On the Southern Literary Trail discussion
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General Bookishness
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Retired: What are you reading?
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Kim
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Aug 17, 2013 12:50PM
I am currently reading CHANGES by Danielle Steel
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Found out Sunday in a email that I won a copy of this book. My first GOODREADS FIRST READS. Sounds like it will be a good book. I should receive it in 4-6 weeks.The Smart One
by Jennifer Close (Goodreads Author)
Release date: Jul 16, 2013
The Coffey siblings are having a rough year. Martha is thirty and working at J. Crew after a spectacular career flameout; Claire has broken up with he…more
Currently reading I'll Be Seeing You by Mary Higgins Clark. Seems to be a very good book so far
For anyone bent toward short stories, I just finished The Watch by Rick Bass and I honestly think it's the best collection I've encountered......ever. Largely Southern, almost all told from 1st person perspective, and for me not a weak one in the group.
Mod
Currently reading People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks. I love her books. This one is about analyzing the movement of a rare book over its life span by studying fragments of material caught in the book binding. Learning some interesting facts about book conservation and restoration, but the real artistry comes from weaving the tale of the life of the book from these fragments.
Currently reading Wide-Acre by Philippa Gregory. Started reading it yesterday during my lunch hour. It is a story of violent loves and unsettling passions.
Zorro wrote: "I am sorry to say that this group and most all of the threads seems to be a place to tell people to "go read my review", instead of a place to actually discuss books that we choose to discuss for t..."
Looking at this page I don't see that.
Looking at this page I don't see that.
Mod
Have a love for Appalachian stories? I've recently finished two and have a third one moving to the top of my TBR pile. Already completed The Storycatcher and The Funeral Dress: A Novel. Mother of Rainis next.
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Already completed The Storycatcher and The Funeral Dress: A Novel. Mother of ..."
Tell me how you liked funeral dress and mother of rain. They are on my tbr list.
Laura wrote: "Carmen wrote: "Have a love for Appalachian stories? I've recently finished two and have a third one moving to the top of my TBR pile. Already completed The Storycatcher and The Funeral Dress: A No..."
Haven't started Mother of Rain yet but I read the Funeral Dress in two days. It was so good! I've read all of SGG's novels. Love her.
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Just added it, sounds interesting.
Mod
All this reading makes a happy reader but an unproductive reviewer. Well, time flies!
Mike
Mike wrote: "Everyone ready for October? I just picked up Father and Son at my local library. And my wife, Martha Jo and I are doing a read aloud of The Bad Seed. In the meantime, I'm closing in on the finis..."My you've been busy Mike. Now I understand why you've been so quiet! I'm only up to date with The Magic Mountain and also reading A Suitable Boy which is about double its length at almost 1500 pages. Along with it I'm reading some of Fitzgerald's stories in Tales of the Jazz Age and an advance copy of Mary Anna Evans latest Rituals: A Faye Longchamp Mystery. So many great books. I have a Lonsdale book ahead of me too.
Mod
You've certainly been busy, too, Sue! My reading and real life have kept me unusually quiet. I've been helping some dear friends. His wife is quite ill. I have become their personal shopper, and drop in frequently to see how she is doing. Volunteer work at the library store. AND, I've been practicing for upcoming auditions for The Actor's Charitable Theatre production of Les Miserables. I'm not shooting for a major role. But I do love "The Bishop's Song."
Mike
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Diane wrote: "Carmen, both of those sound good. I'll add them to my list."Look forward to your review!
Laura wrote: "Sue wrote: "I've added Ann Hite's first book, Ghost on Black Mountain"Just added it, sounds interesting."
Ann is in my critique group. She works wonders with setting and characterization. I think you will be pleased.
Sue wrote: "I've added Ann Hite's first book, Ghost on Black Mountain"She's terrific! I think you'll be pleased.
Carmen wrote: "Sue wrote: "I've added Ann Hite's first book, Ghost on Black Mountain"She's terrific! I think you'll be pleased."
Love all the good comments. This really does look good.
Mike wrote: "Sue wrote: "My you've been busy Mike. Now I understand why you've been so quiet! I'm only up to date with The Magic Mountain and also reading A Suitable Boy which is about double its length at almo..."Good luck with your try outs Mike and it's wonderful that you can help your friends as you are doing.
Hi, everyone. I am new around here (but not to GR) and I love so many of the books and authors of the South that have been mentioned on this thread so far (Percy, Lee, Allison ... anyone talked about Karr yet?)I am wondering if anyone has read Lookaway, Lookaway or anything else by William Barnhart? Cathleen Schine, herself a fine writer, thinks highly of him: http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archi...
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Welcome, td. I'm so pleased you've joined us. I highly recommend Lookaway, Lookaway: A Novel.
Mike wrote: "td wrote: "Hi, everyone. I am new around here (but not to GR) and I love so many of the books and authors of the South that have been mentioned on this thread so far (Percy, Lee, Allison ... anyone..."Thank you so much, Mike. Loved your review, which I found after asking the question. Cheers!
Surprising debut novel I'd recommend:Wash by Margaret WrinkleHere's my review: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
www.whisperinthepines.comBrighton Publishing signs Howard Gleichenhaus for his book “Whisper in the Pines”
Howard Gleichenhaus delivers a vivid and penetrating post-depression era novel with non-stop action and intense drama.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Howard Gleichenhaus
Howard Gleichenhaus
PRLog (Press Release) - Sep. 19, 2012 - CHANDLER (AZ)—Brighton Publishing LLC is pleased to announce the signing of author Howard Gleichenhaus for “Whisper in the Pines.” Readers will be fastened to their seats by the frenetic pace and first-rate plot set in a southern hotbed of the 1930s. “Whisper in the Pines” is scheduled for eBook release in early-2013 and will be available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other leading retailers nationwide. The print version is currently slated for release in late-2013 and will be distributed through Ingram, the world’s largest book wholesaler.
It’s 1938, and Mary Elizabeth Laverneaux is shaking off a romantic tryst with the violent con man, Jeb Collins, whom she had left her husband for a year earlier.
With twenty-thousand dollars in cash stolen from Collins, Mary Elizabeth attempts to create a new life in her hometown of Moultrie, Georgia under her maiden name of Dawson.
Mary Elizabeth sets into motion a plan to recover her young daughter, Carlee, from her husband Reggie Laverneaux who lives in the former plantation and ancestral home known by locals as Whispering Pines.
Soon, though, Mary Elizabeth fears for her life as she is tracked down by an angered Collins and his murderous partner seeking to regain their stolen money.
The hunter eventually becomes the hunted when Collins himself is pursued by two aggressive detectives. With the heat bearing down on him, Collins has time for one final effort to catch Mary Elizabeth and recover his stolen money. His ultimate trap is sprung when he kidnaps Carlee and holds her for ransom.
Now, desperate to save her daughter, Mary Elizabeth has only one option left—approach her husband Reggie and beg for his forgiveness—and, his help.
“Howard Gleichenhaus delivers a southern-styled gourmet dish designed to amuse, thrill, and delight all of our senses,” said Kathie McGuire, director of Brighton Publishing LLC. “Whisper in the Pines is intricately woven and filled with charismatic, sympathetic, and brilliantly conceived characters that will leave readers feeling uniquely satisfied.”
Howard Gleichenhaus was born in Philadelphia and grew up in New York. He later earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from Southern Connecticut State College and a pair of Master’s Degrees in Biology and Psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Gleichenhaus is retired after thirty-four years of teaching and now lives with his wife Fredda in Delray Beach, Florida. They have two married sons and three grandchildren.
Did anyone catch the Pat Conroy interview with Diane Rheems yesterday on NPR? They were discussing his new book The Death of Santini
I finished reading Winter's Bone and The Language of Flowers for my local book club. I really enjoyed Winter's Bone and ordered the movie.I just started reading Lowcountry Spirit
I just finished All the Land to Hold Us: A Novel by Rick Bass. Not southern in the typical fashion......set in Texas and the surrounding desert landscapes. One of my favorites ever, quite bizarre but really, really well written. Not a light read, but very good.
Mod
With that done, I've just begun The Tilted World: A Novel. Goodreads only credits Tom Franklin as the author. However, Franklin wrote the novel with his wife, Beth Ann Fennelly. I spoke to Franklin about the joint venture. His response--a hearty laugh as he said, "We Survived."
As goodreads offers no portrait of Ms. Fennelly, here's one of the couple.
Beth Fennelly is the head of the MFA program at Ole Miss. She's a wonderful poet.
The novel focuses on the Great Flood of the Mississippi River in 1927. I'm hooked with Chapter One.
Mike S.
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For Conroy fans (and I'm one!) here is the schedule for Conroy's book tour:
http://www.patconroy.com/events.php
If you have an opportunity to go, don't miss it. Pat Conroy always makes an excellent presentation. The Death of Santini: The Story of a Father and His Son is a read I will not miss.
Mike S.
Have started to read book:Low Country|104219]Anne Rivers Siddons while waiting on a copy of Mudbound
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https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Mike S.
Mike wrote: "Hello all: For those of you who are not familiar with the Oxford American Magazine, as I was not, it might appeal as a outlet for new books and writers.http://www.oxfordamerican.org/"
I just saw this and subscribed to a digital copy of this magazine. Thanks for the suggestion. I have never been much of a magazine reader but this may be the magazine to change that. There are a lot of engaging stories in here by many talented writers. I am loving it so far and I look forward to the music issue.
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I frequently recommend this magazine. Great writing. Great photography. And the music is not to be missed. It's almost time for the music edition. It should be the December issue. Enjoy!
Mike S.
Mike wrote: "Mel wrote: "I just saw this and subscribed to a digital copy of this magazine. Thanks for the suggestion. I have never been much of a magazine reader but this may be the magazine to change that. Th..."I should have thanked both Mike A. and you Mike S. So many Mikes. LOL I think Mike A wrote that specific comment (it was an old comment from back in March and one of the few where he did not sign Mike A ) but I also saw where you had agreed with his recommendation and had seconded it. Anyway, it really is a great magazine so thanks to you also and I think I saw where the music issue was next, so I am definitely looking forward to that. :) I always find such great stuff to read thanks to this group.
Mod
Mel, The Oxford American is always a wonderful read. It is going through a period of transition. Founder and long time editor Marc Smirnoff was fired several months ago after a fiery editorial directed at rival magazine Gun and Garden published out of Charleston, SC. Frankly, I agreed with Smirnoff's position. G&G offers far less literature and far more glitz and glamour. However, with a greater amount of working capital, G&G has been able to poach the "bigger" names in So. Lit. I look on that as an opportunity for OA to feature newer voices in our genre. I take pleasure with each issue. It never disappoints. I'm so pleased that you find this group a spot for picking up great reads.
Mike S.
Mod
Joshilyn Jackson is such a pleasure to read. I've been a fan since Gods in Alabama. Enjoy!
Mike S.
Mike wrote: "Larry wrote: "Everitt wrote: "I've been working on a brief introduction to Existentialism and Binx Bolling for "The Moviegoer"
Yikes! I have just finished Cormac McCarthy's Outer Dark, Here is my ..."
I followed ORCHARD KEEPER with OUTER DARK a few weeks back. I probably should have tossed in something lighter between. The ending of Outer Dark around the campfire. Good lord.
Yikes! I have just finished Cormac McCarthy's Outer Dark, Here is my ..."
I followed ORCHARD KEEPER with OUTER DARK a few weeks back. I probably should have tossed in something lighter between. The ending of Outer Dark around the campfire. Good lord.
Mike wrote: "Mel wrote: "Mike wrote: "Mel wrote: "I just saw this and subscribed to a digital copy of this magazine. Thanks for the suggestion. I have never been much of a magazine reader but this may be the ma..."Mike, do you subscribe to the digital version of this magazine, or the print copies? Wondering which one to go with in case I decide to sign up...
Mod
Jennie, I've been a long time subscriber of the magazine before they went digital. I've kept up on hard copy particularly because of the annual music edition. Yes, I'd prefer vinyl, settle for CD. That is what becomes of being an aging codger. *laughing*
Truthfully, I'd check out the digital edition and see what is offered subscribers by way of archives. If that is a possibility, I admit I'd go digital.
Mike
finished "The Crossing" Cormac McCarthy. Too much yacking not enough story. Lots of story, too many pages. Cut the crap and get to the chase.
about to start The Complete Stories of Truman Capote.
some the stories are set in the south.
some the stories are set in the south.
I also read 2 books that has to with blacks in the 1960's.
1 Warriors Don't Cry: The Searing Memoir of the Battle to Integrate Little Rock's Central High. It happen in little rock.
2 The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963 Birmingham Al.
This books ends up in the south.
1 Warriors Don't Cry: The Searing Memoir of the Battle to Integrate Little Rock's Central High. It happen in little rock.
2 The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963 Birmingham Al.
This books ends up in the south.
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*chuckle* Well, John, don't beat around the bush. Just come out and say it! I appreciated your comment. Just about lost a mouthful of coffee. I've yet to read The Border Trilogy: All the Pretty Horses, The Crossing, Cities of the Plain, but hope to get to it at some time in the future.
Mike
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some the stories are set in the south."
Erika, I'll be interested in your reaction to the stories. Watch out in particular for "Children on Their Birthdays." I think it's the best of the bunch.
Mike
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