On the Southern Literary Trail discussion

Nominations are now closed for for books that the group will be reading in April 2025

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 them 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. Woe to Live On, by Daniel Woodrell
2. Confessions of a Failed Southern Lady: A Memoir, by Florence King
3. The Sportswriter, by Richard Ford
4. Traveller, by Richard Adams
5. Vein of Iron, bEllen Glasgowy
6. Addie Pray (aka Paper Moon), by Joe David Brown
Books originally published after 1990
1. My Name Is Yip, by Paddy Crewe
2. Last Train to Memphis: The Rise of Elvis Presley, by Peter Guralnick
3. Growing Up Dead in Texas, by Stephen Graham Jones
4. Ancient Oceans of Central Kentucky, by David Connerley Nahm
5. When Saigon Surrendered: A Kentucky Mystery, by James Aura
6. The Devil's Hearth, by Phillip DePoy

Woe to Live On Published 1987

For pre 1990, The Sportswriter by Richard Ford (1986) 375 pages. The first book in the Frank Bascombe series of 5 books.

post 1990 The Devil's Hearth by Phillip DePoy

This is book # 1 of the Fever Devilin series - a 6 book series - all set in the Georgia Appalachians written by a Georgian author. 244 pages published in 2003.

Pre 1990 Confessions of a Failed Southern Lady: A Memoir by Florence King

278 pages, Paperback First published January 1, 1985 Memoir Humor

" Florence may have been a disappointment to her Granny, whose dream of rearing a Perfect Southern Lady would never be quite fulfilled. But after all, as Florence reminds us, "no matter which sex I went to bed with, I never smoked on the street."

Post 1990

My Name is Yip by Paddy Crewe. Pub 2022

"It’s 1815 in the small town of Heron's Creek, Georgia, when Yip Tolroy––mute, medical anomaly, and social outcast––is born. His father has disappeared under mysterious circumstances, so he is raised by his mother..."

Post 1990
Memphis by Tara M. Stringfellow set in Tennessee, during the Summer of 1995, three generations southern family

Pre- 1990

Traveller by Richard Adams set during Civil War
The events told through the eyes of General Robert Lee's closest companion his horse Traveller

Diana S wrote: "Post 1990
Memphis by Tara M. Stringfellow set in Tennessee, during the Summer of 1995, three generations southern family"

This has been read in the past 24 months (July 2023) and therefore can't be accepted. Sorry about that.

pre-1990 Vein of Iron: Ellen Glasgow's Exploration of Southern Society by Ellen Glasgow
post-1990 Last Train to Memphis: The Rise of Elvis Presley by Peter Guralnick

post 1990
Growing Up Dead in Texas by Stephen Graham Jones, 2012
Setting is very near where I live. Based on the GR reviews, it's a love or hate it type. Note: It is not horror, though author usually writes that. It is more like mystery/memoir as I understand it.

Growing Up Dead in Texas

pre-1990 Addie Pray (aka Paper Moon) by Joe David Brown, 1971

Addie Pray

Paper Moon

Post 1990 - Devil is Fine by John Vercher

Pre 1990 - The Reivers by William Faulkner

Sorry - just discovered that although Devil is Fine is set partially at a former plantation - the plantation is in PA. So it wouldn't qualify.

That does it for pre 1990 nominations. I believe we need 2 more for post 1990.

Post 1990 Ancient Oceans of Central Kentucky by David Connerley Nahm

Lisa (NY) wrote: "Pre 1990 - The Reivers by William Faulkner"
I'm sorry Lisa, but The Reivers was the seventh qualifying nomination received which means that it won't make the cut for this month. You are welcome to nominate it again next month.

I'm going to add one that hasn't been suggested in a long time.
When Saigon Surrendered: A Kentucky Mystery, by James Aura. I read and really enjoyed The Cumberland Killers: A Kentucky Mystery several years ago and have wanted ever since to read the first book in this two-book (so far) series.

It looks like we have one more Post-1990 slot.

Sandi nominated The Devil's Hearth by Phillip DePoy as a post 1990

Thanks Dave...

Sorry about that. I guess that completes our nominations.

I am nominating Winter's Bone by Daniel Woodrell for post 1990.

Lisa (NY) wrote: "I am nominating Winter's Bone by Daniel Woodrell for post 1990."

This is an excellent choice but, unfortunately, I failed to see a qualifying nomination made earlier. That means that the nominations for this month are now full. Please make a note to be sure to nominate this next month. I usually call for nominations around the 15th of the month.