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Nominations
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Now accepting nominations for our January, 2019, Group Reads
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This one is tried and true. So glad you enjoyed it! 😊
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Thank you, Margaret. When Saigon Surrendered: A Kentucky Mystery by James Aura is nominated Post-1980.
From the goodreads summary:
"War never ends: It sends shock waves down through the generations that follow. Russell Ray Teague is a Kentucky teenager whose life is turned upside down with the fall of Saigon in the Spring of 1975. He struggles with loss and guilt as he seeks to unravel a family mystery and strives to find his place in a world that is darker and more dangerous than he ever imagined. This is a coming of age story set against the backdrop of a family whose lives are forever changed by war."
I'd like to nominate the wilds of Virginia and Bearskin for a post 1980 slot. This debut, written by a Virginia-born conservation attorney, was 20 years in the making. The story, with a cathedral ceiling of tree canopy and choir of birdsong, is ultimately a thriller but feels far more literary. Here's a typical excerpt:
“A shrill, clattering call burst from the forest nearby. He stopped to watch, thinking pileated woodpecker, but the bird didn’t appear. He knew most of the bird species now. His first log entries from back in March and April said things like big-ass black woodpecker w/ red crest. While he watched, a fresh breeze brushed against the big tulip trees, red oaks, sugar maples. Heavy branches rose and fell in slow motion, and a million leaves twisted on their stems, showing silver underneath.
The forest was eerily animate, a gigantic green beast dreaming, its skin twitching and rippling. Not quite threatening, but powerful. Watchful.”
Stunning imagery aside, this tale of the caretaker of a thousand-acre nature preserve - smack dab in the middle of black bear country - eventually shows itself to be a riveting story of revenge, violent at times, and of defending that which does not deserve mutilation from bad men. Other pluses? Strong female characters, a dead mule, AND several snakes.
New Orleans Macaroni and Cheese (Rocky and Carlo's style)
Ingredients
-1 12oz pack of long macaroni (bucatini)
-8 oz half and half
-1 lb sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (plus a touch more if preferred)
-3 large eggs, beaten
½ stick of butter
1 tsp salt
½ tsp pepper
Steps
Preheat oven to 400.
Boil macaroni until almost done (it will finish cooking in the oven). Drain. In a mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, half and half, salt, and pepper.
Spray or butter generously the bottom and sides of a large baking pan. Spread ½ of the macaroni, then sprinkle ½ of the cheese on top. Then layer the remaining macaroni. Pour the milky mixture over the top and sprinkle with remaining cheese. Slice butter long ways and lay on top of the cheese.
Bake at 400 for 22 minutes uncovered. Then cover with foil and bake an additional 22 minutes. You will cut this like lasagna to serve. The next day, heat up some marinara sauce (red gravy, we call it) for people to pour over their cheesy slabs.
Post 1980:The Silence of Bonaventure Arrow
Conceived in love and possibility, Bonaventure Arrow didn’t make a peep when he was born, and the doctor nearly took him for dead. No one knows Bonaventure's silence is filled with resonance - a miraculous gift of rarified hearing that encompasses the Universe of Every Single Sound. Growing up in the big house on Christopher Street in Bayou Cymbaline, Bonaventure can hear flowers grow, a thousand shades of blue, and the miniature tempests that rage inside raindrops. He can also hear the gentle voice of his father, William Arrow, shot dead before Bonaventure was born by a mysterious stranger known only as the Wanderer.
Bonaventure's remarkable gift of listening promises salvation to the souls who love him: his beautiful young mother, Dancy, haunted by the death of her husband; his Grand-mere Letice, plagued by grief and long-buried guilt she locks away in a chapel; and his father, William, whose roaming spirit must fix the wreckage of the past. With the help of Trinidad Prefontaine, a Creole housekeeper endowed with her own special gifts, Bonaventure will find the key to long-buried mysteries and soothe a chorus of family secrets clamoring to be healed. (less)
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his gorgeous debut, written by a Virginia-born conservation attorney, was 20 years in the making, and..."
LeAnne, thanks for your nomination. Done. Bearskin by James A. McLaughlin is nominated Post-1980.
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The Silence of Bonaventure Arrow
Conceived in love and possibility, Bonaventure Arrow didn’t make a peep when he was born, and the doctor nearly took him for dead. No one..."
Tina, thank you! The Silence of Bonaventure Arrow by Rita Leganski is nominated Post-1980.
For a Post-1980 read, I would like to nominate:How Clarissa Burden Learned to Fly by Connie May Fowler.
‘Lie Down In Darkness,’ William Styron, Pre-1980 (National Book Award Finalist 1952):https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
I would like to nominate Barracoon by Zora Neale Hurston for the pre-1980 poll. Thanks.
Mod
A Fable by William Faulkner"
BOOM! We've read a lot of Faulkner. Some might wonder whether this novel is Southern Literature. This is a novel of World War One. It is the Western Front. The Allied troops are not American, but French. The central action revolves around a mutiny among the French and their refusal to continue to fight. As this constitutes a Southern writer's view of war, I accept your nomination, John.
When touring Faulkner's home, Rowan Oak, you can see how Faulkner outlined the plot of A Fable along the walls of his study.
He spent more than a decade and tremendous effort on it, and aspired for it to be "the best work of my life and maybe of my time". The novel, published in 1954, was awarded both The Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award.
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Indeed. Let's do! Shiloh by Shelby Foote is nominated Pre-1980. Thankya, Miss Scarlett!
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How Clarissa Burden Learned to Fly by Connie May Fowler."
Thank you, John. How Clarissa Burden Learned to Fly by Connie May Fowler is nominated Post-1980.
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https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1..."
Thanks, Wyndy. Lie Down in Darkness by William Styron is nominated Pre-1980. Styron's first novel was previously read by The Trail in April, 2016. It's a good one!
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Absolutely, Judi. Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo" by Zora Neale Hurston is nominated Pre-1980. This work has garnered excellent reviews.
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https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3..."
Thanks, Wyndy. The Barrowfields byPhillip Lewis is nominated Post-1980. "A richly textured coming-of-age story about fathers and sons, home and family, recalling classics by Thomas Wolfe and William Styron, by a powerful new voice in fiction." Published in 2017.
LeAnne wrote: "I'd like to nominate the wilds of Virginia and Bearskin for a post 1980 slot. This debut, written by a Virginia-born conservation attorney, was 20 years in the making. The story, ..."
KUDOS on your writing, LeAnne. Makes me want to read Bearskin.
Pre-InternetSounder
Set in the Deep South, this Newbery Medal-winning novel tells the story of the great coon dog, Sounder, and the poor sharecroppers who own him.
During the difficult years of the nineteenth century South, an African-American boy and his poor family rarely have enough to eat. Each night, the boy's father takes their dog, Sounder, out to look for food and the man grows more desperate by the day.
When food suddenly appears on the table one morning, it seems like a blessing. But the sheriff and his deputies are not far behind. The ever-loyal Sounder remains determined to help the family he loves as hard times bear down on them.
This classic novel shows the courage, love, and faith that bind an African-American family together despite the racism and inhumanity they face. Readers who enjoy timeless dog stories such as Old Yeller and Where the Red Fern Grows will find much to love in Sounder.
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Mod
Sounder
Set in the Deep South, this Newbery Medal-winning novel tells the story of the great coon dog, Sounder, and the poor sharecroppers who own him.
During the diff..."
Tina, now that's a classic. 😊
Sounder is nominated Pre-1980.
Nominate in the Post 1980 category: When Saigon Surrendered: A Kentucky MysteryWar never ends: It sends shock waves down through the generations that follow. Russell Ray Teague is a Kentucky teenager whose life is turned upside down with the fall of Saigon in the Spring of 1975. He struggles with loss and guilt as he seeks to unravel a family mystery and strives to find his place in a world that is darker and more dangerous than he ever imagined. This is a coming of age story set against the backdrop of a family whose lives are forever changed by war.
Mod
War never ends: It sends shock waves down through the generations that follow. Russell Ray Teague is ..."
Hi, Sara. It's already nominated. 😀
Sorry! Even going back I didn't find it. Guess I'm feeling weary over all the Thanksgiving preparations.
Mod
Oscar wrote: "LeAnne wrote: "I'd like to nominate the wilds of Virginia and Bearskin for a post 1980 slot. This debut, written by a Virginia-born conservation attorney, was 20 years in the maki..."
Thank you, Oscar! The credit goes entirely to that excerpt by the author. He put me in the mood to go for a nice hike through the woods this week - not a bad idea to burn off some Thanksgiving calories.
Mod
Nominations have now been open five days. Tom, I'd say folks are happy with our current nominations. The nominations are now closed. I'll set up the polls.
Mod
Sorry John, but nominations for January are closed. Please resubmit this later this month when Lawyer opens up the February nominations.
Mod
The winner in the Post-1980 category is When Saigon Surrendered: A Kentucky Mystery, by James Aura. The winner in the Pre-1980 category is Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo", by the magnificent Zora Neale Hurston. Last, but not least, is the Moderator’s Choice selection. Chosen by Lawyer Stevens. We will be reading Pleasantville, by Attica Locke. This book earned the Harper Lee Award for Legal Fiction in 2015 so you can be sure that I will be reading it.
Also, the discussions boards are up and running for the December selections. They can be found here:
For Ava's Man, by Rick Bragg, (Moderator’s Choice):
Ava's Man, by Rick Bragg, December 2018River of Earth
For River of Earth, by James Still, (Pre-1980):
Initial Impressions: Impressions: River of Earth by James Still, December 2018
Final Impressions: River of Earth by James Still, December 2018
For The Indigo Girl, by Natasha Boyd, (Post-1980):
Initial Impressions: The Indigo Girl, by Natasha Boyd, December 2018
Final Impressions: The Indigo Girl, by Natasha Boyd, December 2018
Happy Winter reading!
Big Daddy Tom
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On the Southern Literary Trail
Books mentioned in this topic
Pleasantville (other topics)Ava's Man (other topics)
River of Earth (other topics)
The Indigo Girl (other topics)
When Saigon Surrendered: A Kentucky Mystery (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
James Aura (other topics)Zora Neale Hurston (other topics)
Attica Locke (other topics)
Phillip Lewis (other topics)
Zora Neale Hurston (other topics)
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It's time to kick off a New Year of good reading of Southern Literature. I'm now accepting your nominations for our January, 2019 group reads. Nominations will close November 20, 2018, or upon receiving six nominations in the Pre-1980 and Post-1980 categories; whichever occurs first.
If I'm a bit slow in responding, I'm absorbed in our "Tall Woman's" November Moderator's choice Fidelity by Wendell Berry. And planning the menu for a Southern Thanksgiving Dinner.
In submitting your nominations, consider including your favorite recipes for the season.
Here's a favorite side dish I always prepare for holiday dinners.
Sweet Bourbon Corn Pudding
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Butter a 2-quart baking
YIELD8-10 people
INGREDIENTS
3 large eggs
1 1/8 cups evaporated milk
3 cups canned cream-style corn
3 cups corn kernels
3 Tbs. butter, melted
3 Tbs. brown sugar
3 Tbs. cornstarch mixed with 3 Tbs. water
3/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
4 1/2 Tbs. bourbon (optional)
3/8 tsp. salt
3/8 tsp. ground white pepper
PREPARATION
Beat eggs and evaporated milk together in large bowl. Stir in all remaining ingredients and pour mixture into baking dish. Bake 45 minutes or until slightly browned and a knife inserted in center comes out clean. Serve hot. Serves 8-10.
SPECIAL NOTE: Don't consider the Bourbon optional. Do pass on a Sour Mash Whiskey. I recommend a good Kentucky Bourbon. Avoid a "double oaked" or "double caked" barreled whiskey. The point is the smooth warm sweetness the Bourbon lends this dish.
"Lawyer Stevens"