READING PICKS {FALL '17}
I've been an avid reader pretty much since I can remember learning to read. I like visiting city libraries while traveling (Vancouver, B.C. has one of the coolest I've seen yet) and bookstores are my happy place. I happen to be blessed with the good fortune to live in the same city as Powell City of Books, home to the largest selection of book for sale than I've ever seen under one roof and have (dangerously) spent hours keeping myself entertained there (usually to the detriment of my wallet). This pension for books doesn't seem to be curb while I'm abroad either: I lugged books home from my visit to Shakespeare & Co. in Paris and splurge on books in the most beautiful bookstore I've ever shopped in: Fang Suo Commune in the Taikoo Li shopping neighborhood in Chengdu, China. (These books later had to be shipped home from China because I didn't have room in my suite case...oops.)
Since I tend to stay up late to finish books and cram in reading time during my commute, I thought it might be fun to put all this reading to good use and share what I'm looking forward to reading this fall. (I'm planning on this becoming a quarterly series, so let me know if you like it or have any suggestions for what type of content you'd like to see on my seasonal reading list.)
The Little Book of Hygge: This is my current bus read (it's a quick, light read and I'll probably be finished with it by the time you're reading this post). Written by Meik Wiking, this book explores the Danish concept of "hygge" and theories on why the Danish are reportedly some of the happiest in the world. With the days getting colder and shorter, and the holiday season looming, it seemed like a good time to start brushing up on all things cozy. I'm also on a kick of going more Scandinavian with my home decorating, so this book seemed like it might be full of good advice.
Harry Potter (all 7 books): I haven't reread this now childhood classic since they were first published, but the change in weather has made it feel like the perfect time to pull out these books for a marathon reading session. In the past I haven't been big on rereading books, instead opting for stories to which I don't already know the ending. It's been long enough though since I've read them that I think I'll be able to recapture the joy from when I first discovered the world of wizards and witchcraft. I'm feeling really excited to revisit a book series that'll always be dear to my heart.
Emma in the Night: This is one of my Book of the Month selections. Written by Wendy Walker, I've heard nothing but good things about this phycological thriller: Kidnapping? Betrayal?! Mystery?!! Please and thank you! I enjoy a good mystery/thriller that can keep me both riveted and on my toes, so I'm looking forward to seeing if this one lives up to the hype. (My favorite phycological thriller I've read so far? The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes.)
Sleeping Beauties: A father-son collaborative from Stephen and Owen King, this story involves a sleeping curse and a medical marvel. I'm also going to add the classic novel It back on my list (I only made it about half-way through this when I started reading in on a super long flight/layover from Thailand back to Portland. Fake night lighting, exhaustion, and turbulence made the scary storyline a bit too intense and I decided to take a break from reading it towards the end of my flight). Maybe it's because of Halloween, but I've had an urge to read something a little scary and for the exception of the first half of It, I haven't read any Stephen King novels before.
Turtles All The Way Down: This is a new one from the infamous YA author John Green. Some of his books I love, some are just okay, so not sure what the expect from this one. These books are always a quick, easy read (and could be a nice, light break after reading a couple of Stephen King books).
I also have a few other books from my Book of the Month subscription that are on my reading list, but I may not get to them until spring (reading all seven Harry Potter books might take a up a chunk of my reading time this season). These include Little & Lion by Brandy Colbert, The Lying Game by Ruth Ware, The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood, and Manhattan Beach by Jennifer Egan. Additionally, I have a stack of of biographies I'm looking forward to and might work into the mix if I'm needing a break from all my fiction reading: Scrappy Little Nobody by Anna Kendrick (love her!) and Unfiltered by Lily Collin—I've already read part of this one and love the frank way she talks about difficult subjects.
What are you reading this fall? Let me know in the comments section below. I'm always up for constructive book discussions and suggested book ideas. Never stop reading.
Photo by Gaelle Marcel on Unsplash