On the Southern Literary Trail discussion
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General Bookishness
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Retired: What are you reading?
The Fiery Cross – Diana Gabaldon – 3***
Book number five in the popular Outlander series continues the saga of Claire Randall and Jamie Fraser. There’s plenty of drama and intrigue in these tales … personal and political. It’s a ripping good yarn that moves at a quick pace and held my interest throughout.
LINK to my review
As I mentioned in one of my other posts, my concentration level for reading as been down for the past couple of months. I have not been able to keep up with all of our group reads. I decided for the month of August, I would choose easier reads such as children's books, English mysteries like Agatha Christie novels and some of the books that I own that have been on my shelf for awhile. I plan to be back reading as least some of our group reads by September. I just finished Thunder Cave by Roland Smith this morning ( a good children's book, somewhat unrealistic but then that is one of the reasons I read fiction and I learned things especially about Kenya from reading it) and am currently reading Three Act Tragedy by Agatha Christie
Beverly, the extreme weather and its various affects on my body have interfered with my reading in recent weeks too. Mysteries have been my fall-back position whenever I’m tired or whatever and I have been reading more of them lately. Yesterday I started a young adult book that has been on my list for a long time, The Face in the Frost by John Bellairs. It’s unlike anything I’ve read before, a wonderful fantasy book with a feeling of unknown and dread from the start. This is good for adults too. And I have a feeling I will read it quickly and maybe want to read it again. The language is just great.
Island Beneath the Sea – Isabel Allende – 4****
In a bit of a departure from her usual emphasis on Hispano-American history, Allende gives us a story of an 18th-century slave in French-occupied Saint-Domingue (later to become Haiti). We follow Zarité from her childhood through age forty, Saint-Domingue to Cuba and on to New Orleans. Allende is more than up to the task of relating the historical events that frame this family drama. I loved Zarité. She’s intelligent, resourceful, courageous, and wily. Violette is also a richly drawn character – willful, intelligent, confident, loyal and loving. None of the men in her life are a match for her.
LINK to my review
Just finished Fay
, which i loved and a worthy sequel to Joe
.And have just started reading Yonder Stands Your Orphan
, which also looks promising.
I am reading SOUTHERNMOST for this Group, and also The Once and Future King (T.H. White, 1958) at "CATCHING UP ON CLASSICS."
An odd combo, to be sure, but there is no mixing them up!
I want to thank LeAnne for mentioning Wiley Cash's new online book club, the Open Canon Book Club, in her message above on Aug 2. I read the Wiley's September selection
The Birds of Opulence by Crystal Wilkinson. It's beautifully written literary fiction about the complex relationships between four generations of women in an African-American family.Here's my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This cozy mystery series is set in Alexandria VA
The Diva Serves High Tea – Krista Davis – 2**
This is # 10 in the Domestic Diva Mystery Series, featuring two rival “divas” in Alexandria VA. I’m tired of Natasha’s over-the-top, DIVA (with a capital D) antics. Sophie is a very likeable character and I like her relationships with ex-husband Mars and attorney (possible boyfriend) Alex. But I’ll only read another if it satisfies a challenge task.
LINK to my review
Amazingly enough this is # 21 on the Listopia List Best Southern Literature
The Notebook – Nicholas Sparks – 1*
An elderly man recalls how he met his wife, writing the couple’s story in a notebook and reading sections to his wife, who is in a nursing home with dementia. I found it maudlin and simplistic, though I did like Noah’s devotion to Allie as she is lost in her dementia. On the whole, I was bored and rolled my eyes frequently. Not my cup of tea.
LINK to my review
I had reason to go through some recent NEW YORKER cartoons. Thought this one was cute:
Not Southern, except for a small portion, but I enjoyed Washington Black by Esi Edugyan. My review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Connie wrote: "I want to thank LeAnne for mentioning Wiley Cash's new online book club, the Open Canon Book Club, in her message above on Aug 2. I read the Wiley's September selection [bookcover:The Birds of Op..."
So glad you got to it, Connie! I'm way behind on my Goodreads book commitments and with an eye injury from last week, I'm having to do audios. Hoping I can find it on one of the library's audio apps.
Certainly y'all have those time periods where time to physically sit down and read-read a book is slim? I'm in the midst of one of those, but have at least enjoyed a couple of very good reads by audio from the library.The Essex Serpent featured a female lead who loves geology, fossils, walking the wide open spaces, and also has a son with autism. How could I not relate, right? Beyond that easy tie, the story is just a bit creepy and full of historical aspects of old England. The characters who are good are equally fallible, and there are social mores explored here that are not ridiculously in one's face. I'm reading a chick-lit story right now for my real world ladies' club, and am already tired of the mother telling her daughter that it is a man's world and quoting Gloria Steinem. Hello, subtlety - ever heard of it, authors?
Secondly, I just finished a sci-fi/horror book by the fantastic musician and author Josh Malerman. Those of you who read Bird Box will certainly recognize his ability to make a reader uncomfortable! This one didn't garner the high ratings that Bird Box did - maybe because the lead her is male, a veteran, and a hard-drinking rock band founder. It is more sci-fi, probably, than Bird Box but I also felt the presence of evil in the story in a much more profound way.
Black Mad Wheel is a nightmarish story to listen to by audio, and if you're an aficionado of sci-fi or horror, skip the blurb. Go in blindfolded! I nearly gave it five stars. Here's my review if you want no spoilers but a tad more info https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This is NOT southern - set in 1961 Minnesota - but it has the "feel" of a Southern gothic tale ...
Ordinary Grace – William Kent Krueger – 4****
Krueger is best known for a series of mysteries set in Minnesota. Here he departs from that formula to write a stand-alone novel that explores issues of family loyalty, decency, and faith. The catalyst this particular summer is death – an accidental death, a natural death, a murder, a suicide. Through the Drum family we see how differently people react to death in this small town, where every person, related by blood or not, is somehow close to you and any death affects you. This is the first book by Krueger that I’ve read. It will not be the last.
LINK to my review
Book Concierge wrote: "This is NOT southern - set in 1961 Minnesota - but it has the "feel" of a Southern gothic tale ...I read this book recently and enjoyed it very much. Also my first Krueger book. Good story and writing with interesting characters. Also loved the country setting. My only complaint is that there was a whole lot of death in a small town involving one family in a short period of time. Not realistic.
Ordinary Grace
– William Kent Krueger – 4****
Krueger i..."
Cold Sassy Tree – Olive Ann Burns – 4****
Thirteen-year-old Will Tweedy narrates Burns’ historical novel which takes place in the small Georgia town of Cold Sassy Tree circa 1906. Oh ,what a treat this novel is! The characters are richly drawn, and cover the gamut of personalities. I was completely engaged in the story from beginning to end, laughing aloud several times as I watched the residents engage in gossip and speculation.
LINK to my review
I just finished Leadership: In Turbulent Times by Doris Kearns Goodwin. My review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Not Southern but a great read ....
Educated: A Memoir – Tara Westover – 5*****
In this memoir, Westover recalls her childhood and personal journey to become an educated, independent woman. It’s amazing that Westover survived some of the episodes she relates; it’s a testament to her inner strength and determination that she managed to prosper. Her story is fascinating, compelling and inspiring, but there are scenes that left me shaking my head or cringing in fear.
LINK to my review
Help!! I am reading The Lost Country by William Gay, and there is a scene where a con man is trying to sell a Bible to a widow. His shtick is that her now deceased husband put a down payment on it as a gift to her before he died, and her name is inscribed inside the pages. There is money still owed on this lovely white covered Bible, but it is something the husband wanted her to have. Does she want to pay the remainder and keep it?I have read this exact con before! I think it was in Nightmare Alley, but it could have been another William Gay book. Or by another southern author.
Anybody? Racking my brain!
PAPER MOON, ca. 1973 B&W movie dir. Peter Bogdanovich, starring Ryan O'Neal as con man "Mose" Pray, his real life daughter Tatum O'Neal as (probable) daughter Addie Pray. **SPOILER ALERT** Set in the 1930s, Mose's ploy is much like you say -- Addie added a flair for situation ethics to the scenario and, much to Mose's consternation, actually increased the take. With the same cheap bibles and stamped gold-leaf embossing (cover only), cute little Addie could get more money out of a rich widow than the norm, and so on.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070510/...
Darling movie -- a real classic. Watch for Madeleine Kahn as "Miss Trixie Delight," Mose's infatuation.
Based on a book whose title, I believe, was Addie Pray
Is that what you were looking for, LeAnne?
LeAnne wrote: "Help!! I am reading The Lost Country by William Gay, and there is a scene where a con man is trying to sell a Bible to a widow. His shtick is that her now deceased husband put a down payment on it ..."Reply above, LeAnne --
Mod
This is also the exact con run by a character in Robert McCammon, The Listener. Maybe it's an homage to an earlier work. I wonder which one.
BTW, I've been wanting to read The Lost Country by William Gay since it was announced but not published years ago. I hope it lives up to his other works and you enjoy it.
I'm currently reading The Cumberland Killers: A Kentucky Mystery, a mystery set in 1985 Kentucky by a North Carolina author, and thoroughly enjoying it. Lots of entertaining references to things that were happening back in the '80s.
Tim wrote: "This is also the exact con run by a character in Robert McCammon, The Listener. Maybe it's an homage to an earlier work. I wonder which one."This is just crazy. We read Addie Pray here on the Trail a few years back, but I skipped it. Nor have I read The Listener or The Bible Saleman! I'm thinking it was Nightmare Alley since the main character is a con man... Diane, do you recall??? Or maybe another southern book?
Mod
Maybe bible sales are like dead mules and snakes, then!
LeAnne wrote: "Maybe bible sales are like dead mules and snakes, then!"Hi, LeAnne!
In the movie version of NIGHTMARE ALLEY (Fox, 1947), Tyrone Power, with an assistant (Joan Blondell) performed a kind of mentalist act in a traveling show -- later, with a younger and prettier assistant, he did a classier type of mentalist act in a posh Chicago hotel ballroom. He probably sold refreshments or booze back at the carny, but I don't remember any books or bibles. One time he spotted a pocket bible on a "mark," and that helped him determine the man's emotional condition.
Okay, Le Anne, say 'Thank you . . . ' .
Or, if you prefer, give a link to THE LISTENER?
I'm also curious to know your opinion of Clyde Edgerton's The Bible Salesman. I loved RANEY and a couple other of his novels.
BTW in another group I am finishing up the third of Wm. Faulkner's "Snopes Trilogy," THE MANSION.
Allen, thanks for the run down! Yes, I read the book with a small group of friends and then hosted it also for our real world book club. Hubby and I purchased the movie from Amazon prime - far less racy than the book, but that is to be expected for the time period.Stan Carlisle was involved in some mail order horoscopes for a dime and some other religious related cons including tent revivals. That is why I wondered if this was where I had bumped into it before. I have not read any of the three books mentioned above so cannot comment. With this Gay book and the mystery novel I cannot remember, that brings us up to five incidences!
Mod
Currently reading November Road
. Enjoyed 'Gutshot Straight and Whiplash River so hoping this new book by Lou Berney will be equally enjoyable.Have just finished The Lost Country
, which was excellent.
Diane wrote: "Allen, I am a big fan of Clyde Egerton, but I felt The Bible Salesman was not up to par for him. It was my least favorite of his books."Thanks, Diane! That's one I will leave alone.
What does one call a non-recommendation? After Provinces of Night, surely there are some new William Gay fans in the group. I downloaded it, plus another of his I'd promised to buddy-read with a friend, intending to do both back to back. My friend and I did The Lost Country and just finished yesterday.I was disappointed in The Lost Country, the latest of the three posthumous releases of his books, and it's rather duffed my appetite for more William Gay. I purchased Provinces of Night but will tuck it away for later - sorry for not participating. If you've already read his other books, then I'll say that there are little anecdotes and mini themes that you'll recognize instantly. For me, it repeatedly yanked me out of the book, thinking - wait! He used this exact thing before! One could tell that William Gay had not edited The Lost Country - and perhaps they didn't bother using an editor at all. Lots of redundant use of odd words like "succubus" and "fecund."
So then, a word of caution for new lovers of his work - you might think about skipping The Lost Country, Stoneburner (which I own but haven't read), and Little Sister Death (uber creepy but ridiculously disjointed) for now. HIs friends did not do his writing justice by stitching together his notes and calling them finished novels.
Twilight is exceptionally good and a little creepy for Halloween. The Long Home is lovely, and the themes of a youth growing up with bad men on the fringes of his world will touch you.
I haven't been as active here this year. My reading year ended up catching up on long reads that had been on my tbr for ages. Books in this group, and others got pushed aside. But I just read Robber Bridegroom so thank you to whoever nominated it. I love Welty and I had this on my tbr for a long time. It ended up being a fun read. I also hope to circle back and read Tilted World before the end of the year and also Mudbound in December or January. Next year I hope to get back on track here.
Brina wrote: "I haven't been as active here this year. My reading year ended up catching up on long reads that had been on my tbr for ages. Books in this group, and others got pushed aside. But I just read Robbe..."Brina! I know October is very busy for you - it's lovely to see you pop in!
LeAnne wrote: "What does one call a non-recommendation? After Provinces of Night, surely there are some new William Gay fans in the group. I downloaded it, plus another of his I'd promised to buddy-read with a fr..."You could review it and give it one or two stars. The last three paragraphs of your post above are already a good review.
eta: Some of my favorite reviews at GR have one or two stars. Keeping me away from a book that superficially looks nice, but isn't worth the time. I think we should have a column at GR called "Read This, Not That" but I suppose it could tempt abuse too much.
Well my baseball team is out of it and the holidays were early this year so October has been easy thus far. My son's bar mitzvah is in December so I only have 8 books scheduled the rest of the year. Of course I may have time to squeeze in just one more and I have some ideas for it.
ALLEN wrote: "LeAnne wrote: "What does one call a non-recommendation? After Provinces of Night, surely there are some new William Gay fans in the group. I downloaded it, plus another of his I'd promised to buddy..."I gave it a four and did a review. It is still great writing, but my expectations were very high.
Brina wrote: "Well my baseball team is out of it and the holidays were early this year so October has been easy thus far. My son's bar mitzvah is in December so I only have 8 books scheduled the rest of the year..."Exciting for your son - and you & hubby! I've got faith in your 'squeezing in!' XO!
Brina wrote: "Well my baseball team is out of it and the holidays were early this year so October has been easy thus far. My son's bar mitzvah is in December so I only have 8 books scheduled the rest of the year..."Does it have to be a Southern book, Brina?
No, Allen it does not. But under 300 pages is preferable. I might look at Kirk's reading Memorial because there are still some books there that I'd like to get to. The bar mitzvah includes a trip for my son to see an NFL game and celebrate my dad's 70th birthday the next day so December will be a busy time. I'm already thinking of the logistics.
Are you familiar with the novels of Clyde Edgerton, such as RANEY, WALKING ACROSS EGYPT and LUNCH AT THE PICCADILLY? If you are, I'd urge you to move to one of the funniest autobiographies I've ever read:
Confessions of a Failed Southern Lady.
Author: Florence King.
Mod
Allen, all three of these are new to me. I will file them away as southern books to read. I did come up with a short but packs a punch idea though for December if I end up having time for an extra 170 page book. Bottom line, I must be more active here next year having cleared away most of my tbr to leave wiggle room for group reads in all of my groups n
Diane wrote: "Allen, Confessions of a Failed Southern Lady is one of my favorite books. I love Florence King. Not many people are familiar with her though."Yes, Diane, and I often wonder why more people aren't familiar with her. Granted, she was alleged to be cranky in person, but she wrote me a very warm letter when she saw one of my reviews of her essays about 15 years ago, so I can't uphold that stereotype. King, as you probably know, is no longer with us, but she left a legacy of some very interesting books: some funny, some polemical, some funny and polemical.
Her Southern Ladies and Gentlemen is well worth searching out IMO. Another fave of mine by her is Wasp, Where Is Thy Sting?. In one chapter the upper-middle-class WASP housewife prepares this shopping list for the supermarket (this won't be 100 percent accurate, but still):
Alpo
Kal-Kan
Fancy Feast
Vodka
Toilet Paper
Breakfast Cereal
Food.
Aha! After the needs of the family dog and cat are taken care of, and the family's bathroom and breakfast needs, well anything else is just "Food."
eta:
I am always happy to recommend any book by the late Florence King, and I've read most of them. I guess CONFESSIONS is her best-known book but again IMO it should be much, much better known. "Keep reading John Quincy sh*tass" had me in stitches, which to me is the mark of really good character-driven comedy.
My home-based Reading Group loved Confessions of a Failed Southern Lady and found it enlightening and entertaining in terms of the post-World War II period, a woman's upbringing, and family life. As King famously reminds us, she may have wound up in bed with a member of her own sex, but she never smoked on the street.
Here's a link to my Amazon review of 10-04-2017:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-re...
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On the Southern Literary Trail
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