Mississippi John Hurt’s soft and articulate blues is always reliable for pleasant listening. His finger-picking style seems effortless, delivered in his typically relaxed manner. His music has a plain spoken nature, which I think truly represents Mississippi John as he lived mostly in obscurity. His success came late in life, as his music feels as if he is playing his music for himself, a pure musician.

Around 40 years ago, my pals Peggy and Charlie started me listening to Mississippi John. Thus, I never saw him perform live. I never grow tired of his unique sound, especially my favorites “Candy Man” and his immortal version of “Stagolee”–That Bad Man.

In contrast, John Hurt as a blues singer presents the most gentle and genial image in his music and photographs of him. Dick Waterman, who is also featured in Mississippians, has taken marvelous photos of John.

For me, John Hurt is a Blues Buddha.

If you had the pleasure of seeing John perform, please share with us when and where and any special memory about his music. If like me, all you have is listening to his recordings, please relay your favorites.

In honor of John, we have an original Kruse portrait of this music saint. It’s our association with his presence in our reading & music space.

Cruze art is available for sale at the fine Cat Head store in Clarksdale.

Click here to see all of “Lemuria Reads Mississippians.”

Mississippians is available now! Purchase a copy online or call the bookstore 601/800.366.7619.

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Black Swan Green by David Mitchell

Though there’s been so much David Mitchell Love at Lemuria over the past few months I’ve just now ventured to read him. After listening to the relative merits of each of his books — I’m pretty sure between the two, Susie and John P., they’ve read them all — I chose carefully with which novel I would begin to develop my reading relationship with Mr. Mitchell. I picked Black Swan Green because the narrator, a thirteen year old boy with a stammer, won my heart just hearing about him. Mitchell is a master at capturing the mood of adolescence and this book is just plain delightful to read.

Through the Language Glass by Guy Deutscher

My nerd love of language prompted me to pick Deutscher’s first book up, The Unfolding of Language, a few years ago. Deutscher is decidedly not in the camp with linguists like Noam Chomsky who believe grammar is an innate skill, and in this book he presents an argument for the evolution of all languages from a proto-european ancestor language.

In his new book, Deutscher quibbles with the general consensus again, this time presenting evidence that language can affect culture. The cocktail conversation that you hear about this theory, that the French are lovers because of their language for example, he rightly calls silly. But he does present a good argument for subtle ways that our language affects the way we perceive our world.

What is there to say about the event last night with Neil White? Only that we are all looking forward to the next one.

Neil shared with us some of the most interesting discoveries he made as he received nominations and suggestions all the across the state. And the discoveries of truly one-of-a-kind people will continue. He has already received new nominations that will astound. These additions will appear in the forthcoming editions. So do you see what a great on-going project this is for Mississippi?

Nominations can be submitted through the Mississippians Website.

We were joined by “Mississippians” John Maxwell, Howard Bahr and William Goodman. Keep your eyes open for the next event date and mark your calendars! We should also have a longer guest list of “Mississippians” and time for visiting and book signing. It will be another fun night!

I’m often promoting the short story. I tell people, life is busy and stressful – I put two kids to bed, read bed time stories, and am exhausted, but it helps so much to have one complete reading experience at the end of the day. I can’t sit down and read War and Peace so I read a short story. You read one really great short story and it’s like, ahh… I’ve at least been able to reach some level of reading enjoyment today. The same can be said for novella’s or the short novel. This past weekend Wendy had a sinus infection. I had to do everything for both kids – clothed, bathed, entertained (actually we skipped baths) So I didn’t have much time on my hands. (gee, being a mom must be tough) But Philip Roth’s new novel Nemesis is a short one. I came away from the weekend feeling like I’d had a pretty balanced time – played with the kids and read Nemesis in its entirety.
For the third straight year Roth has released a little book. This one is set in Newark, NJ where either most or all (not sure) of Roth’s novels are set. It’s WW2 and there is a polio outbreak in Newark. Bucky is a young teacher and is the director of the playground. When “his boys” start to become ill Bucky questions himself. Did he do everything he could to protect the boys? He even wonders if he is the carrier.
I’m always questioning why I enjoy reading so much – is it because of a general interest and curiosity about myself and other folks? This is a very human novel. Full of the thoughts, feelings, and pain of a young man. Bucky eventually turns into a very dark and cynical man – oddly enough this brings the reader to a point of questioning, “would I have thought the same way” “would I have reacted diffently” “why?”
Good book – happy reading.

Maybe you’ve had time to peruse Neil White’s Mississippians. It’s a great conversation piece. Maybe you’ve wondered at the individuals you’ve never heard of. Maybe you’ve wondered why a particular person was not included in the publication.

It could be because Neil views Mississippians as an on-going project; categories will be added and existing ones may be expanded. I think this make sense as there will always be new contributing and innovative individuals. These forthcoming editions will reflect growth and the dynamic nature our state.

As you share Mississippians with your family and friends, keep your ideas in mind. Add your ideas in the comment section below or keep your eye on our blog for future opportunities to share your ideas with Neil.

Tonight Neil will be signing and talking to us about how he put the book together. Come on over for a relaxing evening!

Click here to see other profiles in Mississippians.

Editor Neil White will be signing Mississippians at Lemuria today at 5:00. If you cannot be here, copies are available for purchase online or call the bookstore 601/800.366.7619.

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