On the Southern Literary Trail discussion
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Nominations
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Now Accepting Nominations for November, 2016, Group Reads
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I'd like to nominate Redemption Road by John Hart as the post-1980 selection."
Done, "Big Daddy!" Redemption Road by John Hart is nominated, Post-1980. That's ONE!
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I would like to nominate The Last Night at Ballyhoo by Alfred Uhry for post 1980.
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Wow, Brina! What a unique nomination! I've just done background reading on this one and it looks fascinating. Folks, it's a play set in Atlanta in 1939. WWII is looming. GWTW is premiering at the Lowe Theatre in Atlanta, and there is a unique cast of characters. The Last Night of Ballyhoo by Alfred Uhry was awarded the Tony Award for best play in 1997.
Brina, this is nominated Post 1980. That's THREE!
Mike- kudos to Leanne for helping me find this. I was looking for a uniquely Jewish Southern experience and she suggested this play. I'm reading this regardless of outcome.
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Kudos is hereby noted. That's the beauty of this group. Wow, the recommendations folks make to one another. It's just one of the many reasons I love this Group so much!
Brina wrote: "Mike- kudos to Leanne for helping me find this. I was looking for a uniquely Jewish Southern experience and she suggested this play. I'm reading this regardless of outcome."And we still need to find you that framed batik that reads: Shalom, Y'all!
I checked on Amazon and there were no batiks or welcome mats but many ceramic tiles, coffee mugs, and t-shirts. Not exactly what I was looking for oh well.
Post 1980:A Fine Dark Line
It is the summer of 1958 in Dewmont, Texas, a town the great American postwar boom passed by. The kids listen idly to rockabilly on the radio and waste their weekends at the Dairy Queen. And an undetected menace simmers under the heat that clings to the skin like molasses... For thirteen-year-old Stanley Mitchell, the end of innocence comes with his discovery of the mysterious long-ago demise of two very different young women. In his quest to unravel the truth about their tragic fates, Stanley finds a protector in Buster Lighthorse Smith, a black, retired Indian-reservation cop and a sage on the finer points of Sherlock Holmes, the blues, and life's faded dreams. But not every buried thing stays dead. And on one terrifying night of rushing creek water and thundering rain, an arcane, murderous force will rise from the past to threaten the boy in a harrowing rite of passage... Vintage Lansdale, A Fine Dark Line brims with exquisite suspense, powerful characterizations, and the vibrant evocation of a lost time. (less)
I'm going to nominate two books that I have wanted to read for thirty years, but have somehow not found the time (I know no one else has that fine flaw in this group). For post 1980: Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All
For pre 1980, I'll be going out on a limb: Geronimo Rex, Hannah's first novel that might not be suitable for some reader's tastes, but some folks found Sanctuary a bit over the top as well. So, here goes nothin'.
I would like to second Joey s choices please
Uet for pre I d like to see The conjure woman by Mr Chestnut
oops yet again ! I do not appear to be doing so well on my cell today poor Mr Charles Chestnutt I thought it might be interesting to read some old folk tales of the South as so many can be found in diverse works This one I am nominating I am familiar with but are there any more ?
Post 1980 - I would like to put forward A Land Remembered by Patrick D. Smith for my nomination once again. Published in 1984 by Pineapple Press. It is historical fiction set in pioneer Florida. The story covers over a century of Florida history from 1858 to 1968. It is staring at me daily from my shelf.
Pre-1980: Their Eye Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston. Zora was born in Alabama and raised in Florida .She was an anthropologist as well and an important figure of the Harlem Renaissance .
Yes for Absalom, Absalom although you can't go wrong with Hurston either.
I've lost count of how many have been nominated, but I'll throw in Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier. I've been wanting to read this for such a long time, and this might give me that push!
I am nominating Mississippi Noir for post-1980 again. I am encouraged by the fact it came in second. Think it would be great way to get a sample of many writer's voices.
Second "A Land Remembered" and I'll nominate "Miss Jane" by Brad Watson.
Pre Internet:The Dog of the South
The narrator is Ray Midge, down-at-the-heels Southerner after his wife. "Norma had run off with Guy Dupree and I was waiting around for the credit card billings to come in so I could see where they had gone." The fussbudget is assailed by tropical storms, grifters, hippies, car trouble, and candy wrappers at high speed "wind came up through the floor hole in such a way that the Heath wrappers were suspended behind my head in a noisy brown vortex". Leech Dr Reo Symes is a font of dubious financial schemes and fluff such as a circus "fifty-pound rat from the sewers of Paris, France. Of course it didn't really weigh fifty pounds and it wasn't your true rat and it wasn't from Paris, France, either. It was some kind of animal from South America."
I would like to nominate The Moviegoer by Walker Percy (Pre 1980). Perhaps it is too late to be considered.
I nominated Miss Jane a time or 2 ago, Thing Two, but it did not get much traction. Still want to read it, though. ;-)
Unless I'm short a finger, I'm pretty sure we already reached the magic number of six post 1980 nominations on Friday with Guy's bid for A Land Remembered. You might want to keep all those other post 1980 nominations in mind for December. We now also have six for pre-1980 with Judi's nomination of The Moviegoer.
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A Fine Dark Line
It is the summer of 1958 in Dewmont, Texas, a town the great American postwar boom passed by. The kids listen idly to rockabilly on the radio and waste th..."
Tina, thank you! A Fine Dark Line by Joe R. Lansdale is nominated, Post-1980. That's FOUR.
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For post 1980: Oldest..."</i>
Two good ones, Joey.
[book:Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All by Allan Gurganus is nominated, Post-1980. That's FIVE.
Geronimo Rex by Barry Hannah is nominated, Pre-1980. That's ONE.
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Morning, Jane! The Conjure Woman by Charles W. Chesnutt is nominated, Pre-1980. That's Two.
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Guy, thank you. A Land Remembered by Patrick D. Smith is nominated, Post-1980. That's SIX.
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Absolutely, Doug. Absalom, Absalom! by William Faulkner is nominated Pre-1980. That's THREE.
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Wonderful, Phyllis. Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston is nominated, Pre-1980. That's FOUR.
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The Dog of the South
The narrator is Ray Midge, down-at-the-heels Southerner after his wife. "Norma had run off with Guy Dupree and I was waiting around for the credi..."
Thanks to Pre-Internet Tina for nominating The Dog of the South by Charles Portis. It is nominated, Pre-1980. That's FIVE.
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Judi, thank you! The Moviegoer by Walker Percy is nominated Pre-1980. That's SIX!
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For those of you who submitted nominations after we received sufficient titles on which to vote, please consider nominating those works for our December Group Reads.
Lawyer wrote: "Thanks to all who submitted nominations for our November, 2016, Group Reads. We have received six nominations in each of the Categories. Nominations for November, 2016, are now CLOSED.
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For th..."
Since this is my first time, could someone explain how we vote on these? Thanks!
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Thanks to all who submitted nominations for our November, 2016, Group Reads. We have received six nominations in each of the Categories. Nominations for November, 2016, are now CLO..."
Hi, Donna. Follow the link to the Pre-1980 Group Read Poll HERE.
Follow the link to the Post-1980 Poll HERE.
Lawyer wrote: "Donna wrote: "Lawyer wrote: "Thanks to all who submitted nominations for our November, 2016, Group Reads. We have received six nominations in each of the Categories. Nominations for November, 201..."
Thank you!
Mod
Here's what we have to look forward to in November:
Pre-1980: Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston. Special thanks to Phyllis Perry for nominating Hurston's wonderful novel.
Post-1980: Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All by Allan Gurganus. Special thanks to Joey Kay Anderson for nominating Gurganus' rollicking novel narrated by an unforgettable protagonist.
And our own "Tall Woman," Laura is up for November's Moderator's Choice. She'll be offering up To The Bright And Shining Sun by James Lee Burke whom the Trail has not read before. Watch for her announcement!
As always,
Happy Reading
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On the Southern Literary Trail
Books mentioned in this topic
Their Eyes Were Watching God (other topics)To The Bright And Shining Sun (other topics)
Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All (other topics)
The Moviegoer (other topics)
The Dog of the South (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Walker Percy (other topics)Charles Portis (other topics)
Zora Neale Hurston (other topics)
William Faulkner (other topics)
Patrick D. Smith (other topics)
More...
So, readers, what will it be this next month? Tell us. We want to know. I can hardly wait to receive your nominations. Our group continues to grow. As of this morning, membership stands at 1,282. Oh, I know, our more conversive members do not reflect those numbers. But I want everyone to know, I'm happy to have each one of you a member of this group. If you find one book here that captures your imagination, I believe this group has accomplished this purpose for you. Never feel compelled to launch into a discourse. On the other hand, know your thoughts are valued by each of us who read them. Each of you is very special to me, and I know I speak for each of my fellow moderators.
Along the way, a new member suggested, here's a bit of information you need to know about nominations. Many of you consider this old hat. But I do consider it helpful to our newly joined members.
You may nominate a work in TWO categories. Those categories are PRE-1980 and POST-1980. Those dates refer to WHEN a book was PUBLISHED. Not when a book was set in time.
The book SHOULD be a work of SOUTHERN LITERATURE. Just what is that? Well, I could write a book on the subject. But, very briefly, a work of Southern literature is written by an author born in the South dealing with Southern settings, characters, historical events such as the Civil War, Reconstruction, and many more. Think William Faulkner. However, it may also be a work by a Southern writer who has LEFT the South, who lives, for instance, in Brooklyn, New York, who observes life with the values of his growing up in the South. A Prime example would be Sophie's Choice by William Styron.
But, to broaden the definition, hopefully not to confuse you, a work can be Southern literature, even when written by an author born in the North. Think Beloved by Toni Morrison, a work you will find on many "Lists of Best Southern Literature."
Now to the nitty gritty. I accept SIX nominations in each category. OR, the Nominations remain open for FIVE DAYS. The nominations are CLOSED upon receiving the required number of nominations or the passage of five days, WHICH EVER HAPPENS FIRST. I then set up the POLLS on which YOU VOTE.
Many of our members have been around since I founded this group in February, 2012. The group has changed in membership since it was formed. I recognize that newer members may wish to read a novel which has been previously chosen as a group read. AND WE DO THAT! However, I ask that you NOT NOMINATE A WORK READ WITHIN THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF. Groups work best where everyone plays well with others. How do you know WHAT HAS BEEN READ WHEN? Go to the BOOKSHELF on the GROUP'S HOMEPAGE. SEARCH for the title you're interested in. You will see if a work has been read before and when it was. And, of course, if you have a question, e-mail me via goodreads. I'll let you know.
AUTHORS IN THE GROUP--YOU MAY NOT NOMINATE YOUR OWN WORK.
I'm sure some of you may have other questions. You may always write to me through goodreads e-mail. I ALWAYS respond. It may not be right away. All of us have lives outside the goodreads community. BUT I ALWAYS RESPOND!
ONE LAST THING! I believe in this group being member driven. I do not nominate. I d. I do note vote. My fellow moderators do. I couldn't do without them. As a group, each of us take turns offering an alternate read each month called the MODERATOR'S CHOICE.
And, a question for YOU! Have suggestions to improve "The Trail"? Just let me know. Write me with your suggestions. The Mod Squad listens to you.
So, have at it. What do we have in store for us in November, 2016?
Happy Reading,
Mike Sullivan
"Lawyer Stevens"