September...
Hello fall, a new top ten book, and some can't-miss tv
Changing Seasons
Light
makes all the difference.
Light
turns asphalt and concrete and miles of electrical wires,
into a barren wasteland or an abstract painting.
Light
for post-dinner walks or
candle-lit suppers.
Light
that bakes in your bones
turns a tree into a beautiful contrast.
Light
direct, full, a party
Light
slanted, cool, shy
ebb and flow.
What I’m reading...
The Truth About Fame by Toni Shiloh
This is the second of an inspirational romance trilogy that follows three friends with glamorous careers (a pop star, a super model, and a prima ballerina). It’s a fun series, and a perfect read when you’re in the mood for something light, sweet, and romantic.
The Hidden Palace by Helene Wecker
The Golem and the Jinni is one of my top ten favorite books, and when I saw that the sequel was out I snatched it up so fast! I loved getting to spend more time with the characters I grew to love so much in the first book, more time in early 20th century New York City, and time exploring the Middle East. The Hidden Palace explores human connection in such a lovely, interesting way. Love, love, loved it.
A Man Called Ove by Frederik Backman
My friend Nicole recommended this book to me a while back, and I am so glad I finally read it! It’s another book about human connection, but this time set fully grounded in contemporary Sweden. Ove is a self-reliant, practical, taciturn--some might say grumpy--man who is grieving the death of his wife and is done engaging with the world around him. But the world isn’t done engaging with him. Ove and the rest of the characters are so real and vivid, and so endearing, I really didn’t want it to end.
Mystery Force series by Tom Neill
This is a middle grade series, so a bit of a departure, but I read two of these books for review and enjoyed it enough to mention it. These are short, well-paced adventure books grounded in the real world but with magic and magical creatures. The characters are very diverse, and include two main characters with physical disabilities. The stories don’t talk about it much, but they do deliberately show the kids using their differences to their advantage (if you’re going to use a cane, for example, why not outfit it with super cool Bond-type gadgets?). If you have kids in your life who are reading middle grade chapter books and who like real kids having cool adventures, these are absolutely worth checking out.
What I’m Watching…
I LOVE THIS SHOW SO MUCH! And I know I’m not alone. Only Murders in the Building is a mystery-comedy with a vibe that is somewhere between an Agatha Christie novel and the movie Knives Out. It stars Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez, with a wealth of fantastic and notable guest stars. The mystery is twisty, the chemistry between the main trio is fantastic, the characters have depth, and it’s just really good. You can find it on Hulu, and my only heads-up is that the language is not family friendly.
The Great British Baking Show is back, everyone!!! I could not be more excited about this. The first episode released last week, and the contestants are as delightfully earnest and quirky as you could hope. I mean, one contestant is from Germany and plays the trombone with his son and wife (who plays a different instrument). It just reminded me about how INTERESTING people can be.
I’m grateful for…
...the changing seasons. I tried really hard this year to enjoy summer, to notice the great things about the summer season rather than focus on the stuff I don’t like. And for the most part, I succeeded (and it made such a difference!). August about did me in, though, and I have been more than ready for something different. Last week we had our first taste of cooler air, and the days are getting shorter. I’ve got pumpkins on my hearth, a bowl of pine cones decorating the bar, a cinnamon spice candle to burn, and a slightly updated rotation of meals. There’s something that feels fresh about a new season, and I’m really thankful for that.
So, happy fall, everyone! And this month, I’ve got a question: do you have certain books or genres you are more likely to read in the fall? And if so--what are they?