On the Southern Literary Trail discussion

The Southern Literary Trail is now no longer accepting nominations for books that the group will be reading in May 2024.

We will consider books with a southern literary theme that have not been read by the group in the last 24 months. The two categories are books originally published in or before 1990 or those published after 1990. In the latter case, we will no longer consider nominations for new books unless they have been available for at least four months prior to the date we begin reading the book. You may make one nomination in each category. Authors may not nominate their own works. Please post your nominations below and specify which category you are nominating it for.

Nominations will stay open for one week or until we receive six nominations in each category. Voting will take place in the first ten days of next month.

The eligible nominations received will be listed below:

Books originally published in or before 1990
1. Collected Poems, 1919-1976, by Allen Tate
2. The Member of the Wedding, by Carson McCullers
3. The Snare, by Elizabeth Spencer
4. Of Love and Dust, by Ernest J. Gaines
5. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou
6. Cane, by Jean Toomer
Books originally published after 1990
1. The Secret Book of Flora Lea, by Patti Callahan Henry
2. The Trees, by Percival Everett
3. The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had, by Kristin Levine
4. Hall of Small Mammals: Stories, by Thomas Pierce
5. The Secret Life of Bees, by Sue Monk Kidd
6. Milk Blood Heat, by Dantiel W. Moniz

For the post-1990 recommendation, I would like to nominateThe Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan Henry. It was published May 2, 2023 and should be out in paperback by May 3, 2024.

his newest is only coming out next week so won’t apply, but I’m reading this right now & it’s so very good… I would like to nominate The Trees by Percival Everett for the post-1990 poll:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

For post 1990: I'll nominate The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had by Kristin Levine

Post 1990: I nominate Hall of Small Mammals: Stories] Thomas Pierce

John wrote: "For the post-1990 recommendation, I would like to nominateThe Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan Henry. It was published May 2, 2023 and should be out in paperback by May 3,..."

I love this author and this story sounds good but it’s set in London in WW2.

Pre 1990: I nominate Collected Poems, 1919-1976 Allen Tate

I’d like to nominate The Member of the Wedding by Carson McCullers for the pre-1990 poll: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8...

Lori wrote: "I love this author and this story sounds good but it’s set in London in WW2...."

Nominations for books not set in the South can be considered if they are written by a recognized southern author. Other examples would include In Cold Blood or Sophie’s Choice

Tom wrote: "Lori wrote: "I love this author and this story sounds good but it’s set in London in WW2...."

Nominations for books not set in the South can be considered if they are written by a recognized south..."

Ah! I didn’t realize she was from the south - Alabama! Ok!

The Snare pre 90

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings - pre 1990. Published 1969

Pre 90 Of Love and Dust - Ernest J. Gaines

Post 90The Secret Life of Bees - Sue Monk Kidd

Diane wrote: "Lori, you already nominated The Secret Life of Flora Lea for post-1990. Did you want to change that?"

I nominated The Secret Book of Flora Lea. If it is permissable to nominate books by Southern writers not set in the South, yes.

I nominate Cane by Jean Toomer for pre 1990.

That fills up the Pre-1990 list.

I nominate "Milk Blood Heat" by Dantiel W. Moniz for post 1990.

And that wraps it up. We have some excellent nominations. I'll post the polls at the end of the month.