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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Laura, "The Tall Woman"
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Mar 12, 2019 08:02AM
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I enjoyed The War Before the War: Fugitive Slaves and the Struggle for America's Soul from the Revolution to the Civil War by Andrew Delbanco. My review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I spent Saturday afternoon at a book sale/clearance at the warehouse of the Sacramento Friend's of the Library. I picked up seven random books for ONE DOLLAR! Some good reading here.Two cook books:
1. Boy Gets Grill, Bobby Flay, one of my favorite celebrity cooks.
2. Master Chef, from the first season of the TV series. Lots of interesting and exciting recipes to try.
Random Reads:
3. Four Stories, an amusing collection of short stories.
4. Hazardous Duty, by COL David Hackworth, my Battalion Commander in Vietnam, a valiant warrior and intrepid leader.
5. Kon Tiki by Thor Heyerdahl, a book I read and enjoyed as a teen.
6. The Water is Wide, Pat Conroy. I enjoyed the movie and I enjoy the author.
7. The Pearl by John Steinbeck. Looking forward to this read.
Forgot to mention I'm also reading
The Innocents Abroad: Or the New Pilgrim's Progress by Mark Twain
Darkness Visible: A Memoir of Madness★★★★
It is difficult for someone who has never experienced the feelings of despair, hopelessness and helplessness of depression to truly understand this mental illness. I find that I do. The American novelist, William Styron, experienced his first depressive episode when he was 60. Five years later hew wrote this memoir of his experiences with this episode and recurrent depressive episodes, including suicidal ideations, side effects of antidepressive medication, and hospitalization. He describes well his bout with depression when he writes:
Of the many dread manifestations of the disease, both physical and psychological, a sense of self-hatred--or, put less categorically, a failure of self-esteem--is one of the most universally experienced symptoms, and I had suffered more and more from a general feeling of worthlessness as the malady had progressed.
If you want to understand this mental illness better, I would recommend this memoir. I know I will be using some of his words in my psychology classes.
"A failure of self esteem."What a statement!
This has plagued me throughout my life. Coming out of triple bypass surgery, with the help of Lorazepam, I have found there are trurer things than perceived shortcomings. No epiphany, No god, I just don't become as bothered as I used too.
I think the central thesis in the human experience, "Is perception reality?" Clearly it isn't, but of course it is.
Oddly enough the community here has provided me solace.
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Great conversation folks. I also have found that growing older has led me to a more “don’t sweat the small stuff” attitude which has often allowed me to relax much more readily in all kinds of life situations. I do realize that this isn’t true for all, including some who do need treatment, and I don’t want to minimize their pain. But it is nice to be able to step back now and relax.
Solace definitely comes from my reading and group activities and participation. I hate what aging is doing to my body but so far love the side benefit to my mind. There is so much freedom, and solace in not giving a s#*t about all that small stuff. My husband has survived 2 heart surgeries and 8 bypasses with the help of pharmaceuticals and letting go of all that stuff and appreciating every extra day granted. I shamelessly use him as my personal barometer for keeping my emotions in some sort of manageable and sustainable state.
The Hate U Give – Angie Thomas – 4****
Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter is the narrator of this contemporary novel that deals with some major social issues facing America. I love the way that Thomas writes these characters. The realities of living in an urban neighborhood that is stressed by unemployment, gangs, poverty, drug use and broken families are all present. Thomas gives Starr a relatively stable home environment: a family-owned house, neighbors who look out for one another, and, most importantly, two parents who love one another, work hard, and set a good example for their children. The novel raises more questions than it gives solutions. But these are issues than need examining, and this is a great way to start the conversation.
LINK to my review
I recently finished: 
The Axeman by Ray Celestin
Rating: 3 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Not a southern author, but it's set in New Orleans.
An Appetite for Murder – Lucy Burdette – 2**
Number one in a new series starring Hayley Snow, food critic wannabe in Key West, Florida. The premise sounds promising, and it seems to have all the elements for success, but Hayley is irritatingly immature and just plain too stupid to live. I’m not ready to give up on the series, but this isn’t a great beginning.
LINK to my review
This Faulknerian tale was on par with a Wagnerian opera. Thoughts on Light in August
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Hope this is ok. I came across this today and while skimming the article I thought it may be helpful, particularly concerning tablet reading vs Kindle. Honestly I didn't read the whole thing as I have other financial priorities and am an old school kinda guy. Perhaps someone will find value.https://www.androidcentral.com/best-a...
I finished: 
The House Next Door by Anne Rivers Siddons
Rating: 3 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
John I did some research and asked GR friends about ereaders before buying the Paperwhite. I had been reading on my Ipad mini and experiencing much eyestrain. So for anyone else considering it, I highly recommend. No strain at all after hours of reading. There are other benefits of course with readers but none of them mean much if your eyes go out of focus and see double.
I agree. Reading on the iPad is straining and I have to limit it. If I read on the kindle app on the iPad, I use the color background which helps. I use this especially for art books or larger format books and occasionally for children’s books. Otherwise it’s the Paperwhite all the way. I do have to stop periodically as my vision gets a bit blurry but that may be due to my dry eyes or age. I recommend this to anyone looking for an ereader.
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An epic, milestone read and highly recommended to those on The Trail who haven’t yet read it:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My review of Pat Conroy: Our Lifelong Friendship
by Bernie Scheinhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My review of Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee by Casey Cep:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I just joined the group, so I’m not yet reading the chosen books. However, I am reading my third Larry Brown book -the third in eight days! I read “Big Bad Love” while at Ole Miss. I am living back in Oxford and decided to finish the rest. Favorite so far is “Fay”. “Joe” runs a close second.
Welcome to the group Catherine. You will get exposed to a lot of great literature here. My favorite Larry Brown read is Father and Son. Make sure you add that to your TBR list.
And sometimes you just need a good beach read ....
Hissy Fit – Mary Kay Andrews – 3***
Even before I read the jacket blurb, I knew I was in for a light, fun, fast, chick lit, beach read. And that’s exactly what I got. Mary Kay Andrews knows how to write in this genre and she does a fine job of it.
LINK to my review
Like Lions by Brian Panowich★★★★
If you read Bull Mountain and enjoyed it, you will love Panowich's sequel, which has become known as "hillbilly noir." I was fortunate to receive a ARC for review. Good reading, descriptive setting, and memorable characters. For my full review, click here.
I finished: 
Cape Fear by John D. MacDonald
Rating: 4 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Divining Women – Kaye Gibbons – 3.5***
I like the way Gibbons writes her characters. There are some very unpleasant goings on, and much of it makes me in turns uncomfortable, despairing, and angry. Set in 1918, this is at a time when women had few rights on their own, and yet Mary refused to be cowed by her uncle. And her strength empowered Maureen to fight for the freedom and respect she was due. Brava, ladies!
LINK to my review
Not Southern, but I enjoyed Courting Mr. Lincoln by Louis Bayard. My review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Turning Angel – Greg Isles – 2**
Book two in the Penn Cage series. Iles can write a compelling story with lots of suspects, many twists and turns in the plot, complicated motives and subplots, and a fast pace that keeps the reader turning pages. Penn’s background as a prosecuting attorney in Houston serves him well. Murder is always a violent crime, of course, and the sexual component herein is particularly disturbing. But I have a major problem with THIS book due to the basic underlying relationships. So the basic “thriller genre” gets 3 stars (even with the violence against women), but loses a star for the particularly distasteful – and disgraceful – underlying theme here.
LINK to my review
A local book store is closing . . . and I'm disappointed. I hoped they could stand up to the big box stores. Seven stores with eclectic locations and a cadre of eclectic staff. The owners want to retire but couldn't find a buyer for all seven stores, so they are liquidating.I shopped there a couple of days ago, spending a couple of hours digging through the stacks. I found several paperbacks: a Jules Verne, six John D. McDonald mysteries from the 1950s (no Cape Fear) and a couple of random picks. I'll revisit before they officially close.
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Absolutely
Think what a different world this would be if more people thought like Berry...well, it would be a world closer to the one I grew up in (which I am not saying was perfect, by any means). The idea that there is a relationship between a man and his community, and his work, and his fellow man, in fact a relationship with all he touches, is one we could use getting back to.Thanks so much for the link, Mike.
Ah, here it is. Wonderful interview. Thanks so much Lawyer.
I've just finished: 
Authority by Jeff VanderMeer
Rating: 3 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I'm not sure I'd call it "Southern Lit" but the author does live in FL and the book itself is set in an unnamed stretch of southern coastline.
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Sara wrote: "Think what a different world this would be if more people thought like Berry...well, it would be a world closer to the one I grew up in (which I am not saying was perfect, by any means). The idea t..."
Y'all are most welcome. I will be keeping watch for interesting thoughts on Southern Lit, posting them here.
Thanks for sharing the article. I found it very interesting. I finished Bluebird, Bluebird last month and enjoyed it and Tom Franklin is one of my favorite authors. The audio to Crooked Letter Crooked Letter was awesome! I will follow up with some of the recommended books.
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Vicki, I am glad you found the article helpful. I especially recommend anything by Daniel Woodrell!
You're so nice! I'm so nice!An interesting article about us readers:
https://www.peacequarters.com/bookwor...
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Haha! To be sure I've noticed trail readers are particularly nice 😉Lawyer has the trail read Daniel Woodrell?
Tomato Red is on my TBR but I don't remember how it got there.
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Lawyer has the trail read Daniel Woodrell?"
We have but it has been quite a while. The group read The Death of Sweet Mister around the time I joined and had read Winter's Bone before that. It is definitely high time we took another look at this excellent author
Yes, indeed! We did Tomato Red and The Cockroaches of Staymore County pretty close together! What a bizarre mix!Tomato Red made me realize how well Woodrell can write female characters. The girl and her mom were incredibly drawn by him. When he wrote Ree in Winters Bone, again he pulled that off. I think writing outside one’s gender believably is a precious and rare trait. Woodrell is a gem.
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On the Southern Literary Trail
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