On the Southern Literary Trail discussion

It seems hard to believe, but we've reached the time to receive nominations for our group reads for September, 2017. Summer seems to be cruising by at a rate I never recognized when I was a kid out of school. The days seemed endless then. It would never be fall. Labor Day was years away. Well, so it goes. That's what happens when we become grown ups. And vowed we would never say or do the things our parents did. Well...AHEM. To the topic at hand. It is time to name your picks, both Pre and Post-1980. I'll be interested to see what y'all come up with. I'll be calling the Moderator's Choice for September. Already know what it is. But, I'm not sayin'. Might change my mind. Sooooo, let 'er rip! Who's up first?????

Lawyer Stevens

For post-1980, I nominate Divining Women by Kaye Gibbons.

I would like to nominate the Poet of Tolstoy Park by Sonny Brewer for the post-1980.

Even though I think some of you may have recently read this, for my pre80s nomination: Cormac McCarthy-- Outer Dark.
Outer Dark

and post 80's
Charles Dodd White-- A Shelter of others
A Shelter of Others

For pre-1980, I nominate Hunter's Horn by Harriette Simpson Arnow. First published in 1949.

Wow, Carol, I am a huge Kaye Gibbons fan, so not sure how I missed Divining Women. And I have a copy of Hunters Horn on my shelf, so no need for me to nominate anything!

Diane wrote: "Wow, Carol, I am a huge Kaye Gibbons fan, so not sure how I missed Divining Women. And I have a copy of Hunters Horn on my shelf, so no need for me to nominate anything!"

I had the same thought when I saw it at the library --"wait, how did I miss this one?" Yay!

Pre-1980: First published in 1977

Murder in Coweta County

"This is a great book about a great American hero. It was my privilege to portray Sheriff Lamar Potts in the movie Murder in Coweta County." -Johnny Cash

"A thrilling experience for me." -Andy Griffith

"One of the best crime trial recreations ever written." -Chicago Sun-Times

Murder in Coweta County received the coveted Edgar Allan Poe Special Award as an outstanding fact-crime study by the Mystery Writers of America and has been used in sociology and criminal law courses at schools and universities throughout the United States. Filmed as a CBS television movie starring Johnny Cash and Andy Griffith in 1983, the story gained even more acclaim and is still available on video and DVD.

This book is a detailed and chillingly realistic reconstruction of the brutal murder of tenant farmer Wilson Turner that took place in rural Georgia in 1948 and the brilliant investigation that eventually brought the murderer-a powerful county "lord"-to justice with a conviction that set legal precedents. When that county "lord," John Wallace, crushed Turner's skull with a sawed-off shotgun, he did not even give a passing thought to being prosecuted by the police in his "feudal kingdom" of Meriwether County. However, Wallace had unknowingly crossed the county line into Coweta County, which was under the jurisdiction of the tenacious Sheriff Lamar Potts. Sheriff Potts emerges from the incident as a classic American lawman, honest and unintimidated, a man of action and integrity determined to see justice done.

Sounds a great read !

Dare I nominate John Jake s Charleston ? Post

Pre: Dawn's Early Light (Williamsburg #1)
by Elswyth Thane, Leila Meacham (Foreword)

Not sure if readily available though

Jane wrote: "Pre: Dawn's Early Light (Williamsburg #1)
by Elswyth Thane, Leila Meacham (Foreword)

Not sure if readily available though"

Helping Jane with the links: Dawn's Early Light by Elswyth Thane (pre)

Charleston by John Jakes (post)

For pre-1980:
Lamb in His Bosom by Caroline Miller

In 1934, Caroline Miller's novel Lamb in His Bosom won the Pulitzer Prize for Literature. It was the first novel by a Georgia author to win a Pulitzer, soon followed by Margaret Mitchell's Gone With the Wind in 1937. In fact, Lamb was largely responsible for the discovery of Gone With the Wind; after reading Miller's novel, Macmillan editor Harold S. Latham sought other southern novels and authors, and found Margaret Mitchell.

Caroline Miller was fascinated by the other Old South—not the romantic inhabitants of Gone With the Wind, but rather the poor people of the south Georgia backwoods, who never owned a slave or planned to fight a war. The story of Cean and Lonzo, a young couple who begin their married lives two decades before the Civil War, Lamb in His Bosom is a fascinating account of social customs and material realities among settlers of the Georgia frontier. At the same time, Lamb in His Bosom transcends regional history as Miller's quietly lyrical prose style pays poignant tribute to a woman's life lived close to nature—the nature outside her and the nature within.

Thanks Carol ! ;) I blame it on iphone app of Goodreads

I have a copy of this one on my shelf too. Voting will be difficult for me this time.

Lamb in His Bosom I thoroughly enjoyed a few years back wow already !

Jane wrote: "Thanks Carol ! ;) I blame it on iphone app of Goodreads"

Indeed, the mobile app is an abomination. Glad to help.

A couple of years back, Amazon was printing copies of Elswyth Thane's Williamsburg novels, I'd read them out of the library several times in jr high & high school, & wanted to revisit them. I do wish Masterpiece theatre or some such would adapt them, always thought they were great family sagas. Lit a desire in me to visit Williamsburg, which I did for the first time while in college after taking a course on it, history and literature. Then we lived in VA Beach while serving at Norfolk, & went there a few times. I hold great affection for Tibby and her descendants.

Carol . Indeed I have to log in to the site instead but it still sometimes automatically goes over to the app ; whatever !

I find I have to go to the web site of Goodreads on my phone to do certain things, the mobile app is not at all as user friendly as one might wish.

Kim , thank you I feel less "alone" ;)

Dustincecil wrote: "Even though I think some of you may have recently read this, for my pre80s nomination: Cormac McCarthy-- Outer Dark.
Outer Dark."

Excellent! I have that one and haven't read it yet.

Jane wrote: "Carol . Indeed I have to log in to the site instead but it still sometimes automatically goes over to the app ; whatever !"

That app is a horror!

There are some things I like the app for but you can't insert a book or author and that makes me nuts. Anyway, as I'm on a personal quest to read the Pulitzers, I would 2nd A Lamb in His Bosom even though I know that we don't officially 2nd here.

Kim wrote: "I find I have to go to the web site of Goodreads on my phone to do certain things, the mobile app is not at all as user friendly as one might wish."

I couldn't agree more!

I would like to nominate Best Land Under Heaven:The Donner Party in the Age of Manifest Destiny by Michael Wallis for the post 1980 September 2017 read. Non fiction. Michael Wallis is from Missouri. That's "Southern" right?

For post 1980, I will nominate Shiloh and Other Stories by Bobbie Ann Mason.

Joey wrote: "For post 1980, I will nominate Shiloh and Other Stories by Bobbie Ann Mason."

Looks good. Added to my list of "to read" books.

Post 1980:
Taps: A Novel

The final work from one of America's most beloved authors and an instant classic, TAPS takes readers on one last fictional journey to Willie Morris's South and spins a tender, powerful, very American story about the vanishing beauty of a charmed way of life and the fleeting boyhood of a young man coming of age in a time of war. In Fisk’s Landing, Mississippi, at the dawn of the Korean War, sixteen-year-old Swayze Barksdale is suddenly called to an unexpected duty - playing "Taps" at the gravesides of the town’s young casualties sent home from the front. Gradually, Swayze begins to pace his life around these all too frequent funerals, where his horn sounds the tragic note of the times. At turns funny, at turns poignant, TAPS abounds with colorful characters and yet "sings and sighs . . . with a kind of minor key wistfulness" (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette) as Swayze learns what it means to be a patriot, a son, a lover, a friend, a man. (less)

Post 1980
Gods and Generals by Jeff Shaara

In a prequel of sorts to his father Michael Shaara's 1974 epic novel The Killer Angels, Jeff Shaara explores the lives of Generals Lee, Hancock, Jackson and Chamberlain as the pivotal Battle of Gettysburg approaches. Shaara captures the disillusionment of both Lee and Hancock early in their careers, Lee's conflict with loyalty, Jackson's overwhelming Christian ethic and Chamberlain's total lack of experience, while illustrating how each compensated for shortcomings and failures when put to the test. The perspectives of the four men, particularly concerning the battles at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, make vivid the realities of war. (from the Goodreads description)

Kim I spent a wonderful research week in Williamsburg about six years ago and these books have been on my to read list since

Carol wrote: "For post-1980, I nominate Divining Women by Kaye Gibbons."

Thanks, Carol. I love Kaye Gibbons! Divining Women is nominated, Post-1980.

Debbie wrote: "I would like to nominate the Poet of Tolstoy Park by Sonny Brewer for the post-1980."

Debbie, thank you! The Poet of Tolstoy Park is nominated, Post-1980. I must say this is a wondrous read, set in Fairhope, Alabama. Based on fact. I've visited Tolstoy Park. It's worth the visit.

Dustincecil wrote: "Even though I think some of you may have recently read this, for my pre80s nomination: Cormac McCarthy-- Outer Dark.
Outer Dark

and post 80's
Charles Dodd White-- A Shelter of others
..."

Dustin, both excellent nominations. You're two for two, Pre and Post.

Carol wrote: "For pre-1980, I nominate Hunter's Horn by Harriette Simpson Arnow. First published in 1949."

Wow, Carol! What a great nomination. I have a copy ready on the library shelf. Nominated, Pre-1980.

Tina wrote: "Pre-1980: First published in 1977

Murder in Coweta County

"This is a great book about a great American hero. It was my privilege to portray Sheriff Lamar Potts in the movie Murder ..."

Tina, this one has become a true crime classic. Thank you. Nominated Pre-1980.

And now, a brief break. Doctor's Appointment. Drat it!

Lawyer Stevens

already shaping up to be a difficult choice again this month.

I know. I end up buying all the ones I do not already own & then they add to my teetering tbr piles.

I love it when a nomination is one I have on my shelf. It helps with that tbr pile.

I am with you on that, Diane. ;-)

Dustincecil wrote: "already shaping up to be a difficult choice again this month."

yup.

Kim wrote: "I know. I end up buying all the ones I do not already own & then they add to my teetering tbr piles."

My mama said that one oughtn't discuss their piles in polite company. Are we polite company?

Ha ha !

Dustincecil wrote: "Even though I think some of you may have recently read this, for my pre80s nomination: Cormac McCarthy-- Outer Dark.
Outer Dark

and post 80's
Charles Dodd White-- A Shelter of others
..."

I am overdue to read Outer Dark and will likely read it with the other selections if it doesn't win at the polls.

Book Concierge wrote: "For pre-1980:
Lamb in His Bosom by Caroline Miller

In 1934, Caroline Miller's novel Lamb in His Bosom won the Pulitzer Prize for..."

Excellent, Book Concierge. Jane has previously nominated Caroline Miller's Pulitzer Prize Winner. Perhaps this is the time! Lamb in His Bosom is nominated Pre-1980.

Joey wrote: "For post 1980, I will nominate Shiloh and Other Stories by Bobbie Ann Mason."

Good job, Joey. I consider this the best of the best of Bobbie Ann Mason. It's nominated. Post-1980. The only other of her works that approaches this one is "In Country."

I read Bobbie Ann Mason when she first broke through. Seems like a revisit is in order.

Book Concierge wrote: "Post 1980
Gods and Generals by Jeff Shaara

In a prequel of sorts to his father Michael Shaara's 1974 epic novel The Killer Angels, Jeff Shaara ex..."

When I read thatJeff Shaara intended to carry on his father's work, I was skeptical. I knew that his father, had educated his son at length, particularly about the Battle of Gettysburg. However, I gave Jeff a try and was duly impressed. Gods and Generals is nominated. Post-1980.

Kim wrote: "I read Bobbie Ann Mason when she first broke through. Seems like a revisit is in order."

This is the FIRST time Mason has even been nominated. I'm always excited when I see a "new" author make the list.