Fall Into Fall Reading Favorites
The hint of cooler weather and orange-hued leaves puts me in the perfect mood for curling up with a nubby blanket and a good book—even if the air conditioning is still running! Luckily, this is also the time when publishers release their widely-anticipated new titles. I have a few on my pre-order list along with other must-read books.
Readers who are familiar with Russo’s works, including Nobody’s Fool and Empire Falls shouldn’t be disappointed with his new novel. (Straight Man is my favorite.) Advanced promotion says this is “classic Russo,” with a central core of characters who fall into the small town rhythms of functional and dysfunctional relationships tinged with poignancy, tragedy, and humor.
I’m a self-professed Keillor fan, having read everything the popular author and Prairie Home Companion radio star has written and edited. I’ve yet to tire of his fictional fun in the ongoing series featuring his beloved and hilarious Lake Wobegon. This book promises to continue the Wobegon storyline, so I’ll be waiting by the mailbox in mid-September when my pre-ordered Keillor treat arrives.
This late-summer release still sits by my bedside, but Dillard’s novel about a Massachusetts family is slowly reaching the top of the pile. Dillard is one of those brilliantly talented writers who gravitates easily between fiction, poetry, and non-fiction. Pilgrim at Tinker Creek introduced her to the literary world decades ago and she’s commanded attention ever since.
Regrettably, I never read Halberstam’s Pulitzer-prize winning The Best and the Brightest, although his journalistic account of the Vietnam War has remained on my reading list for a very long time. After the untimely and tragic death of Halberstam this past year, I’ve made reading his historic contributions a priority. Halbertstam had just finished The Coldest Winter prior to his death in a car accident.
The former Federal Reserve Board chairman made the phrase “irrational exuberance” an economic prophecy and his soon-to-be published autobiographical memoir/global observation appears to be equally revealing. Bob Woodward’s Maestro is also an insightful profile about the professional musician-turned economic leader.
I probably own every book published about Princess Diana. I followed her path to royalty, international fame, and, ultimate tragedy since I was a high schooler attempting to emulate her grace and beauty (I even tried the “Shy Di” haircut with a miserable outcome.) Among the exhaustive list of titles about Diana, two have found their way on to my study table that I plan to re-read in anticipation of the Appleton Museum’s October exhibit of her evening gowns. Paul Burrell’s The Way We Were gives an intimate and sentimental look inside Diana’s life from the perspective of her former butler. If you want to borrow my copy of The Royal Family Pop-Up Book, just let me know.
