WHAT TO READ
COMPILED BY NAN GRAVES GOODMAN
Tried and true Jackson books, past and present!

Mr. Fox by Helen Oyeyemi (Penguin Group)
In this very cleverly written novel, the writer Mr. Fox conjures up his muse, a woman named Mary Fo, so realistically that he and his wife Daphne feel as if Mary is part of their marriage. Since three is a crowd, albeit one of the three is not real, jealousy and paranoia weave in and out of the marriage. To add to the cleverness, Mr. Fox, who writes short stories, throws Mary into the stories, thereby solidifying the fictitious nature of things, but adding to the intrigue of the entire premise. At one point in the novel, Mr. Fox explains, “Mary, if you were real I’d run away with you forever.” Unlike any other novel, Mr. Fox calls into question reality versus imagination, and whether one can be more powerful than another within a creative mind.

Easy Does It: Winners and Favorites by Patty Roper (Quail Ridge Press)
In this her fourth book on entertaining and cooking, local favorite Patty Roper, Mississippi Magazine’s “Easy Does It” expert, gives the reader much-loved old and dear recipes accompanied by artfully designed tablescapes. With contents ranging from appetizers to beverages, soups, salads and sandwiches, Patty Roper also includes breakfast and brunch menus, as well as recipes for the three staples: meats, poultry, and seafood. In addition to the vegetables and side dishes, she adds recipes for breads and muffins. Finally, for those with a sweet tooth, the original recipes for cakes and pies are also paired with recipes for creamy desserts, cookies and candies. The use of over 100 wonderful photos is reason enough to own this beautiful book created by one of the most well-known home entertainment talents in the state.

Mississippi’s 100 Greatest Football Players of All Time edited by Neil White (Nautilus Publishing Company)
In this one-of-a-kind coffee table book, Neil White (editor of the popular Mississippians, the extraordinary look at famous and noteworthy Mississippians, now in its second edition) takes a close look at the top 100 Mississippi football players. Included in this new release are the following: every All American from Mississippi, every All Pro from Mississippi, the winners of the Conerly Trophy, the top ten Mississippians at every position and the all time Mississippi offense and defense. Also included are the all-time Mississippi special teams players, as well as the all-time Mississippi coaches. Never before seen photos make this football compilation one which will be regarded highly by all those who love the ever popular game of football, especially those who love this sport in Mississippi.

Boomerang: Travels in the Third World by Michael Lewis (W.W. Norton and Company)
Michael Lewis, author of The Blind Side, The Big Short, Moneyball, and Liar’s Club, among other best sellers, has written a brilliant work of fiction centering on the cheap credit that characterized the United States from 2002-2008. By concentrating on the history of some specific European countries and cultures, such as Greece, Germany, and Ireland, Lewis makes the reader comfortable in believing that America is immune to the evils and greed that characterized these foreign countries. By creating hilarious, bigger than-life characters whose actions betray rational thinking, this best-selling author takes the reader on a worldwide journey where the spotlight is focused eventually on California and Washington, DC., and where the American reader begins to realize that this nation is one of the greediest nations on earth.

››Hemingway’s Boat: Everything He Loved in Life,and Lost, 1934-1961 BY PAUL HENDRICKSON (Knopf)
Looking at the prime years of Ernest Hemingway, author Paul Hendrickson declares in this reflective book that Hemingway’s one true love was his fishing cruiser. From years in Key West to Paris, New York, to Africa, Cuba, and finally Idaho, Hemingway retreated to “Pilar” to treat his friends, be with his women, play with his children and to entertain celebrities. In this enlightening study of Hemingway, the reader sees, perhaps for the first time, a benevolent and generous man who reached out to struggling writers, and others, while often trying to overcome his own depression and demons. For readers who have enjoyed the newly revised version of A Moveable Feast, as well as The Paris Wife, this original look at Hemingway’s devotion to his boat will show a new side of the 20th century’s most talented American writers.

››The Cat’s Table BY MICHAEL ONDAATJE (Knopf)
Renowned author of The English Patient, Anil’s Ghost and Divisidero, Michael Ondaatje has penned another winner with The Cat’s Table. Set in the early 1950s on a ship headed from Colombo to England, the story is surrounded by the 11-year-old protagonist who is sailing alone to reunite with his mother and befriends two other boys. Assigned to “the cat’s table,” the dining table farthest from the captain’s table, the boys often become involved in the diverse lives of the adults at their table. The story is told through a series of flashbacks by the young adult protagonist who reflects on the three week voyage as the age old question of memory versus perception encompasses the entire novel and makes for a memorable read.

››Interiors Southeast: Leading Designers Reveal Their Most Brilliant Spaces (LLC Panache Partners)
Sarah Nelson, Nancy Price, Annelle Primos and Jane Shelton along with other leading Southeastern interior designers have given a comprehensive look at some of the region’s most well-known and respected residences. Divided into Mountain Retreats, Metropolitan Lifestyles and Waterfront Living, this beautiful and informative coffee-table book features guidelines that aim toward a goal of uniting color, shape, lines, use of scale and proportion. Some homes showcased in the book are new while others have simply been remodeled to fi t the lifestyle and personality of the clients. Fresh ideas combined with essential decorating tools work together for the successful and remarkable rooms. Vivid photographs and detailed captions combined give a clear and detailed look at each home’s noteworthy interior design.

››Carry An Umbrella When There’s No Rain in the Forecast: 365 Days of Living by Faith BY BARBIE BASSETT (WHOA Publishing)
Chief Meteorologist of WLBT-TV 3 in Jackson and national meteorologist for the American Family Radio Network, Barbie Bassett has compiled a daily devotional based on her faith and experiences. With excerpts of her personal life plus a Bible verse, she ends each daily devotion with an applicable prayer. In the preface, Barbie says, “Being a farmer’s daughter, I know the importance of rain. The lack of rain meant financial disaster to our family and emotional stress on my father as he provided for us all. As a meteorologist, viewers are always asking, ‘When will it rain?’ Did you know that we could experience spiritual drought? These are times when it seems as if God isn’t working in our lives...God says you are blessed when you endure during these quiet moments.” This book follows her previous book Forecasts and Faith.

When She Woke BY HILLARY JORDAN (Algonquin Press)
Hillary Jordan, known for her success with Mudbound, which was set in the Delta’s sharecropping years, has scored big already with When She Woke. Readers who remember Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter can merge that with Margaret Atwood’s dystopia The Handmaid’s Tale for a wild ride into the probably not-so-distant future with this new novel. A fast pace, well-written look at extreme prejudice and bias, When She Woke explores the life of Hannah who has been charged by the government because she had an abortion. When she refuses to name the father, whom the reader knows as the ever popular fundamentalist internationally famous Reverend Dale, and also refuses to name the doctor who performed the abortion, Hannah’s skin is suffused with the color red so all will know her crime. Once released, Hannah is hidden by the underground network of the abortionist, launching a thriller filled with fear, passion and questions about the role of a moralistic government.

Paula Deen’s Southern Cooking Bible: The New Classic Guide to Delicious Dishes with More than 300 Recipes BY PAULA DEEN WITH MELISSA CLARK (Simon and Schuster)

With her 12th cookbook, Paula Deen wows the reader again with new recipes ready to be cooked. Some of the most delectable sounding of the 17 chapters filled with tasty southern recipes are: Soups and Stews; Brunch and Other Savory Egg and Cheese Dishes; Pasta and Rice; Fish and Shellfish; Grilling and Barbeque; Coffee Cakes, Griddle Cakes, and Doughnuts; and Puddings and Frozen Treats. In the lengthy introduction, Paula Deen states, “Southern food is simply not one thing or another. In fact, it’s about as regional as you can get: drive around the South and you’ll soon discover that the gravy, the barbecue sauce, and the corn bread change with the countryside... All of this good food comes out of a rich history.” 

Crocuses: A Complete Guide to the Genus
BY JANIS RUKSANS, FOREWORD BY BRIAN MATHEW (Timber Press)

Acknowledged worldwide as an expert who grows unusual, but hardy bulbs, Janis Ruksans, who worked at the Latvian National Botanical Garden, has defined more than 80 varieties of crocuses in this beautiful gardening book. When gardeners are looking for some late winter color they turn to crocuses. Growing from corms, little crocuses, often no more than a few inches tall at maturity, add beauty and wonder to the fall or winter landscape, according to the author. This coffee table guide is divided into two parts: “Crocuses in My Garden,” which includes information on growing in an open garden, in pots and containers, in the greenhouse and from seeds. In part two,” Species of Crocuses,” the author classifies autumn blooming crocuses and spring blooming crocuses. Over 300 stunning photos of yellow, blue, white and hybrid crocuses showcase these little gems of the garden.

Mississippi Jucos: The Toughest League in America
BY X. M. FRASCOGNA, JR., X. M. FRASCOGNA, III, AND MARTIN
FRANK FRASCOGNA (Missississippi Sports Council)

Exploring the Mississippi Junior College System, this new release takes a close look at “Juco Ball,” an athletic subculture in Mississippi. Marked by violent brutality, this division of football represents an athletic underworld in the state, often times overshadowed by Ole Miss, State and other top SEC programs; however, many Juco players go on to play at the top D-1 programs in the country and even the NFL. This book examines the 14 community and junior colleges in Mississippi. Vintage black and white photographs of some of Mississippi’s once famous junior college football players grace the pages of this unique and needed exploration of a rarely recognized segment of the state’s football system.

››Mississippians BY NEIL WHITE (2nd edition, Nautilus Publishing)
In this second edition of the beautiful coffee table book Mississippians, editor Neil White
added numerous entries of native Mississippians who have contributed to the state in
various areas. With 300 new photographs and 150 new Mississippians, this second edition
extends to 416 pages from the original 240 pages. Readers will notice that this edition
focuses on numerous women who broke barriers in the state. The new cover features at
its center a large image of famous blues musician B. B. King with other smaller photos at
the cover’s top and bottom of famous Mississippians such as William Faulkner, Morgan
Freeman and Elvis Presley, among others.

››Rules of Civility BY AMOR TOWLES (Penguin Group)
Set in 1938 pre-Depression New York City, this delightful novel explores the exhilarating
life of protagonist Katherine, or Katey, Kontent, a 25-year-old who lives in a girls’ boarding
house in Manhattan. With intelligence, wit, and personal drive, she rapidly leaves the life of
a secretary and becomes an assistant to the editor of a fashionable and forward-thinking
magazine. As numerous men, both prep boys as well as established bankers, move in and
out of her life, the reader is able to experience the lifestyle of the rich and famous, although
Katey is from a humble Brooklyn background. Close female friends to the character also
allow the reader a look into the mores of New York City in this era. Of particular interest are
the policies of certain New York restaurants, such as the 21 Club, and bars that had up until
this time sometimes not allowed women to enter. A culturally informative 1930s novel, Rules
of Civility is surprisingly authored by a male investment guru currently working in New York.

››Looking Back Mississippi: Towns and Places
BY FORREST LAMAR COOPER (University Press of Mississippi)
Historian and archivist Forrest Lamar Cooper has collected 39 of his previously printed
essays about Mississippi towns, institutions, dwellings and parks that were previously
published as part of his regular column, entitled “Looking Back” in Mississippi Magazine
over the last three decades. Ranging from the mid-1800s to the 1930s, antique post cards
accompany the essays and add a historic and nostalgic effect that adds to the appeal of
the selected locales. In the preface, the author states, “Each of the places featured, from
Belzoni to Yazoo City, has an intriguing story, a singular identity, and sparks of color. I hope
that I’ve made exploring Mississippi as much fun for my readers as it has been for me.”

››An Irresistible History of Southern Food: Four Centuries of Black-Eyed Peas, Collard Greens and Whole Hog Barbecue BY RICK MCDANIEL (The History Press)
In the introduction, the author states the essence of this clever, unique cookbook: “Very few
books have been written about the food itself and where it came from; the aim of this book
is to bridge the gap between history book and cookbook.” So, the very first chapter, “The
Table of our Ancestors, Southern Food, 1607-the Present” explains the particularly unusual
cuisine that developed in areas of the South as specific influences of cultures. Photos
collected from states’ archives show for instance, men hanging the carcasses of all sorts of
animals, including hogs, deer and turkeys. Mixed in with the vintage photos are colorful food
photos and recipes for Southern favorites such as chicken pot pie, fried chicken, pork ribs,
sausage gravy and pecan pie to name a few. The history of the foods in each category makes this cookbook one, which can be only read and enjoyed, if not used for cooking.

››One Writer’s Garden: Eudora Welty’s Home Place
BY SUSAN HALTOM AND JANE ROY BROWN, PHOTOGRAPHS BY LANGDON CLAY (University Press of Mississippi)
Eudora Welty garden director Susan Haltom has created a historically accurate and captivating coffee table book about the Belhaven area garden. Collaborative details added by national landscape historian Jane Roy Brown and gorgeous photographs by Langdon Clay add to the history of the garden that the famous Southern writer’s mother Chestina Welty started in the 1920s. In 1995, Eudora gave garden enthusiast Susan Haltom permission to begin the book. After careful excavation and exploration of the overgrown garden, Haltom began this accounting of not only the garden itself but of individual flowers that the writer referenced in her short stories and novels. The book is divided into these sections: “Spring, 1920s,” “Summer, 1930s,” “Fall, 1940s,” and “Winter, Postwar and Beyond.” Color photographs artistically capture Mississippi seasons, even rare snowfalls, in this book to be treasured by Mississippians and fans of Welty literature.

››The Language of Flowers BY VANESSA DIFFENBAUGH
(Random House)
Holding onto the love of flowers as the positive grounding force, the female protagonist Victoria endures numerous foster homes, learns to free herself from homelessness as an 18-year-old by landing a job at a florist creating bouquets with messages, for she has learned and understands the power of the “language of flowers.” Throw a love relationship and a newborn into the mix, and the plot thickens to reveal a flawed and fearful young woman who yearns, yet repels a real relationship. Eventually reuniting with her only devoted, kind foster mother, Victoria must learn the meaning of love and learn to trust, a quality that foster children lack. The author, a foster mother herself, has loosely based the novel on her own experiences with foster children. The charming novel is centered on the love of flowers and the power of their individual meanings as exemplified by givers and receivers of bouquets. A glossary compiled of a list of flowers and their meanings adds to the absolute delight of this special novel.

››Larry Brown: A Writer’s Life BY JEAN W. CASH
(University Press of Mississippi)
The life and works of the late Oxford, Mississippi fireman turned famous author are chronicled in this definitive history by English professor emeritus at James Madison University. At the beginning of the book, the author makes note of the fact that Brown, author of such noteworthy novels as Fay, Dirty Work, Joe, and Big Bad Love, did not attend a writing program nor was a graduate of any university, yet his innate talent with his pen, earned him the respect of numerous readers and writers alike. Cash explores the noted writer’s influences of Faulkner, O’Connor, Harry Crews, and Cormac McCarthy. Also included are an examination of Brown’s life in the Marines, his early married-life, and his 16 years as a fireman. Noting the success of the posthumous publication of A Miracle of Catfish, the author also examines specific stories and novels.

››Best in Show: Our Best Recipes for Man’s Best Friend BY MISSISSIPPI ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE (Wimmer Cookbooks)
The late beloved Jackson artist Miriam Weems, loyal animal lover and rescuer, designed the colorful cover for this delightful cookbook that heralds all animals, particularly those who need homes. The table of contents opens with “Celebrities and Pups,” which gives borrowed recipes from such famous personalities as Barbara Bush, Kenny Rogers, John Travolta, and Governor Haley Barbour, among others. Photographs of pets and their owners, often children, are scattered throughout this unique collection of easy recipes such as Miriam’s own “Curried Chicken Salad” or her “Hearty Vegetable Soup.” A percentage of the proceeds from this book go to support the Mississippi Animal Rescue League.
 

 

››A Small Hotel
BY ROBERT OLEN BUTLER (Grove/Atlantic Inc.)
Pulitzer Prize winner Robert Olen Butler, who released his best-seller Hell a couple years
ago, has scored again in his new small but powerful novel, A Small Hotel. Much of the action
is set in the French Quarter in “a small hotel” visited often by the protagonist couple who
have found themselves victim of miscommunication and sadness. As the novel progresses,
the reader appreciates the author’s superior talent in examining the inner workings of a
character’s mind, while also giving simultaneous accountings of both character’s actions
and minds at the exact same period of time. This rotating nature of the chronological events
does not confuse but serves to enhance the very nature of the story. As the characters learn
the importance of honesty and sharing their thoughts, the reader is reminded of the power
of the word “love.”

››Modern Hospitality: Simple Recipes with Southern Charm
BY WHITNEY MILLER, FOREWORD BY GORDON RAMSAY (Rodale Press)
At age 22, Whitney Miller of Poplarville, Mississippi, beat out several other cooks with much
more experience and won the very fi rst season of Fox’s hit show “America’s Master Chef.”
This cookbook, Modern Hospitality: Simple Recipes with Southern Charm, gives accolades
to this young, immediately popular chef and her renowned Southern recipes. The chapters
(Rise and Shine; Party Starters; Soups, Salads and Sandwiches; Sides and Grains; Elegant
Entrees; Sweet Rewards; Chic Sips; and Whitney’s Essentials) fi ll the bill for any appetite or
occasion. Colorful photographs of delectable food prepared by the Southern chef make this
cookbook one to peruse and savor.

››The Chitlin’ Circuit and the Road to Rock ‘n’ Roll
BY PRESTON LAUTERBACH (W.W. Norton & Co.)
As the very fi rst history published about the network of African American nightclubs that
actually started rock ‘n’ roll music, music journalist Preston Lauterbach has created an
informative and interesting survey filled with archives of black and white photos of stars
before and during their musical careers, as well as rare previously unpublished photos
of nightclubs and backrooms. According to the author, “Chitlin’ Circuit” means “secondtier
brash performers in raucous nightspots,” which were instrumental in launching and
establishing rock ‘n’ roll in America. Some of the musical artists showcased are Louis
Jordan, Roy Brown (“Good Rockin’ Tonight”), Little Richard, James Brown and B. B. King.

››Armitage’s Vines and Climbers: A Gardener’s Guide to the Best Vertical Plants
BY ALLAN M. ARMITAGE (Timber Press)
Garden Club of America medal of honor winner, garden author and horticulturist Allan
Armitage has compiled a much needed and detailed compilation of vines and climbing
plants for the formal as well as the cottage garden. Armitage’s garden guide showcases
versatile vines such as the morning glory, the Virginia creeper, the passion fl ower and the
mandevilla, as well as the numerous varieties of clematis. The beautifully photograph-fi lled
book gives information on more than 115 climbing plants from 70 different genera. For
each climber, a general description, plus the plant’s hardiness, plant family, best method
of propagation, and the climbing method is given by this professor of horticulture at The
University of Georgia. Helpful lists at the back of the book include annuals and biennials,
cold hardy vines, evergreens, small growers, fragrant climbers, ornamental and invasive
vines and more. Garden zones for each plant also add more weight to this rare but
increasingly popular vertical approach to gardening featured in this book.

››A Good Hard Look: A Novel
BY ANN NAPOLITANO
(The Penguin Press)
This inspiring novel written about the adult life of famous Southern author, Flannery
O’Connor of Milledgeville, Georgia, is full of elements that were common in her own short
stories: fl awed characters, disasters, adultery, murder, wonder and also surprisingly filled
with grace. As a debut novelist, Ann Napolitano weaves an unforgettable tale based on the
life of a young couple that returns to Milledgeville shortly after their marriage. References
throughout the novel to Flannery’s unforgettable short stories make this original novel, filled with the glorious colorful peacocks that the author loved, quite real. Especially those readers
who have read with awe and intrigue the Southern Gothic stories, for which the author became famous before she died of lupus in 1964 at age 38, will be thrilled with this fiction
work.

››Heirloom Gardening in the South: Yesterday’s Plants for Today’s Gardens
BY WILLIAM C. WELCH AND GREG GRANT WITH
FOREWORD BY FELDER RUSHING (Texas A&M Press)
This beautiful book focuses on the heirloom Southern plants that have survived and thrived
in the South for centuries. Gardening authors Welch and Grant give details on hundreds
of heirloom plants, which they have cultivated in their own gardens as well as witnessed
in other Southern gardens. Sections covering gardening heritage, the naturalization of
daffodils, garden design and growing fruit engage the reader who is interested in exploring
heirloom specimens. An updated and expanded heirloom plant encyclopedia, as well as
revised plant list including bulbs and cemetery plants, fulfi lls every gardener’s desire. This
edition should be on the shelf of every Southern gardener.

››The Keys BY FRANK WILEM (The Gibbes Company)
Set just off the Florida Keys, this action-fi lled mystery grabs the reader by the arm and
does not let go until the very last page is turned. Mississippi coast resident and deep-water
fi sherman Frank Wilem creates authentic characters who search for a grail of sorts on
small jungle islands south of Florida, deep in the dangerous Caribbean waters. Filled with
“Indiana Jones” type action, the characters engage in life-threatening adventures as they
battle not only storms at sea, but also evil forces on other boats also headed for the “gold”
that happens to be in the form of something blue, which can alter the state of the entire
world. A fast-paced adventure, this novel will meet the expectations of deep sea divers, deep water fishermen and those who love adventure-filled fiction with a little romance.

››The New Southern Garden Cookbook: Enjoying the Best from Homegrown Gardens, Farmers’ Markets, Roadside Stands, and CSA Farm Boxes
BY SHERI CASTLE
(University of North Carolina Press)
Cooking instructor and notable food writer Sheri Castle has designed a beautifully
photographed and useful cookbook filled with “300 brightly flavored seasonal recipes” to
make the most of homegrown vegetables. The 41 food categories, including such favorites
as garden peas, squash, snap beans, and berries, but also including unusual foods such
as Jerusalem artichokes, persimmons, rhubarb and radishes, give the Southern cook
helpful initial information about the food and then several recipes to try. The layout is cook friendly, and the recipes are easily understandable and interesting. The author notes, “And
it celebrates how much easier it is becoming to find produce grown in our communities. The
garden has always been an extension of the kitchen.”

Slow Gardening: A No-Stress Philosophy for All Senses and Seasons
BY FELDER RUSHING (Chelsea Green Publishing)

Gardening guru Felder Rushing has crafted another superb gardening book, this time about the concept of slow gardening. In the introduction, national television gardener Roger Swain says, “Slow gardening begins with the individual, yes, and Felder may insist that he gardens for himself. What he is really tending, however, is community.” Chapters such as “Garden Psychology,” “Carving Out Your Space” and “Getting Slow in the Garden” give a comprehensive view of this movement. Colorful photographs of everything from organic mulches to compost bins to pink flamingos, fill the pages. Inspired by the international movement titled “Slow Food,” this clever book enco Slow Gardening: A No-Stress Philosophy for All Senses and Seasons BY FELDER RUSHING (Chelsea Green Publishing)
Gardening guru Felder Rushing has crafted another superb gardening book, this time about the concept of slow gardening. In the introduction, national television gardener Roger Swain says, “Slow gardening begins with the individual, yes, and Felder may insist that he gardens for himself. What he is really tending, however, is community.” Chapters such as “Garden Psychology,” “Carving Out Your Space” and “Getting Slow in the Garden” give a comprehensive view of this movement. Colorful photographs of everything from organic mulches to compost bins to pink flamingos, fill the pages. Inspired by the international movement titled “Slow Food,” this clever book encourages gardeners to slow down, enjoy their gardens and pass on the joy to others while avoiding the pressures of life.

Founding Gardeners: The Revolutionary Generation, Nature, and the Shaping of the American Nation
BY ANDREA WULF (Knopf)
Giving detailed accounts of the origin of the traditional English garden, Andrea Wulf explores the horticultural history of the gardens of our nation’s founding fathers. Each of these “greats” is looked at as a gardener, plants man, and farmer. In the prologue the author notes, “The founding fathers’ passion for nature, plants, gardens and agriculture is woven deeply into the fabric of America and aligned with their political thought, both reflecting and influencing it. In fact, I believe it’s impossible to understand the making of America without looking at the founding fathers as farmers and gardeners.” The epilogue gives maps of Washington’s Mount Vernon, Jefferson’s Monticello, Adams’ Peacefield, and Madison’s Montpelier. Andrea’s previous titles include: The Brother Gardeners andThis Other Eden.

And One Was a Priest: The Life and Times of Duncan M. Gray, Jr.
BY ARAMINTA STONE JOHNSTON (University Press of Mississippi)

Former bishop of the Episcopal Church of Mississippi, Bishop Duncan Gray was a primary mover in the Civil Rights movement in Mississippi. According to author Araminta Stone Johnston, Bishop Gray, “chose to use his priesthood to speak in unpopular but prophetic support of justice and equality for African Americans.” Throughout his life, Gray worked for racial reconciliation by fighting the status quo both in and out of the church. As a former parishioner in Oxford, Mississippi, when Bishop Gray was the rector, biographer Johnston explores the choices that Gray made which have earned him the respect of many. Serving in several Southern parishes, Bishop Gray made his mark in Mississippi’s chaotic ‘60s and continues to do so today.

Buryin’ Daddy: Putting My Lebanese, Catholic, Southern Baptist Childhood to Rest
BY TERESA NICHOLAS (University Press of Mississippi)

In this book, Teresa Nicholas tells of her return to her hometown of Yazoo City after her father’s death and an exploration of her past and reflect on her diverse parents and tumultuous upbringing. A descendent of Lebanese Catholic immigrants on her father’s side and Baptist sharecroppers on her mother’s, the author was rocked by conflicting opinions, specifically her father’s stance on civil rights. After 25 years of working for Crown Publishers in New York, she returned to Yazoo City only to discover that there was more to her childhood than she originally had though. In this insightful and provocative book, Teresa uncovers truths about her 1950s childhood in Mississippi and her parents.
urages gardeners to slow down, enjoy their gardens and pass on the joy to others while avoiding the pressures of life.

››Lost Mansions of Mississippi (Vol. 2)
by Mary Carol Miller (University Press of Mississippi)
Readers who loved Mary Carol Miller’s Volume One of Lost Mansions of Mississippi, which won non-fiction book of the year from the Mississippi Library Association will be delighted to dive into the interesting selections in Volume Two. A physician and devoted preservationist, Miller has selected 27 more vanished houses of the antebellum and Victorian era in Mississippi. Ranging from the oldest house, which burned in the Natchez area in 1966, to a Reconstruction-era home, this new book will delight historical buffs. Two Gulf Coast landmarks sadly lost to Hurricane Katrina are also included. Stories gathered from family members’ recollections make the book a valued keepsake. Miller, who is personally preserving Mississippi’s architectural heritage, is also known for Great Houses of Mississippi, Lost Landmarks of Mississippi and Must See Mississippi.

››The Mississippi Cookbook, with a new foreword by Martha Hall Foose, compiled by the Home Economics Division of the Mississippi Cooperative Extension Service (University Press of Mississippi)
Noted Mississippi-chef Martha Hall Foose, author of the new cookbook A Southerly Course, has written a new foreword to the tried and true classic, The Mississippi Cookbook, now in its ninth edition. Foose comments, “Reading through The Mississippi Cookbook is like going visiting….The experience of reading and cooking my way through this book has been a delight. Some of the dishes may seem dated by today’s measure. A few may even be found shocking. The mere idea of the words “Coca-Cola and Salad” in a title may give pause to those uninitiated to our ways in this state. Not to worry! Some of the recipe names are just wonderfully melodic like “O-So-Good Pie,” “Chicken ‘n Eight” and “Y’all Come Meat Loaf.” The voices of each experienced cook and hostess guiding us through with their prized recipes make this cookbook a favorite for cooks from all over.

››Mississippians by Neil White (Nautilus Publishing Co.)
Those who love Mississippi do so for many reasons, and one reason that ranks at the top is its people. Neil White celebrates that one reason in his large, beautiful coffee table book properly titled Mississippians. Besides the large number of Pulitzer Prize winners, for which the state wins the prize, Mississippi also boasts the largest number of NFL players per capita. Divided into 10 sections, this one-of-a-kind book gives a great overview of the tremendous number of notable people that Mississippi has produced. With notable names such as William Faulkner, Eudora Welty, Oprah Winfrey, Morgan Freeman, B. B. King and Archie Manning, this keepsake will find a home in natives’ households as well as those with connections to the state.

››Mississippi: State of the Blues
by Ken Murphy; essay by Scott Barretta (Proteus Publications)
Mississippi, often known as home of the blues, comes alive in this unique coffee table book that gives a photographic overview of the roots of the popular music movement that has spread throughout the United States since the early 1900s. Some of the fascinating photos showcase famous artists such as Bobby Rush, Terry “Harmonica Bean,” Jesse Robinson, Charlie Musselwhite and Louis “Gearshifter” Youngblood. Add charismatic photos of many of the blues clubs scattered throughout the state, and this book rises to the top of other blues books. Ken Murphy’s extraordinary photography and Scott Barrettta’s knowledge of the history of the blues in Mississippi work together to produce a superb overview of the blues’ growing popularity in the state.

Every Day by the Sun: A Memoir of the Faulkners
of Mississippi by Dean Faulkner Wells (Random House)
Written by William Faulkner’s niece Dean Faulkner Wells, this book takes a look at the
eclectic Faulkner family of north Mississippi. Because her own father Dean Swift Faulkner
was tragically killed in a small airplane crash before she was born, her Uncle William took
on the role of father, and she was given the rare opportunity to observe the day-to-day life
of a world-renowned 20th century writer. The table of contents reads like a chronological
tableau beginning with Dean’s father’s death, her ancestors, the other Faulkner uncles,
WWII, her cousin Jill, her Uncle William’s acceptance of the Nobel and Pulitzer Prizes, and
the “other women.” Dean Faulkner Wells and her husband own a publishing company in
Oxford, Mississippi.

22 Britannia Road by Amanda Hodgkinson (Penguin)
Set in the forests of Poland during WWII, the rural French countryside, and a small English
village, this captivating novel outlines the lives of a Jewish mother who fights to keep her
baby alive while hiding in the cold and dangerous war-torn woods. It will capture the hearts
of readers who loved The Invisible Bridge, Suite Française and The Glass Room. After
arriving in England to be reacquainted after a seven year’s absence with her reformed
English husband, a former soldier marred by the war, Silvana tries to learn the culture
and introduce her somewhat feral son to civility. Through a series of detailed flashbacks
describing the deplorable conditions and painful needs, the reader feels the anguish of the
ravishes of war, but also the challenges of distant, but ultimately enduring, love. A native
of England and resident of France, the author expertly weaves what is sure to become an
award-winning novel.

A Southerly Course: Recipes and Stories from Close to Home
by Martha Hall Foose (Random House)
In her first award-winning cookbook Screen Doors and Sweet Tea, Martha Hall Foose gave
a look inside her Delta life with mouth-watering recipes, and this new cookbook continues
the tradition with delicious and unusual dishes accompanied by snippets of the chef’s
Mississippi recollections and musings. Some have said her “friend in the kitchen” tone
gives her Southern flavors even more zest. Divided into five courses, A Southerly Course is
sure to capture the attention of expert, as well as novice cooks. Unforgettable recipes, such
as “Sugarcane Sweet Potatoes” and “Alligator Pears and Bacon” whet the appetite as she
explains the traditions and memories surrounding the novel ideas and treats. Photographs
of the memorable food, Mississippi Delta people and scenes accent this cookbook. Look for
this chef on major national talk shows telling about her new release.

What There Is to Say We Have Said:The Correspondence of Eudora Welty
and William Maxwell
edited by Suzanne Marrs (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
In her fourth publication about famous Jacksonian writer Eudora Welty, Suzanne Marrs
explores letters written over fifty years to Welty’s New York editor William Maxwell. Ranging
in content, it is clear that they had a meaningful relationship supported by frequent
correspondence. References are made to other notable writers of the time, including William
Faulkner, John Updike, Virginia Woolf, Walker Percy and John Cheever, and chapters are
arranged chronologically from 1942 to 1996, only five years before Welty’s death. Through
the letters, Welty gave personal details about her life in Jackson. On her 90th birthday, Bill
Maxwell wrote in his final letter, “I have been thinking how fortunate we were to have been
born toward the end of the first decade of this century. Even more fortunate was the fact
that we knew each other and were friends.” Readers learn fascinating facts about one of
the world’s most cherished writers from these carefully researched and preserved letters.
 

The Paris Wife BY PAULA MCLAIN (Random House)
Historically based on the exciting years that Ernest Hemingway spent with his first wife Hadley, this intriguing novel is set in Paris and other major European locales the couple frequented. Having researched the time period and the particulars of the Paris years experienced by the renowned author, his wife and his first born, whom they called “Mr. Bumby,” the novelist presents intimate details involving not only the Hemingways, but also other Paris expatriates of the time, including F. Scott Fitzgerald and his wife Zelda, Gertrude Stein and Ezra Pound. Told from Hadley’s point of view, the novel’s twists and turns outline Hemingway’s tumultuous personality, his early writing research, such as the details that he gathered to write The Sun Also Rises, as well as his romantic characteristics. Those who read the second revised release of Hemingway’s A Moveable Feast a couple of years ago will adore this novel. Here’s hoping that the author will now write a series of novels told from the point of view of the other three wives!

A Classical Journey: The Houses of Ken Tate
INTRODUCTION BY SUSAN SULLY (Images Publishing)
Followers of renowned architect Ken Tate and his previous three architectural books will also be overcome by this new release, A Classical Journey: The Houses of Ken Tate. Nine dwellings including a Norman farmhouse, a Spanish, as well as a Mediterranean villa, and Federal and Greek Revival creations adorn the pages of this beautiful, coffee table-sized book. By using custom quarried stone, antique wood beams, natural plaster and other fine materials, the respected architect is known for houses that look as if they have been lived in and adored for many generations. The award-winning architect’s new book points to his expert craftsmanship in the innovative makeup of the book which uses fold-out flaps for extra architectural examples. Of special interest to Tate enthusiasts, the reader will find the introductory essay by the architect, entitled “House as a Poem,” a remarkable and splendid writing, true to the philosophical undertones in each dwelling that he created.

Encyclopedia of Container Plants: More than 500 Outstanding Choices for Gardeners
BY RAY ROGERS, PHOTOS BY ROB CARDILLO (Timber Press)
As spring finally arrives in the South, gardeners will find Encyclopedia of Container Plants as a reference book to include on their gardening book shelves. Long time gardeners will know how challenging it is to think of new and interesting plants and flowers to put in containers, not wanting the same display as featured in the previous years. In this collection that includes over 500 choices, ranging from color, size, needs, and durability, the container gardener can create new surprises each season. The first chapter on “inspired containers” offers many ideas on both the traditional and the non-traditional container. The longer second chapter gives an “A-Z” plant directory outlining which plants perform best in containers and includes information on specifics such as height, width, light needs, drainage, growth rate, propagation, length of bloom, and various problems to be encountered.

Great Food, All Day Long: Cook Splendidly, Eat Smart
BY MAYA ANGELOU (Random House)
Highly respected national poet Maya Angelou has created a winning collection of recipes in her new cookbook Great Food, All Day Long. In the introduction, she explains, “At one time I described myself as a cook, a driver, and a writer. I no longer drive, but I do still write and I do still cook. And having reached the delicious age of eighty-one, I realize that I have been feeding other people for a long time. I have been cooking most nearly all of my life, so I have developed philosophies.” The sections in her new cookbook (soups, breads, lettuces, vegetarian dishes, appetizers, sweets, breads, and fine cuisine) whet the appetite immediately. Colorful photographs accompany this fun and delightful cookbook.

Bless Your Heart: Saving the World One Covered Dish at a Time, WITH RECIPES BY PATSY CALDWELL AND STORIES
BY AMY LYLES WILSON (Thomas Nelson Publishers)
Most people would agree with Jackson native Amy Lyles Wilson when she notes that food is the common denominator in the South. In this friendly, hospitable cookbook, a recipe appears for every situation imaginable: baby showers, book clubs, the sick or grieving, family reunions, parties, festivals, and holidays, with delightful stories to accompany the menu. The recipes and stories reflect Mississippi’s culture and how it revolves around food. Unusual recipes, as well as the usual ones, including favorites such as apple peanut salad, chocolate cobbler, chicken dumpling soup, carrot fruit salad, ambrosia, harmony hominy casserole, and cold spaghetti salad adorn the pages filled with colorful photographs of the dishes.

Ghost Light BY JOSEPH O’CONNOR (Farrar, Straus and Giroux)
Set in and around Dublin and London in the early 1900s and the mid 1950s, respectively, this beautifully written novel will capture the hearts of even the romantically challenged. Irish author Joseph O’Connor, known for previous novels including Redemption Falls and Star of the Sea, has expertly woven a captivating story about a renowned aristocratic playwright, John Synge, and his love interest, a much younger common society actress who stars in his plays, which are directed by none other than the famous poet William Butler Yeats. The years-long secretive affair between the playwright and the young actress Molly propels her into thinking that Synge will one day marry her. This poignant fictitious love story, based loosely on historical events and people, is filled with sadness and beauty, and will probably be nominated for numerous literary awards. Ghost Light should not be missed by readers.

Sanctuary BY STEPHEN KIRKPATRICK (Thy Marvelous Works Publisher)
Renowned outdoor photographer Stephen Kirkpatrick has done it again. He has beautifully photographed and compiled a splendid coffee table book cataloguing scenes from the ever-evolving Gulf Coast “sanctuary.” Adding to the gorgeous nature scenes are quotes from select people such as Walter Anderson and Jacques Cousteau, among others. Up close photographs of a luna moth, various fish, butterflies, map turtles, deer, tortoises, cranes, sunrises and sunsets, as well as views of long leaf pines and other special places and daily events in Mississippi’s coastal ecosystem engage the reader with awe and wonder. As the introductionstates, “Many of us can’t recall the last time we witnessed a sunrise, the last time we listened to a bird’s song, the last time we paused for a split second to consider the beauty of the natural world.”

Best Native Plants for Southern Gardens: A Handbook for Gardeners, Homeowners, and Professionals BY GIL NELSON (UNIVERSITY PRESS OF FLORIDA)
Gil Nelson has compiled a very helpful garden guide for Mississippians in his newly released Best Native Plants for Southern Gardens. In part one, he discusses the “how to’s” with native plants of the area, and in part two, the author groups together favorites of the area such as old-timey native azaleas, magnolias, maples, buckeyes, hollies, perennial asters, beans and mints. In part three, Gil takes a close look at 100 “good doers,” including numerous vines and ground covers. With over 600 color photographs, this useful guide looks at theme gardening, invasive species, and challenging plants, as well as the “easy to growers.” Gil says, “The paths to native plant gardening are many and varied, and those who practice it are anything but one-dimensional. Gardeners who enjoy native plants do so in their own way, in their own gardens, as an expression of their own creative spirits— and often as a celebration of a distinctly American endowment.”

Wild Abundance: Ritual, Revelry & Recipes of the South’s Finest Hunting Clubs
edited by Susan Schalt with photographs by Lisa Buser (Artsmemphis)
This cookbook anthology presents recipes by noted Southern chefs John Besh, Karen Carrier, John Currence, Derek Emerson, Kelly English, Martha Foose, Alex Grisnati, Donald Link and Lee Richardson. Celebrating the legacy of Southern culture, the beautiful and hypnotic photographs of the hunters catching the food included in Wild Abundance whet the appetite before the exotic recipes are even read. Add colorful stories by renowned chefs about the hunt, and the mix yields a one-of-a-kind cookbook. Descriptions and photographs of various hunting clubs and their members in Mississippi, Louisiana and Arkansas add interest and fun, including the photos of famous hunters like Eli Manning. In the foreword it’s stated, “Wild Abundance is a salute to the best of the sporting South and celebrates the unique cultures of hunting clubs, avid outdoorsmen, conservationists and hunters embracing a blend of camaraderie steeped in devotion to the land and wildlife, as well as the desire to share it all with family, friends, and future generations.”

Edible Landscaping: Now You Can Have Your Gorgeous Garden and Eat it Too!
by Rosalind Creasy (Sierra Club)
As gardeners and even regular people move toward growing their own food, this incredibly unique and helpful book gives advice on the how, when and where of the challenge, whether it be met in the amended soil of backyards or in carefully controlled containers lush with edible crops. The captivating photographs of the selected food groups give readers examples of which crops work best for the backyard, and the chapters on evolution of landscaping, laying the ground work, design basics, designing with herbs and vegetables or fruits, berries and nuts, provide needed help and advice. For each edible food group, the author gives the growing zone chart, the effort scale, how to purchase and grow and how to use in the landscape and later in the kitchen.

The Tiger’s Wife by Tea Obreht (Random House)
Set in the war ravaged Balkans, this superior debut novel explores the relationship between a physician granddaughter and her cherished grandfather. Archetypical elements of wild beasts, particularly a special tiger that escaped from a zoo during war times, a deathless man and numerous gravesites ignite a story that continues to evolve. Random twists and turns keep the reader involved and on his guard about which myths are true, which are embellished and which are simply nothing but rumor. A history of the people of the region, the extreme poverty, and courageous hope swirl throughout this premiere novel. Selected by The New Yorker for its 2009 fiction issue, the short excerpt from this captivating novel, launched Tea Obreht, who was born in Belgrade but immigrated to the United States as a 12-year-old, into the spotlight where she will probably remain for some time.

Charlie on Safari written and illustrated by Margaret Gratz (Four Colour Imports)
Written to encourage children to explore their own backyards that are filled with wildlife and insects and flowers, this beautifully illustrated book gives its own ideas on how to go on a safari while staying at home. For parents and grandparents who want to encourage a child’s inborn interest in nature, the story of Charlie, his sister Lucy and their dog BowWow as they roam their backyard, provides the backdrop to tweak their interest in nature, especially appropriate in the 21st century when children are playing outside less and less. The delightful, delicate and whimsical watercolors used to illustrate this child’s story, set this book apart from commercially illustrated children’s books. Adult readers will recognize the author and illustrator, Margaret Gratz, the “Earth Lady” from her previous publications Wildflower Watch and At Home in the Earth Lady’s Garden, as well as from her gardening column in the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal.

The Distant Hours BY KATE MORGAN (Random House)
Following on the success of last year’s The Forgotten Garden, Kate Morgan has once again crafted a compelling and mesmerizing tale set in the London countryside in an old historic castle occupied by three aging spinsters. The contemporary main character finds herself at the castle by chance after a wrong turn, and realizes that this castle is where her own mother lived at age 12 when she was sent out of London during the WWII bombing raids. However, her mother has never wanted to talk about it much, so Alice is determined to find some answers. As the novel progresses, more secrets unravel about the castle and the spinsters’ father who was the famous author of the scary English fairytale titled “The True History of the Mud Man.” For a mysterious and romantic and all consuming read, the 670 page beautiful novel The Distant Hours is worth every hour spent during a long cold winter’s weekend on a sofa curled before a warm fire.

Dinner at the Mansion
BY ELISE WINTER WITH FRANK E. SMITH (Yoknapatawpha Press)
In this prized second edition of Dinner at the Mansion, first published in 1982, Elise Winter, whose husband William Winter was governor of Mississippi from 1980-1984, gives a delightful detailed account of the “Mansion Guests” program which brought together national and international persons of interest with various Mississippians. By using her diary of events and the transcripts of the informal speeches, Elise Winter has interestingly described her role as hostess of the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion. Some of the renowned guests of these famous dinners include many of Mississippi’s notable writers, including: Eudora Welty, Willie Morris, Margaret Walker Alexander and Walker Percy. Other noted guests included opera singer Leontyne Price and “Miss Lillian” Carter, who was Jimmy Carter’s mother. Photographs depicting the Governor and his wife with the notable guests add interest and familiarity. The late Frank E. Smith coauthored the book with Elise Winter.

Oh! That Reminds Me: More Mississippi
Homegrown Stories with Walt Grayson
(The Donning Company Publishers)
In the preface of Walt Grayson’s new “look around” book, Governor Haley Barbour writes that this new book, the fourth in a series of the author’s recollections, is “one part travel guide and one part history lesson. There is so much awesome beauty throughout the state, and Walt’s words and the photographs paint the picture of Mississippi and her residents.” The cover photograph of the famous Port Gibson church steeple with a gold hand pointing heavenward, whets the reader’s interest immediately and makes him wonder what new finds the author will present this time around. From a native bluebird’s outstretched wings to blazing sunsets to a cotton field flanked by an old log cabin, the awesome photographs and propelling descriptive passages written by the author never fail to make the reader feel right at home in Mississippi while also yielding a nostalgic, warm recollection of the past.

Lost Mansions of Mississippi BY MARY CAROL MILLER
(University Press of Mississippi)
In this second volume of Mary Carol Miller’s intensive look at Mississippi’s lost mansions and landmarks, she uncovers more gems of the state’s architectural past with 27 more vanished antebellum and Victorian mansions. Spanning the state from Natchez to the Gulf Coast to Columbus to the Ole Miss campus among others, this second volume gives an interesting and comprehensive view of the state’s history. Recovered black and white photos, given to Mary Carol Miller by family members and friends, show these mansions in their former glory surrounded by their previous owners and often their pets. While some of the houses were destroyed by Hurricanes Camille and Katrina, others were lost to fire, or even neglect as families died, leaving the house uncared for and left to the elements. The author of four previous books on historical Mississippi homes and landmarks, Miller is highly respected in her field, winning the Non-Fiction Book of the Year Award from the Mississippi Library Association in 1997.


Christmas Memories from Mississippi
edited by Judy H. Tucker and Charline R. McCord, illustrations by Wyatt Waters (University Press of Mississippi)

Editors Judy H. Tucker and Charline R. McCord have once again compiled a delightful collection of stories from some of South’s great writers. Following the previous 2001 collection titled Christmas Stories from Mississippi, a favorite of many Mississippians, this new sampling of stories reflects Christmas traditions both sacred and secular. The colorful holiday cover by artist Wyatt Waters whets the appetite for the reader to settle down with the memories of many Mississippi writers, including Patti Carr Black,Will Campbell, John M. Floyd, Richard Ford, Bishop Duncan Gray III, Mary Ann Mobley, Seetha Srinivasan, Oprah Winfrey, Elise Winter and Steve Yarbrough. The 38 essays share the joys, memories, and reflections of the Christmas season. To adorn one’s heart and spirit, as well as one’s coffee table, this book is a special treat and is a nice companion to the previous publication.

Don’t Quit Your Day Job: Acclaimed Authors and the Day Jobs They Quit
edited by Sonny Brewer (M P Publishing Limited)

Sonny Brewer of Fairhope, Alabama, author of The Widow and the Tree, has compiled quite a remarkable collection of essays by many highly recognized, current Southern authors. In these essays, noted authors tell stories of what they did before they became successful novelists, short story writers and essayists. Some of those jobs include: pizza deliverer, railroad worker, carpenter, soldier, mail deliverer, and even underwear salesman. Readers will love the opening featured essay by Jacksonian author Howard Bahr and will relish writings by other famous Southern writers including Rick Bragg, Larry Brown, Tom Franklin, Tim Gautreaux, William Gay, Joshilyn Jackson, Brad Watson, and Steve Yarbrough, among others. Other greats included in this notable collection are Winston Groom, John Grisham, and Pat Conroy. This interesting and unique book will satisfy many curious readers.

Bull Cyclone Sullivan and the Lions of Scooba, Mississippi by X. M. Frascogna, Jr., X. M. Frascogna, III, and Martin Frank Frascogna (Mississippi Sports Council)

The April 3, 1984 cover of Sports Illustrated featured a photo of an old, black leather football helmet with a white skull and crossbones painted on it. The cover article was “Toughest Coach There Ever Was.” Who was it? None other than Bull Cyclone Sullivan, the head football coach of East Mississippi Community College. The president of the college, Dr. Rick Young said, “At places like EMCC, a football field is more than 100 yards of carefully tended grass...young men learn teamwork, responsibility, and leadership, self-reliance and pride. Bull Sullivan taught all those lessons well, and his players never forgot them—or him.” The authors have included 1940s,‘50s, and ‘60s photos of Bull Cyclone Sullivan both on the field and off to combine with multiple heroic stories about this superior coach.

By Nightfall by Michael Cunningham (Farrar, Straus and Giroux)

Readers who loved Michael Cunningham’s Pulitzer Prize winning novel The Hours (2000) will be thrilled to read his new novel By Nightfall. Set in New York’s SoHo district, the story follows the lives of Peter and Rebecca Harris, who are in their mid forties, both immersed in their careers of art dealer and editor, respectively. In their nearly perfect loft-dwelling existence, the Harrises have lived a rather boring life until the entrance of Ethan, the brother once called “Mizzy,” short for “mistake” who throws off the delicate balance. This short novel expands on the nature of contemporary wealthy city life, its characteristic problems and dilemmas, and the role of love.