A Considered Booklist for Fall

When the weather begins to cool a bit and it’s clear we’ve made the turn toward fall, I find I’m ready for a change in my book stack. I long for good fiction and compelling nonfiction, stories of adventure and stories of family, maybe a cozy mystery here and there, or a new book of earthy poems. Autumn makes me nostalgic for the past, for things that stir the senses. The dampness of early mornings when the world is blanketed in fog. The crisp bite of a just-picked apple. The smell of burning leaves. The coziness of sock-clad feet and warm sweaters. Similarly, I want the words I read to stir my senses, to stir my soul. With this in mind, I want to share with you a list of my favorite fall reads. Some of these are books I read year after year in the autumn. Others are more recent reads. Some are classics, some are children’s stories. All of them are books I have found deeply satisfying in autumn, especially when read from a cozy spot on the couch with a cup of something hot nearby. If you are looking for a good fall read, a book that will warm you as the days grow shorter and the earth prepares for its long sleep, I hope you’ll find something here.

The Blue Castle by L. M. Montgomery – This is one of Montgomery’s (of Anne of Green Gables fame) lesser-known novels, but it is one of my favorites. The inspiring and romantic adventures of old maid Valancy Stirling, who casts aside propriety and leaves behind her miserable life and stodgy family because of a shocking medical diagnosis, is a story of courage and hope. Also: A Tangled Web, another lesser-known Montgomery book, but one with lots of satisfying family drama.

September by Rosamunde Pilcher – In this heartwarming story of two families bound together by friendship, community, love, and secrets, I found characters I couldn’t forget and an author who would fast become a favorite. Set in the highlands of Scotland with a young girl’s coming-of-age ball as the catalyst, a reunion decades overdue brings forth tensions and trials, the outcomes of which no one can predict until the final few pages. Also: Coming Home.

Caroline by Sarah Miller – Dubbed “Little House for Adults,” this retelling of the second book in Laura Ingalls Wilder’s revered series takes us back to the tiny Wisconsin log cabin, the journey to Kansas by covered wagon, and the cabin in Indian Territory, this time from Ma’s perspective. Beautifully detailed, Sarah Miller gives us the workings of Ma’s inner life in rich language. If you have always felt yourself more “Mary” or more “Laura,” you may be in for a surprise. I came away from this book feeling more connected with and understanding of Ma than I imagined possible.

The Knitting Circle by Ann Hood – A story of grief, healing, hope, and the power of friendship, this rather serious piece of “knit lit” touched a chord in me. I wasn’t expecting such deep themes handled with such care, and in this way, The Knitting Circle stands alone in the knit lit category. Also: The Book that Matters Most.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows – Autumn wouldn’t be complete without a good World War II novel, not to mention an epistolary. The recent film adaptation did not disappoint, but as always, the book is better.

Persuasion by Jane Austen – This is my “Autumn Austen” and, I believe, the most underappreciated of her novels. The sweetly redeeming story of a pair of lovers separated by pride then reunited against all odds is deeply satisfying.

The Collected Poems of William Wordsworth – I try to read a poem every day, and Wordsworth’s word landscapes are my first choice in autumn. His poetry makes me want to drive far out in the country on a blue-skied day and hike some trails, leaves crackling underfoot and birdsong in my ears.

Comfort Me with Apples by Ruth Reichl – I love a good food memoir, and Reichl’s are some of the best. This is her second of three, and I think it has the coziest feel. Also: My Kitchen Year, which is a bona fide cookbook, but with plenty of memoir elements and a particularly autumnal air.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J. K. Rowling – I always want to reread Harry Potter in the fall. Maybe it’s because I first read it at this time of year, the year the first three books released in the States, or maybe it’s because it opens at the beginning of an unexpected school year adventure. Whatever the reason, fall finds me longing to visit Harry’s first year at Hogwarts all over again. If you’re an HP fan already, consider pulling this one from the shelf for a reread. If you’re one of the few people who has been holding out for twenty years, maybe it’s time you gave it a try. Millions of readers can’t be wrong, after all.

The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith – I always have the latest paperback release in this series stashed for fall. The foibles of Mma Ramotswe and her contemporaries at the detective agency and at Speedy Motors, the mechanic shop owned by Mma’s husband, are the perfect combination of humor and cozy mystery. Plus, the heat of the Botswana sun practically emanates from the pages, the perfect antidote for a damp, chilly fall day.

The Great Divorce by C. S. Lewis – I first encountered this compelling allegorical tale of a busload of people en route to heaven from hell when my church asked me to be part of an ensemble performing various scenes from the story. The plight of the passengers and their inner struggles as they face a decision with eternal consequences inspires the kind of self-reflection that goes well with the turn of the year, when Advent is just around the corner. Also: If you’d rather pick up one of Lewis’ renowned Narnia books, I tend to enjoy The Voyage of the Dawn Treader at this time of year. I save The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe for Advent reading.

The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien – In my mind, this is the ultimate fall read. Frodo’s autumnal exodus from The Shire as he sets out with the One Ring is a journey I have taken over and over. My imagination never tires of Middle-earth. Add a mug of good ale, a bowl of shepherd’s pie, and a crackling fire, and you’ll be all set.

Happy fall reading, friends. I’d love to know what’s on your booklist this autumn–leave a comment and tell me your picks!