Grit Lit: A Rough Southern Reader
Oct 12, 2012
Grit Lit: A Rough Southern Reader
Edited by: Brian Carpenter and Tom Franklin
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: University of South Carolina Press (September 15, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1611170834
ISBN-13: 978-1611170832
Book Description:
Drawing on storytelling traditions as old as southern literature itself,
Grit Lit is the first anthology devoted to contemporary writing about
the Rough South. From literary legends to emerging voices, the acclaimed
writers featured in this collection view their hardscrabble South
without romanticism or false nostalgia, not through moonlight and
magnolia but moonshine and Marlboros.
This is the dirty South as
captured by those rooted in its land yet able to share its stories with
candor and courage. Grit Lit guides readers through tales both tall and
true, intoxicating stories of loss, violence, failure, feuds, family,
and--above all--survival against the odds. Raw and raucous, Grit Lit
gathers some of the most provocative writing to come out of the South in
the last thirty years. With a preface by Edgar Award-winning author Tom
Franklin and Brian Carpenter's introduction to the genre's origins and
influences, this bold anthology lays bare the Rough South in all its
battered glory and dares readers not to stare in awe.
Idgie Says:
This is not your sitting on the porch drinking sweet tea set of stories. These are dark, dirty, violent stories. Rebecca of Sunnybrook farm would fall over in a dead faint reading these.
I don't always have a strong interest stirred in anthologies - maybe a story or two grabs me - but this book I could not put down. I would finish a story, go to put it down and stop halfway to read yet another. These are powerful stories.
The hardback price for this anthology is set fairly high, (the paperback is the usual reasonable amount.) but for this quality of writing............ I thought about it for a minute or two. Christmas is coming up - keep it in mind for your Southern story book lovers.
My one regret is that Tom Franklin himself only edited the book but didn't contribute.
A few examples of the stories are listed below with my thoughts:
- Sorry Blood - A sad and unbelievable story that I would never imagine in real life. Sadly I bet it has happened somewhere.
- Chapter excerpt from Winter's Bone - This was indeed one of the darker and meaner books I have read.
- Melungeons - Part history lesson on Melungeons - part Hatfield and McCoy.
- Saving Grace - Sad, odd, familiar and completely leaves you hanging on the edge by your fingernails at the end.
- River of Names - Just simply horrific. Nothing more to be said.
A great set of stories, with some great names involved: George Singleton, Rick Bragg, Lee Smith, Daniel Woodrell, Ron Rash, and so many more.
The Dew HIGHLY recommends this book.
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Reviewed by Idgie. If you would like to have the Dew review a book, please contact me at dewonthekudzu@gmail.com
