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The Southern Literary Trail is now accepting nominations for books that the group will be reading in August 2023.

We will consider books with a southern literary theme that have not been read by the group in the last 24 months. Per our recently revised criteria, the two categories are books originally published in or before 1990 or those published after 1990. 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. Nathan Coulter, by Wendell Berry
2. Strange Fruit, by Lillian E. Smith
3. Outer Dark, by Cormac McCarthy
4. Crimes of the Heart, by Beth Henley
5. A Long and Happy Life: A Novel, by Reynolds Price
6. Hold Autumn in Your Hand, by George Sessions Perry
Books originally published after 1990
1. Serena, by Ron Rash*
2. Grit Lit: A Rough South Reader, edited by Brian Carpenter & Tom Franklin
3. White Doves at Morning, by James Lee Burke
4. All the Pretty Horses, by Cormac McCarthy
5. Cash, by Johnny Cash
6. Charms for the Easy Life, by Kaye Gibbons

* Serena gets an automatic nomination this month because it tied for first place in the July poll and the moderators decided to break the tie by going with Memphis, a book not previously read by the group.

Nobody Knows How It Got This Good

Post 1990 Flags on the Bayou by James Lee Burke which publishes in July.

Amos wrote: "Nobody Knows How It Got This Good"

Hi Amos, Unfortunately, we do have a rule against authors nominating their own books. Sorry. God luck with it.

Pre 1990 - Nathan Coulter by Wendell Berry original publication in 1960, then again in 1985, then again in 2008.

Post 1990 - Grit Lit: A Rough South Reader by Brian Carpenter

Cathrine ☯️ wrote: "Post 1990 Flags on the Bayou by James Lee Burke which publishes in July."

Hi Cathrine, News flash! Laura recently decided that Flags on the Bayou will be her Mod Choice selection for September so I'm not going to accept your nomination. The good news is that this will give readers extra time to get copies. Please consider another nomination.

�� Sandi �� wrote: "Pre 1990 - Nathan Coulter by Wendell Berry original publication in 1960,.."

Nathan Coulter is the first book of Wendell Barry's Port William sequence. This should be a big hit on The Trail.

Tom wrote: "Laura recently decided that Flags on the Bayou will be her Mod Choice selection for September "

A sure thing! Thanks Laura. Okay, then maybe get in the mood for that one with White Doves at Morning by Burke.

Sadly, Cormac McCarthy passed away earlier this week. In honor of his memory, and because he's an amazing writer, I would like to nominate (post-1990)


All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy

pre 1990 Strange Fruit by Lillian E. Smith

Since we're short a few Pre-1990 nominations, I'm going to suggest another, earlier book by Cormac McCarthy. Outer Dark was first published in 1968 and is one of the few books not peviously read by this group.

Pre 1990: Crimes of the Heart Beth Henley

Post 1990: Cash Johnny Cash Patrick Carr

Sam, I really want to read your pre selection. I’ll hold off in hopes that it will be selected and I can enjoy with the group.

Laura wrote: "Sam, I really want to read your pre selection. I’ll hold off in hopes that it will be selected and I can enjoy with the group."

I have been dropping suggestions mostly to give members a chance to consider them for the future since they are either of niche interest or from a less popular genre like poetry, short stories, or drama. If someone likes them all the better.

Come on guys! One more for post-90 and 2 more for pre-90, then we can wrap this up. I'm not nominating this month because I have August MOD choice.

I will throw in 2 nominations even though I already see 2 books I want to vote for. Tough decisions!

For Pre 1990 - A Long and Happy Life by Reynolds Price

For Post 1990 - Charms for the Easy Life by Kaye Gibbons

That finishes the post 1990 list. I'll wait until tonight to see if there is another Pre-1990 nomination.

Pre-1990: Hold Autumn in Your Hand, George Sessions Perry

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Good shout Howard.

Excellent! Some great choices this month.