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Issue 57, Summer 2007

Best of the South Vol. II

“When did novelists, essayists, and poets come to the belief that everyone would be mesmerized, enchanted, and enthralled with having to look at their tortured selves staring blankly at the ceiling tiles?” — George Singleton, “The Daily Grind”

Odes by Ron Rash, Annie Wedekind, Jeff Baker, Brock Clarke, Bret Anthony Johnston, and more. Art by Henryk Fantazos. Fiction by Michael Gillis and Hannah Pittard. Poetry by Kevin Young and Jennifer Malesich.

Other contributors include David Gessner, George Singletom, Beth Ann Fennelly, Jack Pendarvis, and others.

Columns & Departments

Guest Editor's Box
ODE TO THE THEME ISSUE ISSUE ISSUE
by Jack Pendarvis

Gone Off Up North
HOT PIG! HOT POSSUM!
by Roy Blount, Jr.

Local Fare
MULLET HOLIDAY
by John T. Edge

Meditation
EATING MY HEART OUT
by Beth Ann Fennelly

Argument
MANFOOD
by Andy Selsberg

Poetry
MEMOIR
by Jennifer Malesich

Essay
FANTASTIC VOYAGE
by Tom Chaffin

The Canon
AN AMERICAN CUSS: WILLIAM BRADFORD HUIE
by Devin McKinney

Writing on Writing
THE DREAMER DID NOT EXIST
by David Gessner

Writing on Writing
THE DAILY GRIND
by George Singleton

Writing on Writing
THE APPRENTICE
by S.L. Price

The Canon
PORTRAIT OF THE SPINSTER AS A YOUNG WOMAN
by William Caverlee

After the Storm
NOTES FROM CAMPUS
by Ada Liana Bidiuc

Argument
A STATE OF CONFUSION
by Jason Headley

Dealer's Choice
THE WORST OF THE SOUTH
by Hal Crowther

Southern Scenes
"CARROT WALK"
by Chip Simons

Features

OA Gallery
THE FRESH EYE OF HENRYK FANTAZOS
with an introduction by Jack Gilbert

THE NIGHTCLUB THAT WAS
My experiences in a backwoods nightclub, where most customers wore blue jeans and overalls.
by Hardy Brown Nelems

A JUROR'S NOTES
Testifying in the stop-snitchin' era.
by Madison Smart Bell

Five Poems
ODE TO CHICKEN, I WALK THE LINE, ODE TO KITCHEN GREASE, SOMETHING BORROWED BLUES, and SEE THAT MY GRAVE IS KEPT CLEAN
by Kevin Young

IDIOT WIND
How my life came to fit in a phone booth.
a story by Michael Gills

RABIES DO NOT TALK OF LOVE
We are sisters. But we are not equals.
a story by Hannah Pittard

Second Annual Best of the South Odes

Best Poem Set in a Southern Junkyard
by Ron Rash

Gentle Soul
by Sonny Brewer

Old Haunt
by Annie Wedekind

Special Place
by Michael Powell

Giant Cowboy Boots
by Bret Anthony Johnston

Stoner
by Michael Parker

Sno-Balls
by Donn Cooper

Literary Sequel
by Brock Clarke

Beset Southern Playwright You Haven't Heard of Yet
by Dan Kois

Family History
by Sarah A. Strickley

Exploitation Director
by David Smay

Giant Toads
by Jason Ockert

Fast-Food Biscuit
by Jim Ruland

Catfish House
by Katherine Whitworth

Grandma's Snuff
by Farrell Evans

Endangered Appalachians
by Erik Reece

Founding Brother
by Jeff Baker

Yard Ornaments
by Brad Land