On the Southern Literary Trail discussion

Comments on this board should be written with the assumption that not all readers have finished the book. Please take care not to reveal information that might lessen other readers’ enjoyment.

I read and reviewed this back a ways. I'll follow the discussion. Oh, the weight of this book. Superb writing and storytelling but beware; reader may need to visit a trauma center after completion. 🤕

I plan to join this read fairly soon. I've never read anything by Joy before . . . and I'm a bit embarrassed to admit it, but I hadn't heard of him before, despite having spent part of my childhood in North Carolina.

Greg wrote: "I plan to join this read fairly soon. I've never read anything by Joy before . . . and I'm a bit embarrassed to admit it, but I hadn't heard of him before, despite having spent part of my childhood..."

David Joy is supposed to be an excellent writer. I've not read any myself Greg, and I've been meaning to for ages. It'll be good to know what you think of him, particularly with your knowledge of North Carolina. I'd love to join you but I'm going to to be away for a while and not able in join in discussions. I have no doubts that this is a superb novel.

Thanks Dave! I hope you have a great trip!

Thanks Greg!

Cathrine ☯️ wrote: "Superb writing and storytelling but beware; reader may need to visit a trauma center after completion. 🤕"

I started this today, and I've only read a few chapters, but . . . yeah, this one begins with a bang! I can already see what you mean already Catherine.

Spoilers in Chapter 2:

It's interesting, my friend had a very similar experience in the earlier Gulf War, where (view spoiler)[a child was approaching with a tin of food. The boy didn't understand their warnings, and they had been specifically told of children making suicide attacks. But thankfully, they didn't shoot and it was just a can of food. So the boy was not killed and nothing tragic happened. But it was very close to being an accidental killing of a child, and had the boy been carrying something dangerous, it could've ended up just as tragically in the opposite way.

Even though nothing tragic ended up happening, my friend was still very understandably shaken and suffered from memories of that incident and others. We were just out of high school, that's a lot to absorb at that age, or any age (hide spoiler)].

That incident brought home to me how easily something horrific can happen in these sorts of asymmetric warfare where one side is desperate enough. A rumor, whether true or not, can result in something deadly.

I feel for Thad, who it seems wasn't in great shape even before (view spoiler)[going to war (hide spoiler)]. How Thad and Aiden behave isn't great, but it's understandable.

I'm a little more than halfway done now, and I do think it's wonderfully written, but the story is definitely a bit brutal. I find it believable, for sure, and the characterizations are both deep and truthful. But the story does seem to (view spoiler)[take the most tragic fork in the road at every decision point. (hide spoiler)].

In chapter 4, the moment that (view spoiler)[a bunch of guys absolutely wrecked on meth start waving around assault rifles, I knew the direction that chapter was going. There aren't a huge number of people in the world so incredibly unwise as to pull the trigger against their temple to test a gun, but I know it does happen. (hide spoiler)].

In chapter 6 in Aiden's word's, (view spoiler)["Thad Broom was just like him, so short-fused that nothing was ever out of the question. There'd never been anything between thought and action with either of them."

There's no delay for pondering or consideration of consequences; actions are immediate. Both of them are in enough emotional pain that I get the feeling they stay outside of their own heads as much as they can. I suppose this explains Wayne's behavior too. There are a lot of things these characters don't want to think and don't allow themselves to think. There's a cost for all of that suppressing in some risky behaviors. (hide spoiler)] Because of that, (view spoiler)[I absolutely believe that these two guys would come back to loot the house. It's Aiden's only way off this mountain, and more drugs are Thad's only way to dull the pain (hide spoiler)].

But then, in chapters 17-20, things (view spoiler)[take an even darker turn with the series of murders, followed by the torture-murder of Doug. I suppose I can believe Thad is capable of all of this too. The dog's death and the meth have spun him completely out of control. I just wonder where all of this is going to stop? (hide spoiler)]

I guess as I keep reading further, I'll find out.

Quick question on slang: in chapter 4, the book uses the phrase, "he loved how buzzard dust mashed the gas." I'm curious, what does this mean? Maybe it has something to do with jamming down the gas petal and what, hitting buzzards? But then dust? It's perplexing. My best guess is that it means that he liked being out of control, but if anyone can help me understand the idiom better, I'd appreciate it!

Is anyone else planning to join this read? It's actually very well written. I'm almost done now, and when I finish, I'll post more thoughts in the spoilers thread. The book is a little outside of my normal wheelhouse, in terms of perspective especially, but I do think it's wonderfully done and I might read more by the author in the future.

Hopefully others join as the month goes on. I think this book is worthy of deeper discussion!

Greg, somehow October hasn’t allowed a reread of this book for me. I’ve read several of his books. Unfortunately, it’s been a while since I read this one so the details/specifics I can’t really remember.

Laura wrote: "Greg, somehow October hasn’t allowed a reread of this book for me. I’ve read several of his books. Unfortunately, it’s been a while since I read this one so the details/specifics I can’t really rem..."

I totally get it Laura - I never have enough time to join as many reads as I would like to either!

Which of his books was your favorite so far?

I think he gets better as he goes. My favorite was Those we thought we knew and then The Line that Held Us.

I'm joined at the reading hip with Laura as those were my favorites also, both 5 star reads for me.
It's been too long for me to comment on this one but I sure would have enjoyed some reading company at the time.

That made me laugh Cathrine, aren’t there authors and books like that. I drug some ladies with me into reading No Country for Old Men. I loved it even more than going it solo.

I finished and left cooments on the topic when finished but can comment if there is something you wish to discuss. Just remember my reading was quick and not a deep study.

Catherine and Laura, thanks for sharing your favorites of his!

Sam wrote: "I finished and left cooments on the topic when finished but can comment if there is something you wish to discuss. Just remember my reading was quick and not a deep study."

I'll be heading over to the spoiler thread soon. I read this pretty quickly too!

I haven't decided yet how I feel about everything subject-wise, but I like his balance in treating these men empathetically, but without sentimentality. And the writing itself was powerful and controlled.

Sometimes though, I felt drawn into what felt like the author's viewpoint in ways I liked and disliked. I like that he's a voice for these people that the culture often disregards, but I felt a little bias in only a few places.

Everyone has biases of one sort or another, but some passages in the book left me feeling ambivalent. I enjoyed seeing the different viewpoint, for sure, but there were limitations to the perspective that left me occasionally uncomfotable. It's only a few spots in the book where I felt that, and I'm really not sure; I could be convinced that I'm off base.

It's hard to discuss without spoilers. I'll head over there after I finish. I still have 30 pages left.