Fall for Reading
Books to read this Fall, plus how I deal with a reading slump.
Looking for a new fall book? I heard amazing things about these new releases:
From the stunning writer Maggie O’Farrell. Hamnet is a family saga dealing with marriage and grief during the Black Death. Oh, and Hamnet is the child of Agnes and her famous playwright husband. Readers are giving this book a ton of LOVE.
Transcendent Kingdom, Yaa Gyasi’s 2nd book is getting rave reviews by readers I trust. A Guyanese family in Alabama deals with family decisions, faith, mental health, and addiction.
When No One is Watching is a thriller set in a Brooklyn neighborhood experiencing gentrification and possibly something darker. Described as “Rear Window meets Get Out,” Cole takes on issues of race, class inequity, social injustice, and predatory housing practices while weaving a wicked web. This is a new release in paperback which means it is a bargain.
All The Devils are Here. Louise Penny moves her beloved Gamache series to Paris! Who doesn’t need a trip to Paris at this point. (for those unaware, this is her 16th book in this beloved series; Mystery at its best!)
Check out these amazing bookish photographs by Elizabeth Sagen on My Modern Met:
You can also follow her in instagram!
Caught in a Reading Slump
Well, it finally happened. I hit a book slump recently. I have been keeping a relentless reading pace this year, even the pandemic, an unexpected move, and a new job had not slowed me down. Up untill now, I have been averaging about 8 books a month where in prior years I averaged 5-6 books. Recently I realized that both my fiction and non-fiction current reads were meh. One is a writing book (which I normally love), but this one seems more chore than joy. The second book I have been wanting to read for ages and purchased on my trip to the Delaware Shore this summer. Forking over money for a physical copy is pretty rare for me, so I have been stubbornly engaging in this book for way too long. Once I realized that my reading life had gone off track, I new I needed to make a change. As I write this, I am still deciding whether to finish either of those books… but here is what I realized – I love reading and if I am not enjoying the books on my nightstand, it is time for a new book. So I read Dear Edward, which has been dormant on my Kindle for a while. From page one, I was hooked.
Here is what got me out of my slump:
Cover Art
Is anyone else fascinated by book cover art? Do you ever pick books based on the cover? This article in the Washington Post about trends in book covers was awesome.
Recent Reads
Vanishing Half is the 2nd novel for the supremely talented Brit Bennet. Here she takes on issues of family dynamics and race. It is the story of twins who choose to live different lives and what that costs them. It is also the story of their daughters and how the mothers’ choices impact them. A beautifully written story with complex but empathetic characters, it would make a great book club pick.
Meet Me at the Museum - This epistolary novel (told through letters) follows the budding friendship of Tina and Landers. She is in Yorkshire, England and he lives in Denmark. Both well into middle age, they build their relationship by slowly revealing more and more intimate details of their lives - about marriage, children, every day joys, griefs, and regrets. This is a quiet book that is beautifully written and still has enough plot to keep the pages turning.
Mexican Gothic is a new best seller that has already been optioned for a Hulu series. It is categorized under horror but I think “horror” is too strong of a word for what is essentially a domestic suspense novel with paranormal activity. I listened to this and think the audio is excellent. Though hauntingly atmospheric, I found it a bit slow. By the time I got to the big reveal, it didn’t really wow me. I think a better version of a similar tale (loosely) is The Winters (a retelling of the classic Daphne De Mur book). But overall, if you want something atmospheric, this would be a great fall read.
Reader Questions:
As I plan the next few newsletters, I would love to know if you are interested in a mystery or self-help deep dive?
Also I plan to make gift suggestions in November. If you have anyone you are buying books for and would like me to make a recommendation, please comment and let me know.
Thanks so much for sticking to the end. I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoy writing it.