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I received a message from one of our members requesting a place to discuss book recommendations and reviews. So here's the spot. The books you list here need not be Southern literature. I'm sure all of us appreciate a good book recommendation.

Mike
Lawyer Stevens

I just finished reading Freeman by Leonard Pitts, Jr. I was very moved by his story of newly freed slaves in the South and found it powerful and beautifully crafted. Here's a link to my review. I hope others have read the book or will:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

I've finished our August Group Reads,The Hamlet, and The Optimist's Daughter.

Thanks to two of our members, Jayme and Chelsea, I picked up Gathering of Waters by Bernice L. McFadden. My review is available at http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... .

This morning I was surprised and very pleased to see that Ms. McFadden had taken the time to read the review and liked it.

Now, as Everitt said, I'm deep into The Master and Margarita for a group formed by another of our members. It is a phenomenal read.

And, I'm pleased to announce that we have topped 300 members at this point. My thanks to each of you who find something of interest here in the group.

The clock's ticking on our Poll for our special October Group Reads. A little over 10% of the group has visited the poll. So, please mosey over to the poll and cast your vote. We have a 3 way tie for first place at only six votes per book. The titles are: Winter's Bone, A Good Man Is Hard to Find and Other Stories, and Blood Meridian, or the Evening Redness in the West.

My special thanks to Everitt and Kathy for all they do for this great group.

Mike
Lawyer Stevens

Elle wrote: "I just finished reading Freeman by Leonard Pitts, Jr. I was very moved by his story of newly freed slaves in the South and found it powerful and beautifully crafted. Here's a link to my review. I h..."

Elle, thank you for a wonderful review. That was fine work. It sounds as though this might make a good future group read.

We have a number of strong reviewers here on The Trail. Please support your fellow members by taking a few moments to read reviews and share your comments and likes. Supporting reviewing actually builds our membership, and gets "On the Southern Literary Trail" more exposure on the goodreads community.

Mike

Hope Twilight picks up some votes. You all have gotten me hooked on the idea of reading this guy!

I am planning to read The Master and Margarita. Maybe it's time to take the leap.

Mike wrote: "Elle wrote: "I just finished reading Freeman by Leonard Pitts, Jr. I was very moved by his story of newly freed slaves in the South and found it powerful and beautifully crafted. Here's a link to m..."

Freeman definitely would make a great future group read. Regarding reviews: I have learned so much and greatly enjoy the terrific reviews "On the Southern Literary Trail". I look forward to them!!

As a teenager, or young woman, many many years ago (back when dinosaurs roamed the earth and we had to walk up hill both ways) I read Ellen Gilchrist. I thought she was awesome. But I was young. Is she worth revisiting?

I was going to try the audio version. I always blush when admititing that. But it's safer to walk and listen than walk and read and commuting is prime reading time.

Deborah wrote: "As a teenager, or young woman, many many years ago (back when dinosaurs roamed the earth and we had to walk up hill both ways) I read Ellen Gilchrist. I thought she was awesome. But I was young. Is..."

Definitely worth a revisit! I'm especially fond of Victory Over Japan: A Book of Stories.

Mike

Everitt wrote: "Deborah wrote: "I am planning to read The Master and Margarita. Maybe it's time to take the leap."

At least three groups that I know of, and two that I am part of, have read the book this year. It..."

I'm reading the Pevear and Volokhonsky translation. I've especially enjoyed their translations of Dostoevsky.

Mike

I am reading The Redbird, by Jo Nesbo. It's a Norwegian detective novel. I've been watching Wallendar on Netflix (a Swedish detective.) The sky has been gray for days and I'm thinking about setting myself on an ice-floe (except I'm in SC), and thanking God that my ancestors decided to live someplace with sun.

I downloaded M and M last night. Starting today on the train.

Everitt wrote: "Deborah wrote: "I am planning to read The Master and Margarita. Maybe it's time to take the leap."

At least three groups that I know of, and two that I am part of, have read the book this year. It..."

Thanks for the tip. I've read 2 of their translations and I think I'll go for this one too.

Kathy - I love Jo Nesbo! Those books are kind of the antithesis of the Southern novel, at least in the look of the place (and the weather). ~other Kathy

There are books you're supposed to read, because they are important, it they're good for you, or maybe they'll make you smart. Rarely do they turn out to be as much fun as the Master and Margarita are so far.

There are books you're supposed to read, because they are important, it they're good for you, or mane they'll make you smart. Rarely do they turn out to be as much fun as the Master and Margarita are so far.

I'm just back from my summer jollies (vacation), my reads were Dark Places,Burning Bright: Storiesand Wise Blood. I loved Burning Bright, if this is anything to go by I will be reading a lot more Ron Rash. I'm not so sure about Wise Blood, I need to read the threads about it as I just didn't get what Haze's motivation was for his actions. I found all the characters to be bizarre! Just started Crimes in Southern Indiana: Stories.

Redroc wrote: "I'm just back from my summer jollies (vacation), my reads were Dark Places,Burning Bright: Storiesand Wise Blood. I loved Burning Bright, if this is anything to go by I will be reading a lot more R..."

Ron Rash is someone to watch. Serena received great reviews and is set to be released as a movie. His latest is The Cove. For the collectors in the group, his earlier works are advancing in price, so if you can pick them up, grab them while you can.

Mike

I've completed The Master and Margaritaand am now doing background reading on the history of Stalin's regime. Although I had intended to concentrate on Conquest's books, I've opted forStalin: The Court of the Red Tsar by Simon Sebag Montefiore and Stalin in Power: The Revolution from Above, 1928-1941 by Robert C. Tucker. Both are excellent source material.

Finished The Moviegoeryesterday. Review in progress.

Didn't make it to Jackson, Ms., yesterday. Ms. Welty's home is open from Tuesday through Friday. And visits must be scheduled in advance. So, another time. I'll be reporting back when I make that trip--with photos.

Mike

Mike, I'm listening to M&M. To me this feels really modern. I mean the cadence, the narration, etc. I'm trying to figure out if it they took liberties with the translation or if it really does hold up well.

Since I finished "The Moviegoer" and liked it so much, I picked up Percy's "Signposts in a Strange Land". I've just been reading the essays randomly, and there 's one in there about the aesthetics and pleasures of drinking bourbon that shows his sense of humor. Another one about the joys of living in a small town (Covington, Louisiana) that is in close proximity to a large one (New Orleans), so that you can have the best of both worlds. His essays make him sound like a person I would like to know.

Diane wrote: "Since I finished "The Moviegoer" and liked it so much, I picked up Percy's "Signposts in a Strange Land". I've just been reading the essays randomly, and there 's one in there about the aesthetic..."

Thanks for that mention. It sounds like something I'd be interested in.

I found out the hard way that sometimes it's not a great idea to reread some books that you liked when you were younger. Thomas Wolfe, Henry Miller, J.D. Salinger were disappointing to me the second time around. On the other hand, I gave some authors another chance and found they had something to say to me that I missed when I was younger, with William Faulkner being the most notable writer in that group. It's all about perception, I suppose. That's the wonderful thing about reading; being able to open up to new ideas as one matures that you weren't ready for when younger.

Diane wrote: "I found out the hard way that sometimes it's not a great idea to reread some books that you liked when you were younger. Thomas Wolfe, Henry Miller, J.D. Salinger were disappointing to me the seco..."

I absolutely agree with you Diane. I have found over the past 2 years that I'm now ready for the Russian classics which I really disliked when I was younger. I'm curious to see how I'll feel about Vanity Fair, which I loved in college.

Diane wrote: "It's all about perception, I suppose. That's the wonderful thing about reading; being able to open up to new ideas as one matures that you weren't ready for when younger."

Oh, I so agree. Growing old isn't all bad (!)

Sophia wrote: "Diane wrote: "It's all about perception, I suppose. That's the wonderful thing about reading; being able to open up to new ideas as one matures that you weren't ready for when younger."

Oh, I so a..."

Aging like good wine, perhaps!

I just posted my review of The Hamlet. I hope everyone is giving it a try. It is a much more accessible Faulkner than the masterpiece Absalom, Absalom!

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Amen , Sue! And Jeffrey, great review. Between Mike and your reviews, and Everitt's questions and background research, we almost don't even have to read the books. But then we'd miss all the fun! And "The Hamlet" was a lot of fun. Probably the first account ever of a love affair between a man and a cow.

I'm reading The Hamlet now so I'll skim-read your review Jeffrey. I'm enjoying it so much (so glad I switched to the Kindle for this one. I was about to give up and would have missed so much.)

Sue wrote: "Aging like good wine, perhaps! "

Maybe! (grin)

I've read A Death at the White Camellia Orphanage by Marly Youmans. I loved it! I've been writing and rewriting a review for it.. I don't want the review to be off the cuff like I normally do; this book is very well written, the imagery so beautiful that I'd like to do it justice.

If you've not read it yet, please do!

Diane wrote: "Amen , Sue! And Jeffrey, great review. Between Mike and your reviews, and Everitt's questions and background research, we almost don't even have to read the books. But then we'd miss all the fun..."

Thanks, Diane. There are so many fine contributors to the list. And you're right. Who would want to miss the fun of a read like The Hamlet?

Everitt wrote: "I've been working on a brief introduction to Existentialism and Binx Bolling for "The Moviegoer"

Yikes! I have just finished Cormac McCarthy's Outer Dark, Here is my review that contains a big dollop of Cormac himself http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Outer Dark is the first McCarthy I have actually enjoyed reading and that is because I decided to read it solely as a story and left the message for others to contemplate.

Now I am reading The Moviegoer and am skipping the existentialism to just read what I think is a fairly humorous story. So, you go ahead, Everitt, and do your analysis. I will probably even read it since I am quite polite and am trying to learn to listen. But I hope I will finish the book before I stumble blindly into the swamp of 'What does it mean?' No hard feelings, I hope.

Larry, I am in the middle of my first read of Suttree and will be looking forward to Outer Dark next.

Mmmmmmm! Buttered bread!

Have begun Toni Morrison's new book, Home. Enjoying it so far!

Everitt wrote: "Thanks Diane. I've been working on a brief introduction to Existentialism and Binx Bolling for "The Moviegoer" in my free time. There is a lot more than a little, but little less than a lot in that..."

I am waiting and hoping for the essay! I want to understand Existentialism better than I do now.

Larry wrote: "Everitt wrote: "I've been working on a brief introduction to Existentialism and Binx Bolling for "The Moviegoer"

Yikes! I have just finished Cormac McCarthy's Outer Dark, Here is my review that co..."

Larry, I thoroughly enjoyed your review of Outer Dark. Would love to see your take on McCarthy's first, The Orchard Keeper.

Mike

I'm currently reading Leaving Serenity by Alle Wells. It's about the 1970's, which for me was the nightmare decade. More to come (about the book).

Zorro wrote: "I am sorry to say that this group and most all of the threads seems to be a place to tell people to "go read my review", instead of a place to actually discuss books that we choose to discuss for t..."

I know I've been involved in discussions with a few books I've read, but I'm new and haven't been able to read many of the group books yet. I have enjoyed the discussions I've been involved with. They added to the enjoyment of the books and I hope for more. If I haven't read the book, I don't follow as I may want to read it in the future..

Zorro, I have to amend my comment above. After writing it I went looking for the discussions I've had and I can't find them. Now I'm wondering if they occurred at someone's review rather than here in the group. It is confusing.

Zorro wrote: "I am sorry to say that this group and most all of the threads seems to be a place to tell people to "go read my review", instead of a place to actually discuss books that we choose to discuss for t..."

Since founding the group in March, I've seen the group steadily grow to over three hundred members. I am a member of other groups in the goodreads community, too. Your point is well taken. However, in each of the groups, you will find a core group of folks who regularly contribute to discussion. Typically, there is a great silent majority. I continue to work at promoting this group in the hopes of bringing works of Southern literature to as many readers as possible.

I am an active reviewer in the goodreads community. Several of our members also regularly review our reads as well in the broader goodreads community. I have no doubt that there are reviewers, particularly those who set to tear down an author's work, who review out of a sense of boosting their own ego. But, I see nothing of the sort in those reviews submitted by our members.

The reviews I have seen posted by our members have, in and of themselves, been thoughtful discussions, of the books this group has chosen to read. Not all discussion takes place only within the comments section of the discussion threads. Those reviews, if read, can give rise to discussion within the thread.

Why do I review? I want to increase readership of a book which I think deserves it. I promote this group by shelving it as a group read of On the Southern Literary Trail. And, rarely, I will express my displeasure with a book as I did with Away Down South: A History of Southern Identity, which did prompt a discussion question from you to which I responded at length.

In conclusion, those who review, and especially those who review well, invest a considerable amount of time, thought, and draw on additional reading to produce their finished product. The greatest reward for a reviewer is to see members of the goodreads community add that book to their list of books to be read.

Mike
Lawyer Stevens

This month I'll be getting an early start on our December reads. This will be my third read of The Black Flower: A Novel of the Civil War by Howard Bahr. I'm especially excited to read Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, which I've never read. Currently I'm deep into Grit Lit: A Rough South Reader edited by Brian Carpenter and Tom Franklin, which has already led me to A Feast of Snakes by Harry Crews.

Mike, I especially look forward to your review of Grit Lit, a book that has not been reviewed on GR yet. But with an editor like Tom Franklin, I can imagine it might be a pretty good newly published book. Care to give a one paragraph preview?

Everitt wrote: "That's a good question. We've had deep and sometimes even heated discussions in the past. Often they were resolved quickly, but lately, I think once we got the philosophical stuff out of the way... I don't know. For my part, I've not had much time these past few months and haven't managed to finish some of the reading."

I'm with you Everitt--my time seems to be eaten up lately with other things. I know that I'm going to get to "Bastard Out of Carolina" eventually, but I'm just not there yet. The other group read for this month may have to fall by the wayside. I think that I will have more time after January 1. Sorry Zorro!

I tend *not* to go to the review links myself. I prefer the group discussions. It's just a matter of time and preference, I think.

I really enjoy the reviews. Well-written ones add to my understanding and perception of the books, and often bring up points of view that would never have occurred to me. I especially like reviewers who "make it personal" because that is the beautiful thing about reading. Each book speaks to the individual reader in very different ways. I have a Nook and the Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ app makes it very easy to follow all threads of a discussion, but I don't usually check in on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ through my laptop, so maybe it's more difficult that way.

Tina FeyBossypants

After the election, storms and the arrival of autumn - I need to laugh!

David wrote: "Tina Fey Bossypants

After the election, storms and the arrival of autumn - I need to laugh!"

I recently listened to Bossypants on an audio book read by Tina Fey herself. It was indeed a treat!

Larry wrote: "Mike, I especially look forward to your review of Grit Lit, a book that has not been reviewed on GR yet. But with an editor like Tom Franklin, I can imagine it might be a pretty good newly publishe..."

Larry, it's great. It begins with selections of memoirs by Harry Crews, Dorothy Allison; Rick Bragg, and Larry Brown. I am well into the fiction section now, with selections by the authors previously mentioned, plus Lewis Nordan, Tim McLaurin and others. Many of the fiction segments are selections from novels which have me leaping to find the complete works. I highly recommend this one.