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NOMINATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED.

The Southern Literary Trail is now accepting nominations for books that the group will be reading in July 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. Contending Forces: A Romance Illustrative of Negro Life North and South, by Pauline Elizabeth Hopkins
2. Misty of Chincoteague, by Marguerite Henry
3. The Dollmaker, by Harriette Simpson Arnow
4. Walk Me to the Distance, by Percival Everett
5. Womenfolks: Growing Up Down South, by Shirley Abbott
6. Mules and Men, by Zora Neale Hurston
Books originally published after 1990
1. The Saints of Swallow Hill, by Donna Everhart
2. Music of the Swamp, by Lewis Nordan
3. Swamplandia!, by Karen Russell
4. Lambs of Men, by Charles Dodd White
5. The House on Tradd Street, by Karen White
6. Paradise, by Toni Morrison

For the "after 1990" selection, I would like to recommend The Saints of Swallow Hill by Donna Everhart.

For post-1990, I recommend “Music of the Swamp�� by Lewis Nordan. Thanks! Kate

For pre-1990, I recommend Contending Forces by Pauline Hopkins!

For post 1990, I nominate Swamplandia! by Karen Russell.

Kate wrote: "For post-1990, I recommend “Music of the Swamp�� by Lewis Nordan. Thanks! Kate"

That's the first book I ever read with this group. It's definitely time to revisit it.

For post 1990 I nominate Lambs of Men by Charles Dodd White.

Staying with lighter summer reads, but decided to nominate a middle grades children's book that some of you will remember, if that is okay.

Pre 1990:
Misty of Chincoteague Marguerite Henry


Post 1990:
The House on Tradd Street Karen White

Sam wrote: "Staying with lighter summer reads, but decided to nominate a middle grades children's book that some of you will remember, if that is okay.

Pre 1990:
Misty of Chincoteague Mar..."

I read her Brighty of the Grand Canyon as a teen but never got around to Misty. Always wanted to, though.

I'm also going to add Paradise, by Toni Morrison as John has been trying to nominate it but is having system issues.

That should finish off the Post-1990 nominations.

For Pre-1990
“The Old Gods Waken�� - by Manly Wade Wellman

(this is my first suggestion- hope I understand the rules!)

AR wrote: "For Pre-1990
“The Old Gods Waken�� - by Manly Wade Wellman

(this is my first suggestion- hope I understand the rules!)"

You seem to understand the rules just fine. While Wellman's provenance is intriguing, to say the least, his fascination with Appalachian and Ozark folklore had a strong impact on his writing career.

That said, I will allow this nomination even though there is a fairly serious complication. The book is out of print and it will be almost impossible to obtain reasonably priced print copies. The good news is that audio copies of it are available on Hoopla Digital and also Audible, apparently free for members.

thanks Tom

The Dollmaker - Harriette Simpson Arnow

Pre-1990 nomination. This is one of the twelve books in University of South Carolina’s ‘Southern Revivals�� collection. It might be difficult to find a print copy, but the ebook is available on Hoopla. Walk Me To The Distance

Wyndy wrote: "Pre-1990 nomination. This is one of the twelve books in University of South Carolina’s ‘Southern Revivals�� collection. It might be difficult to find a print copy, but the ebook is available on Hoop..."

A good source for nomination ideas. If it wins, we'll be reading three Percival Everett books in as many months.

Womenfolks: Growing Up Down South

Published 1983.

And I'm going to add Mules and Men, by Zora Neale Hurston to close out the nominations.