” Mee introduces each group of stories and then lets the authors reveal aspects of the South from their own female point of view. Introduction by the Author.


Contents:

Isis by Zora Neale Hurston
Economics by Elizabeth Seydel Morgan
Sarah by Tina McElroy Ansa
Star in the valley by Mary Noailles Murfree
Ugliest pilgrim by Doris Betts
Music by Ellen Gilchrist
Wide net by Eudora Welty
After Moore by Mary Hood
White rat by Gayl Jones
Dare's gift by Ellen Glasgow
First dark by Elizabeth Spencer
Shiloh by Bobbie Ann Mason
Good country people by Flannery O'Connor
Everyday use by Alice Walker
Yellow ribbons by Susie Mee
Tongues of fire by Lee Smith
Gospel song by Dorothy Allison
New life by Mary Ward Brown
Grave by Katherine Anne Porter
And with a vengeance by Margaret Gibson
Third of July by Elizabeth Cox

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Anthologies, Southern, Female Authors, Womens, Writing

512 pages, Paperback

First published October 13, 1995

Reviews

[Emily E]

This is a large collection of short stories, spanning several decades of writing. The collection is riddled with women who have low opinions of themselves, men who take advantage, (several n-word drops), and Christians and atheists alike. My favorite stories are “Music” by Ellen Gilchrist and “Good County People” by Flannery O’Connor. While the collection is filled with skilled contributors, I wasn’t personally invested in most of these pieces.

[Linda]

I kept this collection of short stories by southern authors by my chair to read slowly when I was in between other books. Some of the authors were new to me and I had never read any of the stories before. I enjoyed each and every one of them, but Dare's Gift about a haunted house was my favorite.

[Laine]

From this anthology, I read "The Ugliest Pilgrim" by Doris Betts. I knew nothing about this story, except that the musical, "Violet"(which I love) was based off of it. I started this story with very high expectations, and I was not disappointed.

This story follows the journey of Violet Karl from Spruce Pines, North Carolina to Tulsa, Oklahoma in order to find someone who can heal her. When Violet was thirteen, she was helping her father cop wood, when the blade of the axe came off the handle and hit her in the face. She is portrayed with a large scar on her face that she feels very self conscious about. On the bus, she meets several people and realizes that everyone has their own journey. Violet meets an African-American soldier, Flick. Flick and Violet befriend each other, and Violet begins to realize that her scar does not define who she is; her personality does. Violet also meets and becomes friends with Monty. Throughout Violet's journey, her views toward her outward appearance begin to change and she starts to realize that there's more to you than your appearance.

This book truly emphasizes the importance of inner beauty and believing in yourself. It also proves that, no matter how alone you feel, there is always someone there for you, or in the same situation, and everyone is on a journey in some way.

I really, really, recommend this book to anyone who wants an uplifting, heartfelt, quick-read.

[Ginny Thurston]

An excellent collection of Southern women voices....organized by theme with three authors in each section. My favorites were "The Star in the Valley" by Mary Noalles Murfree, the only Tennessean, "The Ugliest Pilgrim" by Doris Betts from North Carolina, "After Moore" by Mary Hood from Georgia, "Shiloh" by Bobbie Ann Mason from Kentucky. My very favorite was Lee Smith's "Tongues of Fire." I had read it previously, but I enjoyed it a second time...I just love the narrator's voice.It made me laugh; it made me cry. I had taught "Good Country People" and "Everyday Use" in high school, and they were interesting and wonderfully written, as always.

[Fishfam]

You could tell by the dog-eared pages and curling cover that I read this at least once a year. Some of the short stories are better than others, and I still turn to those when I read this book. A great collection of Southern fiction by women. In my opinion the best stories are:

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After Moore, by Mary Hood

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Dare's Gift, by Ellen Glasgow

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First Dark, by Elizabeth Spencer

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Everyday Use, by Alice Walker

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Tongues of Fire, by Lee Smith

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[Cheryl]

I have read this back in college and now I am re-reading and loving the re-discovery. I know most acclaim is given to Flannery O'Connor for A Good Man... but I am a great fan of Good Country People which is in this anthology. And perhaps one of my favorite short stories is Everyday Use by Alice Walker.

This book can be found at half.com for good garage sale prices.

[Sylvie]

This anthology is absolutely wonderful. I first read it when my friend, Nicole, loaned me her copy, and I loved it. At that time, I had not read very many southern writers—men or women—and this book introduced me to a group of very talented women southern writers. Thanks, Nicole!

[Erin Rafferty]

An outstanding collection from some of the great women of the south. I love the way the book is organized--it allows for a close examination of some of the connections among the stories and the concerns of these writers.

[Jill]

The Ugliest Pilgrim, The Wide Net and Economics were my favorites.

[Amy]

My favorite collection of stories of all time!

[amelia]

<3 i learned that i love eudora welty

[Sonya]

Loved it.

[Lydia]

have read over and over

[Amber]

Like all anthologies, pretty hit or miss. I'm glad this exists in the world, though.

[Connie Vincent]

Wonderful collection of short stories exploring the lives of Southern women.

[Teri Reck]

A wonderful anthology of short stories written by Southern women of every shade and stripe. Some stories are around a century old, others a couple of decades or so. Each as unique as the women who penned them, but with familiar themes to those of any writers, as well as to those who have called the South their home. These stories sometimes shock and sometimes soothe, but they all give voice to real women of the South, and through them, to real women everywhere. Great read!

[Amy Berti]

Writing was good but beyond the first story, the others basically celebrate the dregs of society. Bummer.

[Susan]

I'd only read one of these stories before. I enjoyed the variety very much.

[Emily Perkins]

My favorite collection of stories of all time. I read this for a course on southern women's literature and it quickly became my favorite genre. These stories are unforgettable. My favorites are "Gospel Song" and "Tongues of Fire."

[Elizabeth]

can't help but like it (obviously) - nice mix of writers