I’ve been on a Mississippi writers kick as of late. This is really nothing new considering how in love I am with the southern gothic tradition, but it’s definitely still worth writing about.
Lewis Nordan has been a favorite author of mine since I first read Music of the Swamp, a year or so ago. The book was so full of darkness, magic, and Christ himself that I knew it wouldn’t be long before I revisited Nordan’s world of Arrow Catcher, MS.
In the past couple of months I’ve consumed three Nordan books: Wolf Whistle, Lightning Song, and The Sharpshooter Blues. I am more than stoked to say that he delivered a memorable punch with every novel.
Many of you already know that Wolf Whistle is loosely based on the murder of Emmett Till. His murder is effectively heartbreaking, his murderers convincingly despicable, and the rest of the characters irrestisibly lovable. Though the book illustrates the vicious nature of racism in the south, the story contains plenty of evidence that there is healing and hope for the characters involved. Nordan’s use of the magical and “supernatural” is lovely and believable. Highly recommended.
Lightning Song is a coming of age story about Leeroy Dearman, a young boy experiencing the darkness of a family at odds with another and an adolescence without the direction of a confident father. The story takes place on a llama farm in Arrow Catcher, MS, and is full of enough magic and beauty that a female audience can enjoy it. However, I am certain that 90% of the male population in America will see themselves in Leeroy. I assure you, this is a comforting and charming experience. Of the three novels by Nordan I read this year, this one is my favorite. Please read it. And watch for the llamas, “…how beautiful they are when they run.”
Hydro Raney is the protagonist of Nordan’s The Sharpshooter Blues. He is a mentally challenged young man, lovable and sweet in a way that few characters are. He spends his time working in a small convenience store in Arrow Catcher, MS, which is one day robbed by two thieves known as the “beautiful children.” Surprisingly, Hydro is lethal with a pistol: a natural gift that the “beautiful children” have no reason to suspect. When Hydro kills the robbers in self-defense, the town fails to suspect Hydro of their deaths, pinning it on a young orphaned teen known as The Sharpshooter. The story twists and turns as the truth unravels and Hydro deals with the guilt of what his unique mind deems “murder.” The story is centered around love, grace, and loss. I enjoyed every minute of it. See Lewis Nordan books and First Editions
Random House 1990
Lastly, I finally got around to reading Larry Brown’s (R.I.P.) Big Bad Love. This man’s work does not need my praise, as his legacy of being a great Mississippi writer is already firmly established. Nonetheless, every story in this collection is a punch to the gut. The characters trip, fall, and break themselves over love, loss, and addiction. There are so many reasons to dislike Brown’s characters because of their actions, and yet I loved every one of them. Brown taps into the human condition southern style, and he leaves you thirsty for more. See more Larry Brown books and First Editions
1990
In venturing outside of my reading of Mississippi writers, I made a point to read some Jim Harrison at the advice of my boss John. It’s hard not to become interested in Harrison as an employee here. He is praised heavily by my coworkers, and I am certain that there is not a room in this store that doesn’t contain a photo of him. Having seen “Legends of the Fall” on screen and liking it, I had high hopes for the three novellas found in Harrison’s book. Thankfully, the book trumps the film in every way. Harrison has a unique voice and a knack for amazing descriptions of landscape and food. I am a fan of violence in a novel, and Harrison brought the goods. However, the second novella, “The Man Who Gave Up His Name,” is full of wit and honesty, proving that Harrison has a wonderful ability in shifting gears with his stories. He is not a one-trick pony, and I intend to read more of his work in the coming months. See more Jim Harrison books and First Editions
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