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It’s that time of year again–time to sign up for challenges! I’ve decided to host the 2012 Southern Literature Challenge this year. I personally read more Southern lit this year than I usually do because of this challenge, and I hope it encouraged a few of you to read it as well. The rules will be the same as last year.
Read a book(s)–non-fiction or fiction of any genre, adult or young adult–written by an author from the South and set mostly in the South.
Definitions of the South are flexible, so I’ve decided to define it the way I want. That’s the fun of hosting your own challenge, right? 🙂
The states:
South Carolina
Georgia
Alabama
North Carolina
Virginia
Tennessee
Mississippi
Louisiana
Kentucky
West Virginia
Texas
Arkansas
Florida
Please keep in mind that this is a Southern literature challenge. It’s possible to find books set in each of these states that are not Southern in nature or feeling. Use your best judgment when choosing your books.
Levels:
Level 1–C’mon in the house! Read 1 book.
Level 2–Pull up a seat and stay a while! Read 2 books
Level 3–Have a glass of sweet iced tea, honey. Read 3 books
Level 4–Y’all come back now, y’hear! Read 4 books
The challenge will run from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012. You can join in anytime throughout the year.
I am not limiting the challenge to bloggers. You can also link to a review you wrote on another site, such as GoodReads or LibraryThing.
Crossovers with other challenges are acceptable, and feel free to read your books in any format you choose.
Reading suggestions: I have a shelf on GoodReads with lots of books on it. There’s also a Best Southern Literature list on GoodReads that readers have voted on that should give you lots of ideas. Also, check out my spotlight of Southern authors at my Saturdays in the South feature.
I can’t help but feel like there should be a reward for a challenge successfully completed. So, I’ll offer up one Southern lit book of your choice (up to $15) to two randomly-drawn readers at the end of the challenge. Each review you link will give you one entry, with a limit of four entries per person. This part will be open to anyone who lives in an area where Book Depository offers free shipping.
We have some wonderful authors down here, and I hope you’ll join me in discovering them! Just grab the button and sign up on Mr. Linky below!
I’m signing up at the Y’all Come Back Now level. I’ll track my progress here.
- Ava’s Man by Rick Bragg
- Nelson & Cora: The Beginning by Melinda McGuire
- To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
- Sleeping at the Starlite Motel: And Other Adventures on the Way Back Home by Bailey White
- Naked Came the Leaf Peeper by Brian Lee Knopp et al.
- Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
- The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers
- Moon Women by Pamela Duncan
- Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman
- The Prince of Frogtown by Rick Bragg
Post your reviews here as well. Just post your name or blog name and the title in parentheses. Ex: The Introverted Reader (To Kill a Mockingbird).
Powered by… Mister Linky’s Magical Widgets.
30 Comments
I put up my year in review post. To meet the challenge I ended up reading 7 SL books.
Mr. Linky is working again. I linked your reviews already. Sorry the confusion!
Sorry! I'll be mobile most of the weekend but I will look into it and add your links on there when I'm on my laptop. Thanks for letting me know!
Here is my review of The Peach Keeper….
pageafterpage-kim.blogspot.com/2012/03/peach-keeper.html
*smiles*
Apparently Mr. Linky isn't working–but here is my review for The Cotton Queen by Pamela Morsi–set in Texas!
pageafterpage-kim.blogspot.com/2012/06/cotton-queen.html
I'm so mad that I just found this now and am already waist deep in reading challenges. Will you be hosting this one next year as well because I would LOVE to sign up!
Dani
iamliteraryaddicted.blogspot.com
I signed up! Original sign up post and reviews have been posted in the Linky.
Since I'm a southern gal this is the challenge for me! I love sweet tea so I'm shooting for level 3!
I love how Florida is set apart from the other Southern states. Florida is not Southern enough for the South lol.
Love your concept and being an obsessive compulsive reader, I will read 4 as yet to be determined southern authors with pleasure. For anyone looking for titles, I would highly recommend anything by Walker Percy. Also, I'm looking for readers interested in being part of an experimental project on bibliotherapy. I'd love to hear from you. Lorebrarian[at]gmail.com
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I couldn't find a place to post links to book reviews. So I'll just post one here. I read THE BEACH TREES by Karen White. The author lives in Atlanta and the book was centered in New Orleans and Biloxi, Mississippi.
The review is on my blog:
lynneslittlecorner.blogspot.com/2012/01/beach-trees.html
I'm so tempted. This would give me a good excuse to reread Confederacy of Dunces, and The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, two of my favorite southern books.
Hi, I'm going for Level 4 on this challenge. I also just signed up for your non-fiction challenge as well.
I'm so happy I found this challenge. I'm starting "The Help" later this week!
I've already picked out my first book: Member of the Wedding by Carson McCullers (born in Georgia). The setting is a small Southern town but is not specifically named. I hope this works!
I linked up my post with some book choices I want to read! I can't wait to get started. 🙂
*smiles*
I just learned about his over on Book Snob Wannabe's blog. I'm in! I'm behind on my posts but before the end of the year I will post and link to the challenges I'm participating in.
Can the book just be set in the south or does it have to be both set in the south and have the author be from the south? Just asking because I don't do any research on authors before choosing a book.
Going for Level 1. Thanks so much for hosting this. 🙂
I signed up for Level 4! I have a ton of Southern Literature to read this year!
Can't believe it is that time of year. I did not realize, to link up everytime I read a southern book. This year, I'll do better. I read four books. But only 2 linked up. My favorite southern was Looking for Cee Cee Honeycutt. Great read.
Hello,
I am Alicia and I just sign up for your new challenge at level 2 (2books). I am exciting to read some interesting books that I have found and match this challenge.
I am glad you are hosting this again because this is the year I am signing up. I'll come back with my official post ASAP.
(I'm a follower now — thought I was before, but apparently not. Oops!)
signed up! 🙂
I'm in too — I'm sadly unfamiliar with most Southern writing, this will get me started. Thanks for hosting.
I'm looking forward to reading about the south 🙂
I am looking forward to reading 2 books maybe Anne River Siddons and a Eugenia Price book I have in my stack. Thanks for the inspiration.
Risa and Cathy–Thanks so much for joining in!
I have just signed up for the challenge. Really looking forward to reading and blogging about Southern Literature
Ah! I'd signed-up for this one for 2011 I now remember. I'd forgotten all about it while hopping around and shifting my blog at the beginning of the year! :-/ — I did finish the challenge however, with Gone with the Wind. 🙂
I'll sign up again this year for ONE book. I might decide to climb later. 🙂
best,
Risa