On the Southern Literary Trail discussion
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General Bookishness
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Retired: What are you reading?
Summer Rental – Mary Kay Andrews – 3***
Three women who’ve been besties since kindergarten are each at a crossroads when they rent a beach house for a month. They take in another woman who’s running from a dangerous man. Throw in a sexy landlord, some romance and a few twists and turns to keep things interesting and you have a good formula for a perfect beach read. Grab a beach chair, some iced tea (or a mojito), and some sunscreen and enjoy.
LINK to my review
Capital Gaines – Chip Gaines – 2**
I’m a great fan of the HGTV show Fixer Upper. One thing that has struck me in the TV show is how immaturely Chip behaves at times. And this book is FULL of his immaturity. I don’t find his antics funny. I find them irritating. On the other hand, his sincere belief in “Go for it,” in taking life by the horns and going all out clearly comes through. I think he’d probably do well on the motivational speaking circuit.
LINK to my review
I've been reading Catch-22 by Joseph Heller. So funny and ludicrous. Yet, after working for a contractor at a government facility, so plausible.
CATCH-22 is a tremendous read, Kirsten!I've just started Grisham's RUNAWAY JURY in preparation for a group read at another group starting September first.
ALLEN wrote: "CATCH-22 is a tremendous read, Kirsten!I've just started Grisham's RUNAWAY JURY in preparation for a group read at another group starting September first."
It is such fun! Have you watched the new tv series? I watched the first episode on Hulu - it's pretty good!
We don't have cable, but in time everything comes around. I'll keep an eye out.
ALLEN wrote: "We don't have cable, but in time everything comes around. I'll keep an eye out."If you have a Roku or Amazon Fire or even a smartphone, it's on Hulu.
Mod
This is the first of Russell’s books I have read, Tom. I thought it was fantastic. I was lucky to get a review copy and definitely plan to read more from her. There definitely were correlations to some of today’s socio-political situations which made elements of the story even more immediate. For me, this is the best of historical fiction.
Mod
Russell is one of a very small group of authors whose books I will buy sight unseen. The Sparrow and Doc are among my all-time favorites.
I think The Sparrow is on my list already, Tom, but I’ll make sure to add Doc.
Great recommendation on Russel! Which should I start with??
Mod
Good to know, Tom! Am going to look for audios. Thanks.
The Women of Copper Country was really an excellent book. It’s the first book of Russell’s that I have read and she writes as a novelist who does her research in the history. She provides sources and additional reading in the afterword. In many ways it’s timely for this point in our history.
Mod
Here's my review. Excellent book!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Not a book to READ but one to USE: "The Art of Southern Cooking" by Mildred Evans Warren of Georgia. Has been my most frequently used cookbook since 1975. My MMPB edition (Mockingbird Books) began to fall apart so i kept it in a zip-lock bag. In 2015 found a bargain hardback on Amazon.Highly recommended!
Evicted – Matthew Desmond – 5*****
Subtitle: Poverty and Profit in the American City. Fascinating. Frustrating. Horrifying. Compassionate. Informative. Distressing. Enlightening. Desmond thoroughly explores the effects on impoverished residents of being repeatedly evicted and contrasts the plight of the poor with the profits made at their expense.
LINK to my review
Add me to the Mary Doria Russell fan club! Love her writing. The audios of Doc and A Thread of Grace were both excellent!
Recently read Call Your Daughter Home by Deb Spera which was excellent. I have The Women of the Copper Country to read this weekend
Spying on the South, Tony Horowitz Gods of the Upper Air, Charles King
Both highly recommended and complementary in a way that is informative of the current Southern American cultural mindset
Imagine my surprise coming across this book and author—our own Sara Steger. She never said a word about it but it sure deserves a read. It's precarious reading a GR friend's work because what if I don't like it? What to say? Available on Amazon as a digital download which I happily endorse. My thoughts on
Moving Onhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I just finished reading Mary Doria Russell's The Sparrow (p. 1996) & enjoyed it very much. I was impressed by the fact that this was Russell's first book. The novel was well constructed, well researched and very well written plus it's a thoughtful & inspiring piece of work. The story begins in 2019 (Japan is the world power) and ends in 2060 & includes alien contact (radio transmissions picked up by SETI) and catching a ride to another planet on an asteroid. Half the crew are Jesuit priests. However, if I was going to catch a ride to another planet I'd much prefer to have someone like John Glenn or Jim Lovell at the controls. I thank members of "the Trail" for guiding me to this book. Great reading experience.
I finished: 
Cari Mora by Thomas Harris
Rating: 3 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Our Man In Havana – Graham Greene – 4****
A delightful send-up of espionage / spy thrillers, starring a hapless vacuum cleaner salesman whose daughter has expensive tastes. Wonderful supporting cast of shady characters, corrupt police officials, and clueless bureaucrats. A nice romantic twist and a not-to-be-believed ending. Great fun, though the British humor is a bit dry. I've never seen the movie, but kept picturing Sir Alec Guinness in the lead role.
LINK to my review
Book Concierge wrote: " Our Man In Havana
– Graham Greene – 4****
A delightful send-up of espionage / spy thrillers, starring a hapless vacuum cleaner salesman whose daughter has ..."
Yes, that was a terrific book. I'm not sure why but I kept picturing a younger Jack Lemmon (circa Some Like it Hot) in the lead role while I was reading it.
The Elementals by Michael McDowell★★★★
When Marian Savage from Mobile, Alabama dies, family and friends gather at St. Jude Thaddeus to celebrate her life. All went as expected until the corpse's son buried a dagger through her mother's dead heart. Then, this Southern Gothic novel became weird! For my full review, please click here.
Mod
★★★★
When Marian Savage from Mobile, Alabama dies, family and friends gather at St. Jude Thaddeus to celebrate her life. All went as expected until the corpse's ..."
I really enjoyed this book. McDowell was a great southern writer.
Oh, my gosh!!! That blurb from The Elementals! I am ON!The Burgess Boys is what I’m listening to now - dysfunctional family with truly fantastic character studies by Elizabeth Strout. I developed our problems or year or so ago, and now I can only really do audio books. Hate to keep missing out on many of our southern reads here, but the older ones especially are never available for me.
Going to put in a request for The Elementals though!
John, thanks for your review of The Elementals. It’s on my list but I had forgotten about it. It’s rising higher now, hopefully to be read soon.
Funny Cide – Sally Jenkins – 3.5***
In 2003 an unlikely horse, from an unlikely stable owned by a group of high-school buddies won the Kentucky Derby and captured the hearts of America. This is his story. Jenkins does a good job of weaving together the various stories behind the horse: breeder, owners, trainer and jockey. I particularly liked the way she wrote the build-up to the Derby and Funny Cide’s amazing win there. I felt the excitement all over again. The only thing missing was a mint julep.
LINK to my review
RJ wrote: "Book Concierge wrote: " Yes, that was a terrific book. I'm not sure why but I kept picturing a younger Jack Lemmon (circa Some Like it Hot) in the lead role while I was reading it...."
Oh, I think Jack Lemmon would be great in this role! (Though he's not a Brit...)
I recently finished The Second Mrs. Hockaday. Civil War historical fiction. I enjoyed it though the book club I'm in was a bit mixed in their feelings. Written by a transplanted Southerner.
I read LESSONS IN BALANCE: A Dog's Reflections on Life by "Scout," an enormous pit bull. I needed to hear what the book had to say. Thank you, A.R.!
Patricia, thanks for the mention of The Second Mrs Hockaday. I just added it.
Previously I've come close (but no cigar) to giving his novels 5 stars but until now only his collection of shorts persuaded me to go that high. Happy to say Taylor Brown's newest
Pride of Eden gets all of them and for me, paws down has one of my reading years favorite protagonists.https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Design For Murder – Carolyn G Hart – 3***
Book # 2 in the Death on Demand series, featuring mystery bookstore owner Annie Laurance. Hart writes a fast-paced cozy mystery with a great central cast of characters and a wonderful premise. I love the mystery bookstore, though I did get a little irritated by how often an author / book was mentioned. I very much liked the Mystery Night puzzle going on at the same time that a real murder was being investigated.
My full review HERE
Clock Dance – Anne Tyler – 3.5***
The novel follows Willa Drake, her hopes, dreams, disappointments and joys – over 5 decades, from 1967 to 2017. I like the way that Tyler explores the everyday drama of life. Not much happens – as far as a plot to carry the reader along – and yet much happens in terms of the character’s life. Willa frustrated me for much of this book. She was so passive that I wanted to shake her. I’m glad that by the end she is finally beginning to assert herself, to look at what SHE wants from life and to dare to try to achieve it.
My full review HERE
The Library Book – Susan Orlean – 4****
On April 29, 1986, there was a disastrous fire in the Los Angeles Public Library. The conflagration reached 2000°F and burned for more than seven hours. It was the single biggest library fire in U.S. history, consuming 400,000 books and damaging 700,000 more. This is the story of the fire, the investigation, and the building / rebuilding of the library. fire, scientists and fire marshals, and family members of the primary suspect. The result is a comprehensive story, not just of the fire, but of libraries in general, and the LAPL in particular.
My full review HERE
With the holidays hard upon us, if you're a person who enjoys reading NF, anything by author John McPhee is entertaining and enlightening. Trust me!
Thanks Allen. I haven’t yet read anything by McPhee but I believe he is on my list waiting.
Mod
I finished: 
Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank
Rating: 4 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Frank was born in Chicago but lived much of his writing life in Florida where he set this classic post-apocalyptic novel.
and I started reading:
In the Heat of the Night by John Dudley Ball - the book the classic movie was based on
Acceptance by Jeff VanderMeer - VanderMeer is perhaps the King of the "New Weird" movement. He was born in Pennsylvania but lives and writes in Florida where this novel - the third in his "Southern Reach" trilogy - is probably set
Ordinary Life – Elizabeth Berg – 4****
This is a collection of short stories exploring the role of women and their relationships in contemporary America. Berg writes wonderfully about these women. I understand their frustrations and share their hopes, empathize with their pain and disappointments, and celebrate their triumphs and joys. Their lives may be “ordinary” … the stories, and this collection, are NOT.
My full review HERE
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https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/26/bo...
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On the Southern Literary Trail
Books mentioned in this topic
Happy Land (other topics)Take My Hand (other topics)
Happy Land (other topics)
Happy Land (other topics)
Somewhere Toward Freedom: Sherman's March and the Story of America's Largest Emancipation (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Bennett Parten (other topics)Wes Browne (other topics)
Hubert Skidmore (other topics)
Mark Twain (other topics)
Delia Owens (other topics)
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Miss Julia Renews Her Vows – Ann B Ross – 3***
Book # 11 in the Miss Julia series, featuring a Southern lady of a certain age, who is prone to jumping to conclusions but always takes action to help those in need. Miss Julia is just a hoot, and she’s most entertaining when she’s in a dither about something. Her read on things may be completely wrong, but she always manages to arrive at the right conclusion, or at least to help the authorities find the real culprit. Visiting with Miss Julia and her friends is a pure joy.
LINK to my review