Sunday, September 12, 2010

Sunday Salon- Falling for Fall


It may not be fall officially but let's face it- summer's over here in New England.

Jeff and I tried to go blueberry picking last weekend and ended up with a big bag of apples instead, the coffeeshops and bookstores of Harvard Square are filled with students and it's just a little too cool out for shorts. And, yesterday I had my last ice cream of the summer season.

But you know what? It's okay, because as much as I love summer, fall is my favorite time of year. I love the food of fall- apples in all its forms (cider, cider donuts, apple pie, candied apples) and more. Fairs, falling leaves, those last few warm sunny days before winter and the first day you need a sweater are all reasons to love fall.

And, of course, fall reading! The next few months are so packed with great reads I already know I won't get to them all, but that won't stop me from trying. On my shelf now are books like Russian Winter, A Novel Bookstore, A Curable Romantic, Our Kind of Traitor, Home, and more; and then there are the books I want that aren't on my shelf- yet. Chief among those is The Bells, by Richard Harvell, which I'm planning on buying bright and early Tuesday when it comes out. I take an early strength class at the gym Tuesday mornings and I can hit the bookstore on my way over.

Today I'm reading Misadventure, Millard Kaufman's second and final published novel, a kind of California noir about a real estate agent mixed up in a very messy domestic dispute, and of course, The Tiger, John Vaillant's amazing true story about the hunt for a man-eating Amur tiger in the wilds of eastern Russia. One's light, one's serious; it's a good mix. When I'm done here I think I'm headed straight for Howard Jacobson's The Finkler Question, then I'll pick a review book out of the pile and knock it off.

I have to say, I was very disappointed with some of the big-name spring and summer books; Gary Shteyngart's Super Sad True Love Story just left me cold and even China Mieville's Kraken failed to keep me interested. A few people I know who read the Mieville felt the same way but the Shteyngart got so many glowing reviews I feel like it's probably just me, but still. But so far the fall books I've read have been much better- let's hope that continues!

How have you been feeling about your fall reading so far?

More Sunday Salon here.

14 comments:

rhapsodyinbooks said...

I love fall also! We don't get much of it in the desert, but we try to travel so we get a taste. And one can always buy pumpkin chocolate chip muffins and pretend.

My reading has been mixed lately too. I finished Kaaterskill Falls and wasn't thrilled with it, but liked it more by the end than I did in the beginning. Read the ARC Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin and loved it. Read the ARC The Wake of Forgiveness by Bruce Machart but still don't know how I feel about it! And I'm feeling like I need to reread Cutting for Stone - I've forgotten too much!

gautami tripathy said...

We are having a long monsoon. It rains and rains. I am not going out but not reading either. I watch TV and blog! Too bad..

Here is my Sunday Salon post!

JoAnn said...

Fall is my favorite season, too! Reading time has been minimal the last couple of weeks, but I'm loving Cutting for Stone and participating in the Bleak House read-along... hoping to get caught up this week.

bermudaonion said...

Except for the shorter days and cooler nights, it still feels like summer down here. Our neighborhood pool is still open and people are still swimming. I love summer and hate to see it end. There are lots of great books to look forward to though.

Booksnyc said...

Fall is my favorite season too - especially in the Northeast! Hard to imagine it will soon be time to begin tracking fall foliage.

Anonymous said...

I absolutely love fall too! I am ready to go apple picking.

Audrey said...

I'm putting The Novel Bookstore on my list, too! It is nice this time of year, isn't it?

Lisa C. Hayden said...

I'm also a huge fan of fall, though it came pretty suddenly -- today! -- here in Maine. I just posted about Mossimo Carlotto's Bandit Love, which I enjoyed quite a bit and would recommend to readers who like noir, Mediterranean or otherwise.

Zibilee said...

I love fall as well, but living here in Florida, it will be a couple more months before we start to feel even a little crispness in the air. Right now it's 95, with the humidity making it feel more like 105! I am also expecting to receive my copy of The Tiger in the mail shortly, and I am ridiculously excited about it! I can't wait to hear what you think about Home. Definitely one of my favorites. I have been hearing amazing things about The Bells and will be anxious to see your review! I hope you have a wonderful week!

Laurel-Rain Snow said...

I absolutely adore fall, and like you, the fall "foods" and "reads" are my favorite things.

I've heard about The Bells...only good things. Must check it out.

Here's my salon:

http://accidentalmoments.wordpress.com/2010/09/12/the-sunday-salon-sept-12/

Michelle said...

You are the second person to mention The Bells today. I definitely need to check it out!

I love fall too. Bring on the cider donuts and pumpkin muffins!!

Tasha said...

At first glance, I read "apples in all its forms" as "apples in all its worms." Either way...

Anonymous said...

I love fall, and it is my favorite season, also.

I have the Shtyengart book, and am curious about it.

Anonymous said...

Fall is my favorite too. When I read donuts I decided that is a must for today :)