Now accepting nominations for October 2022 Group Reads

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

The Southern Literary Trail is now accepting nominations for books that the group will be reading in October 2022.

We will consider books with a southern literary theme that have not been read by the group in the last 24 months. Per our recently revised criteria, the two categories are books originally published in or before 1990 or those published after 1990. 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 Provincials: A Personal History of Jews in the South, by Eli N. Evans
2. Clotel: or, The President's Daughter, by William Wells Brown
3. Giant, by Edna Ferber
4. In the Land of Dreamy Dreams, by Ellen Gilchrist
5. Mules and Men, by Zora Neale Hurston
6. The Widow's Trial, by John Ehle
CLOSED-Books originally published after 1990-CLOSEED
1. Promise, by Minrose Gwin
2. The Death of Sweet Mister, by Daniel Woodrell
3. Wastelands: The True Story of Farm Country on Trial, Corban Addison
4. The Saints of Swallow Hill, by Donna Everhart
5. She Walks These Hills, by Sharyn McCrumb
6. Trouble the Water, by Rebecca Dwight Bruff

FYI: As October is my favorite month, theme-wise, I usually wheel and deal with the other moderators so that I can choose the October Moderators Choice selection. This year it seems appropriate to pay tribute to Anne Rice, a prolific southern author who passed away earlier this year. As I have a historic connection with witches, I have decided on The Witching Hour.
Note: This is a long book so Laura has agreed to expand the reading time for this to two months, from October 1 to November 30th.

[Cathrine ☯️]

Tom wrote: "Hopefully, you will join me in reading this."

Am I the only one scared of 1200 pages?! 🙀
I've never read Rice, always wanted to try one but . . .

[John]

I would like to nominate for the post-1990 book, Promise by Minrose Gwin.

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

Cathrine ☯️ wrote: "Tom wrote: "Hopefully, you will join me in reading this."

Am I the only one scared of 1200 pages?! 🙀
I've never read Rice, always wanted to try one but . . ."

Ouch! I didn't realize that. That may be subject to change, either the book or the timespan we allow to read it in.

[Judi]

I have read all of Anne Rice's books, including The Witching Hour. Loved them. I attended one of her book signings and waited two hours in line to have her sign several of my books. I would truly "read" The Witching Hour again. . . . .this time on audible.

[Sherril]

Pre 1990 book - I wish to nominate-The Provincials - A Personal History of Jews in the South - by Eli N. Evans

[♥ Sandi ❣]

The Death of Sweet Mister by Daniel Woodrell originally published 2001 - post 1990

[Cathrine ☯️]

For post 1990 I nominate (probably a longshot) Wastelands: The True Story of Farm Country on Trial by Corban Addison. The author lives in Virginia and the story is set in North Carolina. I wasn't sure it qualified.

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

Re. The Witching Hour: Laura has graciously agreed to add her November Moderator's choice selection to mine so we will now have two months to read it. It is also available from Audible so those of you who enjoy audio recordings may give that a try.

[Cheryl Carroll]

Tom wrote: "Re. The Witching Hour: Laura has graciously agreed to add her November Moderator's choice selection to mine so we will now have two months to read it. ..."

Should we read anything before WITHCHING HOUR, or does it stand alone?

I watched a biography of Rice earlier this year. I found her life story fascinating. Don't quote me on this, but I believe she had always dabbled with writing, but didn't start in earnest until after the death of her child. It became a way for her to deal with her grief. Although she denied this in the interview, the biography said that the little girl in INTERVIEW/VAMPIRE was inspired by her daughter's death.

[Diane]

Post 1990
“She Walks these Hills” by Sharyn McCrumb

[Cheryl Carroll]

Post 1990 The Saints of Swallow Hill

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

Diane wrote: "Post 1990
“She Walks these Hills” by Sharyn McCrumb"

Gladly! This is my favorite Sharyn McCrumb book.

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

CHERYL wrote: "Should we read anything before WITHCHING HOUR, or does it stand alone?"

No. The Witching Hour is the first of three bools in her Lives of the Mayfair Witches Books series.

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

Cathrine ☯️ wrote: "For post 1990 I nominate (probably a longshot) Wastelands: The True Story of Farm Country on Trial by Corban Addison. The author lives in Virginia and the story is set in North Carolina. I wasn't sure it qualified."

It definitely qualifies.

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

After one day, I'd say we need to focus more on pre-1990 nominations.

[Laura, "The Tall Woman"]

Let’s go with Giant by Edna Ferber for pre1990

[Terry]

Post 1990 - Trouble the Water by Rebecca Dwight Bruff.

[Terry]

Pre 1990 - Clotel, or The President’ Daughter by William Wells Brown.

[Cheryl Carroll]

Pre 1990 - DELTA WEDDING. Eudora Welty

[Laura, "The Tall Woman"]

Cheryl looks like we did delta wedding in 12/2021. Gotta second suggestion?

[Lori]

I don’t think we have this author on our shelf but the reviews of this collection seem to tell me that we should read this lady! She studied under Eudora Welty!

I think this was recently nominated so I’ll try it again.

In the Land of Dreamy Dreams by Ellen Gilchrist for Pre 1990.

[Cheryl Carroll]

Laura wrote: "Cheryl looks like we did delta wedding in 12/2021. Gotta second suggestion?"

I'm just going to second GIANT. I voted for it last month anyway! ;-)

[Judi]

For October 2022 pre 1990 I would like to nominate Mules and Men by Zora Neale Hurston

Thank you.

[Cheryl Carroll]

Judi wrote: "For October 2022 pre 1990 I would like to nominate Mules and Men by Zora Neale Hurston"

Another great one. This is going to be as tough a vote as September was.

[Judi]

CHERYL wrote: "Judi wrote: "For October 2022 pre 1990 I would like to nominate Mules and Men by Zora Neale Hurston"

Another great one. This is going to be as tough a vote as September was."

Indeed. Tough choices.

[Diane, "Miss Scarlett"]

Ill close it out with The Widow's Trial, first published 1989.

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

That should do it. Nominations are now closed. Polls will go up at the beginning of the month.

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

Voting closes tomorrow and there is a very close race between The Death of Sweet Mister and She Walks These Hills. If you voted for a book other than these two and have have a preferene as to which of these wins, now is the time to change your vote.