Even though it is still 80 degrees here every day in the South, these chilly mornings have put me in the mood for some cozy reads. So, true to my name, I've picked out three books from my read list and three books from my TBR to add to your fall reading list. - Autumn
Penguin Press, 2016
The Portable Veblen by Elizabeth McKenzie
What's more prevalent in the fall than squirrels? This fun novel is the story of Veblen, who is engaged to Paul, a neurologist. After Paul starts being courted by the daughter of a wealthy pharmaceutical family, Veblen makes friends with a squirrel who lives in her yard. They have great conversations – or do they? This was a fun and charming read. I had the chance to hear the author at a reading and she's just as charming as her characters.
The Loud Earth by Elisabeth Murray
I first heard about this book on the author's Instagram page. As soon as I saw it was set in the mountains, I knew I had to add it to my TBR. The protagonist is a recluse who lives in a cabin far up in the mountains near a tourist town. She carries a secret that keeps the townspeople from her. Then one day Hannah shows up at her door. Hannah knows nothing about the woman and the secrets the town holds, so of course it causes trouble. Looking forward to digging in.
Hologram, 2007
William Morrow Paperbacks / Harper Collins, 2011
When We Were Strangers by Pamela Schoenwaldt
I'm pulling this one out of the way back archives. A long time ago, I took an evening Italian class at the University of Tennessee. Pamela was a friend of the teacher and she came and talked one night about her, then, newly released novel. In the novel, Irma comes to America because, as an unmarried woman of a certain age, is has become a burden to her family. But America is not the land of promise she hoped it would be. Pamela lived in Italy for a while and did extensive research at Ellis Island, so this story has a haunting realism.
The Bourbon Thief by Tiffany Reisz
Who doesn't love a revenge plot? Cooper McQueen discovers she's been robbed and the only thing missing is a million-dollar bottle of bourbon. It's been stolen by a woman named Paris, who claims that the bottle belongs to her family – the owners or the distillery that made it. Promising a sorted family history, generations of intrigue, and deep secrets, this book is one that I need to move up my TBR list.
Mira, 2016
Bloomsbury USA, 2015
A is for Arsenic: The Poisons of Agatha Christie by Kathryn Harkup
As you may know by now, I am a major mystery fan. They were my gateway drug to hardcore novel reading and I will forever have a soft spot for them. When I saw this book, I knew I had to have it. This nonfiction read is an A to Z encyclopedia of all the poisons Agatha Christie used in her novels. I know, right? #nerd. Kathryn is a chemist, so the details are accurate, but it's lighter than you would expect. Highly recommend.
Counterpoint, 2007
Strange as This Weather Has Been by Ann Pancake
To continue my mountain theme, my last TBR pick is this novel set in present day West Virginia. It follows a family who is dealing with the fallout that occurs when strip mining destroys the mountain that is their lively hood. The plot centers around Bant, the family's 15-year-old daughter, who remembers what the mountains were like before the strip mining. As someone who grew up in the mountains, I'm sure I'm going to have to read this book with a box of Kleenex by my side.
