Calling All Seasonal Readers
Are you more likely to pick shorter, easy-read, happy-ending books in the summer and tuck into books with heavier topics or longer in length in the fall and winter?
Many of us gravitate toward a cozy mystery or love story or a book with lighter themes during the summer. Is that what makes a good beach read? Something you can enjoy without too much thought while you dangle your feet in the water or bury your toes in the sand or sit next to the campfire?
How about for fall - are you ready to dive into something different? I read previews for a few books that have made it onto my fall/winter TBR - are any of them on your radar?
This intrigues me. Following her award winning Bluebird, Bluebird, the story of black Texas Ranger Mathews continues. He sounds like a flawed character but one who believes in the good his job can do. "...a nuanced, moody, and artful tale, centered on a flawed yet utterly real hero whose actions often aren't heroic." I'm sold! (published 9/19)
A book of twins who share a love of grammar. This love takes them on different career paths - a grammar columnist and a teacher who becomes a poet. Their twinship devolves over the acquisition of a family heirloom: a dictionary. Seattle Times reviewer Moira Macdonald says, "What makes it delicious is its playfulness with language: ....the young twins figuring out what words they liked best; the sparkle of conversations." Goodreads says "a dazzling comedy of sisterly and linguistic manners." Doesn't that sound interesting? (published 11/19 - a winter read?)
Described as a "roller coaster" of a legal thriller, I've seen this on IG and GR so checked it out. It's about an 18 year old girl accused of murder and how her parents, a pastor and lawyer, react. Divided into three sections, one for each of the main characters. This is what made me add it to my TBR: "Edvardsson tells much of the story through dialog: short, punchy talk, the kind you can imagine actors tossing at each other." I'm in - that's just my kind of book. (published 6/19) **Read 9/21; 3.5 stars
A young, ordinary teenage girl tells a lie - and it has huge consequences. Reviews praise the prose, the writing style, but there are some criticisms about the specific lie told in the current 'me too' era. The book delves into truth, lies, and guilt. Sounds like a possible book club selection? (published 9/19) I wonder how it will compare to Beartown by Backman with a similar theme and accusation.
Of course Stephen King would come out with a spooky fall book. I've read plenty of good reviews about this one - returning to the theme of kids fighting evil, the Institute is a place where stolen kids who have 'special' paranormal talents are taken with the intent of forcibly removing said talent. It's a brutal environment and one little boy wants to escape. A long time King fan, I'm looking forward to this one! (pub 9/19) **ED: Reviewed here
Do any of these make your TBR list longer? What else is on your radar for fall reading?