Ten Books for Fall

It is finally sweater weather here in the Northwest. While spring is my new favorite season, I have always loved fall, because for the longest time, fall meant nicer weather (hay fever be gone!), new books, and learning new things.

Being a mood reader, these TBR lists aren’t very useful to me, but here’s some books that would be nice to read over the next few months.

  1. Kokoro by Natsume Soseki. Reading this currently and quite enjoying it. It is an odd, mysterious book—sort of an “OG dark academia” novel about a student’s (probably platonic) obsession with an older man and his (dark) secrets. In Japan, Kokoro is considered an important novel and required reading, so all the more reason to read it!
  2. Regarding the Pain of Others by Susan Sontag. An essay on wartime photography and other media that are consumed by those who are not part of the war and/or live far away from its physical impact. I thought it was time to return to my pacifist reading project, and the library had this one.
  3. Eagles’ Nest by Anna Kavan. Ice was intense, but I found myself wanting to read more by Kavan before moving on. This novel promises to be the most Kafka-like, almost a retelling of The Castle. I noticed the university library has it, so I’m going to ask my brother to check it out for me.
  4. His Last Bow by Arthur Conan Doyle. Cyberkitten and I are slated to read this next month, and I’m looking forward to it! I first ought to finish The Valley of Fear, though. 😛 What this reread has shown me is that I still prefer the Sherlock Holmes short stories over the novels.
  5. Walden by Henry Thoreau. Planning to read this to my boyfriend soon. Neither of us has read Walden before, which is surprising since we both have been in circles where Thoreau’s ideas would be popular. We still plan to finish Till We Have Faces, but right now we need something a bit gentler (I’d forgotten how intense that novel is).
  6. Something by Tarjei Vesaas. Vesaas is supposed to be one of Norway’s greatest authors, but his books seem harder to acquire in the US than, say, Sigrid Undset. I’m hoping to find a copy of The Ice Palace, because I believe in the past I’ve confused it with Ice, so now I’m curious if there is any connection or similarity between the two novels. I also really like books about cold places, as some of you know. 😆
  7. 2 Samuel. Trying to get more diligent with my Bible reading, and I’m currently in 1 Samuel. I should be able to read both parts by the end of autumn… The story of Saul is a sad and complicated tale, but also very interesting.
  8. Something by Tolkien. I have his translation of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, which I hear is a Christmas story. And Rings of Power really makes me want to read the Appendixes to LOTR and The Silmarillion.
  9. Letters to Felice by Kafka. This was a book I set aside without any particular reason. I was thoroughly enjoying it, as much as you can enjoy the letters of a guy who has some serious attachment issues. All that aside, I learned some fun things about Kafka in what I did read in this book, so I ought to finish it.
  10. Permanent Record by Edward Snowden. I am in the process of downsizing, and while I loved this memoir, I probably don’t need to keep it indefinitely. I should reread it, then donate it to a Little Free Library.


17 responses to “Ten Books for Fall”

  1. I read Kokoro in my Japanese History course back in college, but remember very little beyond the basic premise. Thanks for mentioning the Snowden book: I missed that he’d published something new.

    Did you say you’re reading Walden TO someone? That should be interesting. It’s a….fascinating work, a mix of extremely detailed technical details on plot acerage + transcendalist musings. His “I to myself” annontated journal is worth taking on if you get really interested in HDT.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Mm I think this is Snowden’s only book… I read it back when it came out but want to revisit it before letting it go.

      Yes, we’ll see if Walden makes for a good readaloud or not 😀 Certainly it will be more relaxing than Till We Have Faces!

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      1. Oh! That’s right. It was Greenwald that did the other title I was thinking of. I searched my blood and I’ve READ Permanent Record. Oy!

        Eager to hear what you make of Till We Have Faces. That was one of the first ones Lewis collaborated with Joy Davidman on. I haven’t tried it yet!

        Liked by 1 person

        1. I love TWHF, but it’s been so long since I read it, I’d forgotten how grim it is… lots of domestic violence, allusions to sexual assault, etc. I think it’s Lewis’s best fiction, but it hardly reads like one of his works!

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          1. Interesting. Joy’s first husband was a drinker who was prone to doing things like smashing furniture and shooting a rifle into the ceiling when he was drunk and frustrated with work, so I wonder if she informed some of that.

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  2. Gawain and the Green Knight is set at Christmastide in both the opening incident and later parts of the story. Tolkien’s translation of it is quite good, though if you get the chance, I recommend his *Beowulf: A Translation and Commentary* for reading. It’s thorough and quite excellent.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I read his Beowulf not too long ago! It is a tough book but his translation was great.

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Yes to Walden!!|
    I loved Kokoro, and basically anything by Soseki, but I wouldn’t consider it as dark academia.
    here is my list: https://wordsandpeace.com/2024/09/24/top-ten-books-on-my-2024-fall-tbr-list/

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I see you’ve got a Moomin book on there! I keep meaning to read that series 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Yes, I started last month, and will keep reading 1 book per month with Mallika

        Liked by 1 person

  4. I haven’t even heard of most of these! I hope you enjoy whatever you decide to read this Fall.

    Happy TTT!

    Susan

    http://www.blogginboutbooks.com

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Susan! 🙂

      I don’t know if you know the twist already for Curtain (I certainly won’t give it away) – it’s quite shocking! Hope you enjoy 🙂

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  5. Till We Have Faces is an intense book but I love it. I have never read Walden, I wonder how it will be as a readaloud? I’ve never read it either and I should. Agree about the Holmes stories being better than the novels — other than The Hound of the Baskervilles, which is relatively strong.

    Enjoy your fall reading!

    Liked by 1 person

  6. I hope you enjoy reading all of these when the mood strikes.

    Pam @ Read! Bake! Create!

    https://readbakecreate.com/autumn-2024-tbr-ten-books-i-hope-to-read/

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Great list! I really enjoyed Walden. I haven’t read any of the other books on your list except 2 Samuel 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

  8. I hope you enjoy these books, if you are in the mood to read them. Have a wonderful week.

    Liked by 1 person

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Hi, I’m Marian—I talk about classics, history, and other books on this blog, as well as on YouTube.

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