On the Southern Literary Trail discussion

For the March "moderator's choice" I am offering up Ellen Foster by Kaye Gibbons. I've never read it, but I've had quite a few friends suggest it in the past. I hear that it is somewhat polarizing in that some love it while others don't at all. It is somewhat "Cormacish" in that it lacks quotation marks for the dialogue- so readers who are offput by that- be warned.

For those who might have this one under their belt, there is a sequel The Life All Around Me By Ellen Foster, although I doubt I will get to that one. As always, the moderator's choice is purely for those in the group who are interested in hitting an extra gear. Come join me!

Good choice, Laura. I read it when it was first published and loved it so much I bought copies to give to friends. And through more moves and new houses than I care to think about, and ereaders, and purging books to fit everything into a condo, I still have this book. I fell in love with Ellen Foster and her voice, and have read all of Gibbons books since then. It's a slim volume of 146 pages, but what a story.

I look forward to it!

I read this book years ago. It is a good book. My Mom read it after I did and was not of the same opinion. Should offer some good discussion in the group.

It's been on my bookshelf at home forever so it was time to force the issue.

Will give this a go ,thanks !

"When I was little I would think of ways to kill my daddy. I would figure out this or that way and run through my head until it got easy."

Ellen Foster grabs you with that first paragraph, and doesn't let go as she narrates her story. Told with humor and honesty, the orphaned girl learns what is important about people in a rural Southern town in the 1970s. It's not possessions, or the color of their skin, but the goodness in their hearts.

Even though Ellen's childhood has been terribly difficult, she finally finds herself in a good, safe situation. She realizes that her black friend Starletta has even more to overcome since racial prejudices do not change quickly. This slim volume about a self-reliant eleven-year-old packs quite a punch. It is a semi-autobiographical book based on Kaye Gibbons' challenging childhood in North Carolina.

Thanks, Laura, for a good Moderator's Choice.

Connie
I hope I enjoy as much as you. It's 2nd in line for my reading in March. But, it's just March 1st and I'm ahead for this month!

Here's an interesting interview of Kaye Gibbons by the Star Tribune. It tells about the autobiographical elements in Ellen Foster. It might be better to read the interview after you've read the book to avoid spoilers.

http://www.startribune.com/entertainm...

Thanks Connie, will do.

I had not realized this book was so autobiographical. That makes it all the more poignant. The voice of Ellen is what makes this book so special. What a brave little girl she was! My favorite part of the book was when she was talking to the school counselor and realized what a phony he was.

The copy I have is a hardcover first edition. The price on the book jacket is $11.95. I must have bought it in 1987 when it first came out. That was the year my daughter was born, and I'm sure I didn't have the money to be buying hardbacks at that time. Book Addiction is so dangerous.

Starting today. I hope it was a good choice. I saw where it's on Amazon today for $1.99.

Diane wrote: "Good choice, Laura. I read it when it was first published and loved it so much I bought copies to give to friends. And through more moves and new houses than I care to think about, and ereaders, ..."

Diane
If this book finishes as well as it has started.....I love the idea of buying copies and passing them along. I think I may finish it today. Sometimes young narrators can get on my nerves but Ellen is not an ordinary 10 year old narrator.

Ellen's voice is what makes this book so special, not the story. From what I've read, Kaye Gibbons talks the same way, and went through some of the same experiences. She was only 26 when it was published.

I'll read the article Connie linked in after I finish. I love the voice but I love the story, too. The hardships she's facing break my heart and make me want to punch some of these adults/pigs in the face!

Dang, I'm not bragging but someone hit a home run with this moderator's choice for March. I loved this book. I'm ashamed I've had the book FOREVER and I'm just now reading it. I do believe at this stage in my life I might appreciate it more now having my own 10 year old daughter then I would have reading it many years earlier.

Yay! Her other books are good too, but the sequel to this one was not as good. Ellen and Starletta are teen-agers and it just didn't have the same feel to it.