Now accepting nominations for February, 2020, Group Reads

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

Seasons Greeting to all of the Trail riders! We hope you can take a few minutes away from your holiday preparations to consider what work of Southern Literature you would like to read in February. As always, there are two categories:books originally published before 1980 or those published in or after 1980. You are entitled to make a nomination in each category. Nominations will stay open for one week or until we receive six nominations in each category.
Our nominations so far are:
Pre-1890
1. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou
2. Uncle Tom's Cabin, by Harriet Beecher Stowe
3. The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman by Ernest J. Gaines
4. The Tall Woman by Wilma Dykeman
5. Shiloh, by Shelby Foote

Post-1980
1. A Gracious Plenty, by Sheri Reynolds
2. Dollbaby, by Laura Lane McNeal
3.The Elementals, by Michael McDowell
4. The Kitchen House, by Kathleen Grissom
5. Ellen Foster by Kaye Gibbons

[John]

Tom, I nominated A Gracious Plenty by Sheri Reynolds for January 2020, but I believe it was overlooked. If there is some problem with this nomination for the post-1980 nomination, please let me know and I will nominate something else.

[Judi]

For the February 2020 Pre-1980 book I nominate I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
For the February 2020 Post-1980 book I nominate The Elementals by Michael McDowell

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

John wrote: "Tom, I nominated A Gracious Plenty by Sheri Reynolds for January 2020, but I believe it was overlooked. If there is some problem with this nomination for the post-1980 nomination, plea..."

Sorry about that.

[Kathryn in FL]

I nominate for Feb. 2020 Post-1980 as Dollbaby / Laura Lane McNeal

[Judi]

Tom, why is my Post-1980 nomination mentioned on the list??? For February 2020 Post-1980 I nominate The Elementals by Michael McDowell. Just wondering???

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

Judi wrote: "Tom, why is my Post-1980 nomination mentioned on the list??? For February 2020 Post-1980 I nominate The Elementals by Michael McDowell. Just wondering???"

Sorry. It's there now. And a great choice it is, too.

[Judi]

Tom wrote: "Judi wrote: "Tom, why is my Post-1980 nomination mentioned on the list??? For February 2020 Post-1980 I nominate The Elementals by Michael McDowell. Just wondering???"

Sorry. It's there now. And a..."

Thanks Tom

[John]

Post 1980: The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom
Pre 1980: Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

John wrote: "Post 1980: The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom
Pre 1980: Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe"

Harriet Beecher Stowe was a staunch abolitionist, born in Connecticut, who did not speak from a southern point of view. The story's theme, though, is definitely germane to the point that it became a part of history itself so I'll include it and let the voters decide.

[Judi]

Since it seems that the Pre 1980 nominations are a little behind I would like to toss out Dust Tracks on a Road by Zora Neale Hurston as another Pre 1980 option. Perhaps I have exceeded my allowed nominations?

[Tracey]

For pre-1980 I nominate:

The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman by Ernest J. Gaines

For post-1980 I nominate

Ellen Foster by Kaye Gibbons

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

Judi wrote: "Since it seems that the Pre 1980 nominations are a little behind I would like to toss out Dust Tracks on a Road by Zora Neale Hurston as another Pre 1980 option. Perhaps I have exceeded my allowed ..."

This is an excellent selection but we limit nominations to one per category. Maybe you could nominate this next month.

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

Tracey the Bookworm wrote: "For pre-1980 I nominate:

The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman by Ernest J. Gaines

For post-1980 I nominate

Ellen Foster by Kaye Gibbons"

Thank you for these. The group last read The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman in 2016 so it is eligible.

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

As is often the case, the Pre-1980 group is a bit slower to get nominations. As we ha three three more slots and only a couple days left before the polls go up I would like to ask readers and moderators to look through the previous polls and pick a book that has garnered a good number of votes but just missed out on winning. As an example, I am going to nominate The Tall Woman by Wilma Dykeman which came in second in August.

[Diane, "Miss Scarlett"]

I will happily re-nominate Shiloh, by Shelby Foote.
Pre 1980

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

Diane wrote: "I will happily re-nominate Shiloh, by Shelby Foote.

An excellent choice! I almost nominated that myself. It may be the one Shelby Foote novel this group hasn't read.

[Tina]

Diane wrote: "I will happily re-nominate Shiloh, by Shelby Foote.
Pre 1980"

Good nomination!

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

Merry Christmas all!

The Polls are up and running for the February selections. Thanks to all of you who nominated and to all of you who participate.

For the Pre-1980 poll, Vote here!

For the Post-1980 poll, Vote here!

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

Happy New Year and thanks to all of you who voted. The polls are now closed and the selections for February have been chosen.

Ellen Foster, by Kaye Gibbons is the winner in the Post-1980 category. The winner in the Pre-1980 category is I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou. Finally, the Moderator’s Choice selection, chosen by Miss Scarlett Diane, is Shiloh, by Shelby Foote.

Also, the discussions boards are up and running for the January selections. They can be found here:

For Pudd'nhead Wilson by Mark Twain, (Moderator’s Choice):
Initial Impressions: Pudd’nhead Wilson, by Mark Twain- January 2020
Final Impressions: Pudd’nhead Wilson, by Mark Twain- January 2020


For The Golden Apples, by Eudora Welty, (Pre-1980):
Initial Impressions: The Golden Apples, by Eudora Welty - January 2020
Group Reads: Post-1980 > Final Impressions: The Golden Apples, by Eudora Welty – January 2020

For The Yellow House, by Sarah M. Broom, (Post-1980):
Initial Impressions: The Yellow House, by Sarah M. Broom – January 2020
Final Impressions: The Yellow House, by Sarah M. Broom - January 2020

Happy reading!

Big Daddy Tom