#jessegraves

Pleased to receive the Tenth Anniversary Expanded Edition of Jesse Graves’s first book “Tennessee Landscape with Plighted Pine.” I can remember finding a copy of this in a bookstore before I knew much about local, or even regional, literature and it came as a revelation to me that there might be a living poet who talked about the places around me, let alone someone who addressed contemporary concerns. I’ve since had my eyes opened to the huge amount of literature in the region, but seeing “Blighted Pine” in the title came as a surprise to me back then. This expanded edition comes with comments from a host of fine authors, such as Robert Morgan, Rita Sims Quillen, Fred Chappell, Jeff Daniel Marion, and Ron Rash. The edition also has an intro by Matthew Wimberly (@blueridgepoet). Fine new book from @texasreviewpress and I’m looking forward to the 12 new poems. Poem is “Most Distant Antiquity.” . . . . #jessegraves #tennesselansscapewithightedpine #ritasimsquillen #ronrash #robertmorgan #fredchappell #rarebooks #firstedition #bookcollection #bookcollecting #bookcollection #bibliophile #bookporn #bookhunting #bookstagram #modernfirsts #modernfirsteditions #finebooks #signedbooks #southernliterature #southernlit #tennessee #appalachianlit #appalachianliterature #kentucky #northcarolina #virginia #westvirginia #appalachianpoetry #tennessee https://www.instagram.com/p/CdPbMzrsGAD/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Katherine and I have a had a wonder honeymoon in the Virgin Islands over the last couple weeks! Lots of reading and sunshine and beaches. Here was my reading stack and I’m kinda suprised that I finished all except the William Stafford book. Breece Pancake is always amazing, just as powerful as my first reading. It occurred to me that most of his works occur between two traumas, with the first leading to the second. I highly recommend him. This was my first reading of ‘Deliverance’ by James Dickey. I’m not sure I expected it to be a coming of age type book. The Robert Morgan book didn’t disappoint either, though I think ‘Land Diving’ or ‘Groundwork’ remain my favorites. I think Emma Bell Miles book ‘The Spirit of the Mountains’ was my favorite on this trip. Excellent writing and genuine descriptions of mountain people at the turn of the last century. It doesn’t rely on stereotypes so much as gives honest opinions. This work is something of a treasure. ‘Specter Mountain’ by Graves and Wright only gets better on subsequent readings. Then the seashell book and the climbing guide! We bouldered on Virgin Gorda for a week, but found almost no shells. . . . . . . . #jamesdickey #breecedjpancake #emmabellmiles #robertmorgan #jessegraves #williamwright #williamstafford #deliverance #thestoriesofbreecedjpancake #thespiritofthemountains #eventhequietplaces #spectermountain #darkenergy #rarebooks #firstedition #bookcollection #bookcollecting #bookcollection #bibliophile #bookporn #bookhunting #bookstagram #modernfirsts #modernfirsteditions #finebooks #signedbooks #shelfie #southernliterature #southernlit #tennessee #appalachianlit #appalachianliterature #kentucky #northcarolina #virginia #westvirginia #southcarolina https://www.instagram.com/p/BzWAF_Lp26s/?igshid=1o8s564047t5h

A few more from the Appalachian Studies Association Conference: Ann Pancake, Ron Rash, Lee Smith, Wiley Cash, Scott Honeycutt, Robert Gipe, Jesse Graves, and more. Had a good time and already looking forward to Lexington next year. . . . . #leesmith #ronrash #jessegraves #robertgipe #annpancake #wileycash #appalachianstudies #appalachianstudiesassociation #appalachianstudiesconference #asheville #appalachianpoetry #appalachianliterature #appalachianlit (at Asheville, North Carolina) https://www.instagram.com/p/BvIIQDsANbB/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=yfga05uasn48

It is rare to find a book of poetry that 1. Is written about a single mountain, and 2. Coauthored. Jesse Graves and William Wright are each excellent poets in their own right, but in Specter Mountain they have blended their voices together and created an excellent whole. I find it difficult to understand how to write poetry with someone else, and hopefully this will give some insight. Graves said that even his own mother couldn’t tell who had written what! Signed to me, first edition, Fine condition. . . . . . #williamwright #jessegraves #spectermountain #poetry #southernpoetry #appalachianpoetry #appalachianlit #tennessee #georgia #etsu #emoryuniversity #firstedition #rarebooks #americanpoetry #poetry #bookporn #bookstagram #bookcollector #bookcollection #bookcollecting https://www.instagram.com/p/BpKKvxLhLd4/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=7uiypx9fpdfd