I’m currently struggling through a book I’m not thrilled with (it’s not quite to the ‘didn’t finish’ stage—I’m too far in), so I thought I would think positively and look toward the future: the books I want to read this fall.
In my world, fall begins September 1st, though in everyone else’s it’s typically at the equinox (September 23rd, folks). I have pumpkin spice wax cubes in the Scentsy dish, cinnamon-apple Glade cones in every corner, and have sipped my first Pumpkin Spice Latte. Once the temperatures drop below 75, my scarves, boots, and leggings are ready to be wiggled into.
My favorite fall activity is sitting in a cozy coffee shop, reading a book. With that in mind, here are my eight ‘to-read’ choices for this fall:
1. Wild by Cheryl Strayed
People seem pretty 50/50 on this book—some are inspired by Cheryl, and others are annoyed by her. I enjoyed Eat, Pray, Love, so I might enjoy this book.
Partial Goodreads summary: A powerful, blazingly honest memoir: the story of an eleven-hundred-mile solo hike that broke down a young woman reeling from catastrophe—and built her back up again.
To me, fall is very much a ‘self discovery’ period, where I get back in touch with myself and where I’m going. This will fit into that theme.
2. Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
Kiesha read The Husband’s Secret and loved it, and I think this one looks intriguing as well. The reviews it has received so far seem pretty positive and highly rated, so I’m excited to check it out.
Partial summary from Goodreads: Sometimes it’s the little lies that turn out to be the most lethal. . . .
A murder… . . . a tragic accident… . . . or just parents behaving badly?
What’s indisputable is that someone is dead. But who did what?
3. Nearlyweds by Beth Kendrick
As a newlywed, I think the plot sounds interesting—and totally fluffy. It’s about three newlyweds who discover that their marriage paperwork was never filed, meaning for the past year, they weren’t legally married. Do they stay in their marriage? Do they skip the messy divorce part and go? They say the first year of marriage is the most difficult.
I don’t have high hopes for this book, but it might be a nice break from the other “heavy” books I’ve chosen.
4. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Someone from work recommended this book to me, and since then, I’ve heard tons of good things about it. I understand that there is a sexual/domestic violence to the book, which I don’t think will bother me too much as long as I view it in the historical context that it’s written in.
Outlander is about a former combat nurse who is hurled back in time to 1743, leaving the life she knows behind.
It’s been on my Nook for awhile, so this might be the next book I tackle.
5. The Deep End of the Sea by Heather Lyons
Summary from Goodreads: Brutally attacked by one god and unfairly cursed by another she faithfully served, Medusa has spent the last two thousand years living out her punishment on an enchanted isle in the Aegean Sea. A far cry from the monster legends depict, she’s spent her time educating herself, gardening, and desperately trying to frighten away adventure seekers who occasionally end up, much to her dismay, as statues when they manage to catch her off guard.
I love the concept of a fairy tale/myth flipped around, and this sounds fabulous. Hermes, one of Medusa’s few friends, shows up unexpectedly and petitions the rest of the gods and goddesses to break the curse. “Thus begins a journey toward healing and redemption, of reclaiming a life after tragedy, and of just how powerful friendship and love can be—because sometimes, you have to sink in the deep end of the sea before you can rise back up again.” Sounds fantastic to me!
6. Friendship by Emily Gould
It’s been a while since I’ve read a good book that is centered around friendship, and I think that Friendship (you think?!) may be the ticket.
Bev and Amy have been friends forever—they’re now thirty and at a crossroads. Bev is pregnant, drowning in student loan debt, living with roommates, etc. Amy is cruising through live on her luck and charm. Both are realizing it’s time to grow up, even if that means growing apart.
7. (Finish) Columbine by Dave Cullen
I started this book months ago, and I’m having a hard time finishing it. Partly because I’m getting distracted by fiction, and partly because it’s a difficult book to read. It’s very…psychotic. It provides an intense look into one of the most famous school shootings in the United States: the Columbine shooting.
Cullen is a fantastic writer, and his writing style alone makes this book an amazing read. It’s a book that took ten years to write, and provides an all-around view of what happened on April 20, 1999.
8. Cross Bones (Temperance Brennan #8) by Kathy Reichs
I absolutely love this series. I enjoy Reichs’ writing style, and I love the character development and forensic science in the books. It’s a night and day difference between the show—in fact, it doesn’t even feel the same! The only similarity between the two is the main character’s name and occupation.
I’ve been reading this series for the last year at my mother-in-law’s recommendation, and I haven’t been disappointed. Some books are more exciting and gripping than others, and #7 turned me off for a little while. I like to spread these books out between other books I’m reading, rather than read one after another.
I have until November 1st to finish this list—NaNoWriMo is in November, and I’ll be beating away at my keyboard to reach 50,000 words. Any recommendations? Leave them in the comments!
lifebetweenreads.com 