Autumn Is For Big Books: 14 Fat Suggestions
Some people might say I’m not really in tune with nature, but this is, like, wrong. I totally am! My reading list is very much in sync with the weather and seasons. Autumn for example is the time to read big books – tomes on history, ponderous classics, moody fantasy. I’ve collected some biggies that I have either already read, am currently reading or plan to read. I make no promises about going through them all this autumn, but I will definitely read a few. If you recall, reading longer works was also one of my pledges for 2016.
1. Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke (1024 pages*). This book is the perfect example of my weather-dependence: it was on my summer reading list and I did read 200 pages, but the cold and fog and magic of the story just did not fit the sunny days and mild evenings of the real life. I am convinced it’ll be perfect for November, however.
2. Strategy: A History by Lawrence Freedman (768 pages). This is a book I have in fact already suggested for November reading, very early in my blogging career (I am only joking, I have no blogging career). It looks at the essence and development of strategy in political, military and business fields and it’s excellent. Only recommended for people who have a more than passing interest in those topics, but you don’t have to read the entire book to benefit.
3. The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry (432 pages). This is a very autumnal book, including Victorian atmosphere, windy English marshes, repressed feelings and a possible sea monster. A good historical novel that offers more than stereotypes and doomed love.
4. The Queen of the Night by Alexander Chee (576 pages). Also historical, but with more drama. I’m currently reading this story of the beautiful and amazingly talented soprano Lilliet Berne and so far, it’s good autumn entertainment. Circus and courtesans, love and revenge, secrets and lies – we all need a book like that once in a while. It reminds me a bit of Alexandre Dumas at his darker moments. I’ll update this entry as soon as I finish, which should be shortly.
5. Romantic Outlaws: The Extraordinary Lives of Mary Wollstonecraft and Mary Shelley by Charlotte Gordon (672 pages). Another book that seems made for the dark romance of late autumn. I do suspect the actual content will not be that romantic, though – the lives of both women were extraordinary, but very tough. Recommended by a friend with excellent taste, I’m sure this will be great.
6. Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel (647 pages). Continuing with the themes of England and history, this one has been on my reading list for ages. I don’t really have a good excuse for not having read it. I’m simply a lazy person. I’ve read Mantel’s short stories so I know (if it needed any confirmation) that she’s a great writer and I’m pretty sure I would like Wolf Hall if I just got my act together and read it. I have a feeling this is almost a winter book, definitely not early autumn.
7. The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell (640 pages). Another author from whom I’ve only read a minor work. I enjoyed Slade House and if The Bone Clocks is anything like it – just more, bigger, with many layers – it’s going to be my thing exactly. Considering my upcoming trip to Japan, I should maybe have picked The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet instead, but The Bone Clocks just spoke to me more.
8. The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu (1216 pages). This one is, obviously, on the list because of the Japan visit, although I doubt I’ll be able to read it before I go (end of October). I really do want to read it, however: the first ever real novel and it’s by a Japanese woman? Of course I want to read it! I’ve been educating myself about the history of Japan and my respect for this incredible achievement (it was the 11th century!) has only grown.
9. The Silk Roads: A new History of the World by Peter Frankopan (656 pages). Many people – including me – like to read history books in autumn and winter. I finished this a while ago and had my issues: it’s not as radical as it promises and for all the declarations about the crucial role of Central Asia spends very little time actually talking about it. But if you’re not looking for a complete rethinking of history (and are not obsessed with Central Asia), this is a readable book about the relevance of the Silk Road region.
10. Gardens of the Moon (Book 1 of The Malazan Book of the Fallen) by Steven Eriksson (768 pages). There is history and there is history of places that (probably) don’t exist. Of all the epic fantasy series, The Malazan Book of the Fallen is possibly the most intimidating. There are 10 books (plus 6 books in a parallel series and two additional trilogies) and it’s crazily complex, dark and demanding. And massive. I have in fact read the first book years ago, but if I really want to continue with the series, I have to read it again. The huge time investment makes me hesitate, but I’m still interested.
11. Seveneves by Neal Stephenson (880 pages). And then there’s the history of the future, also known as science fiction. I haven’t read Stephenson for years, although I loved Snow Crash and loved The Diamond Age even more. Seveneves starts with the disintegration of the moon and follows the humankind’s response to this crisis. Reviews are mixed, but I’m curious to read it, partly because of this perfect first sentence: “The moon blew up without warning and for no apparent reason.”
12. Uprooted by Naomi Novik (448 pages). This is another one of those I started by got distracted from: it is not a flashy fantasy book and not as fast paced as most. Basically what I’m saying is it was too thoughtful and intelligent for me. But it did win the Nebula and Locus and people with excellent judgement regarding fantasy like it, so I will try again. Also, living in the woods with a dragon in a Polish fairytale ambiance sounds very autumn-like, no?
13. Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. It’s not that thick, but I wanted to include some contemporary fiction and as I’ve just read it, Americanah has been on my mind. And although it’s a very modern book on the surface (the protagonist is a blogger! it’s about race!), I think it’s classic in character: sincere, non-ironic, serious – although often witty. Saying it’s a book about moral issues sounds unfairly off-putting (I’m not big on morality tales), but it was certainly educational for this reader.
14. A Little Life by Hania Yanagihara (736 pages). I have already said everything I have to say on this book here. Or maybe not everything, but everything I managed to get down on paper in a relatively coherent form.
Do you see any favourites? Something you didn’t like? Other big books you think I should read?
*I’m adding page numbers, as the photo is misleading – hardbacks look much more intimidating than paperbacks.
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I have “A little life” waiting on my short bookshelf (short shelf is for the urgent must-reads 🙂 But recently I find myself putting plastic covers around my new paperbacks instead of actually reading them. Somekind of non-reading season going on.
A Little Life is quite a commitment. It was worth it for me, but I postponed reading it for a long time, so I completely understand. When I’m in a reading slump, I often read something very quick and fun, to get over it. But it’s also OK to be in a reading slump now and again 🙂
PS Instead of putting covers around my books, my procrastination method of choice is to buy new ones…
Well I usually like to move to a magic land for the awful estonian winter and spend time with Harry Potter or someone. And yes I am kind of afraid to read “A little life” now.
About the covers- well they are generally put around new books that I have bought. But well the self adhesive plastic is kind of relaxing thing to do so now most of my really old books (Loomingu raamatukogu) have new plastic also. My friend is making jokes that I will probably soon start putting plastic covers to hardbacks… And she might be right.
“It’s not as radical as it promises and for all the declarations about the crucial role of Central Asia spends very little time actually talking about it.” Yes! I’m something like two thirds of the way through The Silk Roads and I thought I was going mad or accidentally skipping chapters.
Yep. I still wonder if he actually wrote more about this part of the world and it was edited out because surely noone would be interested. Or he thought that what’s in there is already so much better than our average western history that the pesky Kazakhs, Uzbeks, Turkmen and Kyrgyz should be grateful for this generous treatment.
An interesting selection; a few books on there that I’ve read and loved and a few that are on my TBR. Will have a look at rest. Also; I’m the one person in the world who didn’t love “Uprooted”.
Hah, intresting to hear about Uprooted. So many people with good taste like it, but I read about 50 pages and it didn’t grab me… I might give it another go, but it makes me feel better that you didn’t love it!
Keep at it with Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell! It took me a while to get into the story as well (I read it during Houston’s non-existent autumn). That said, I ended up loving the story and later bought her delightfully vintage-looking copy of “The Ladies of Grace Adieu.” Other favorite fall book is “The Historian” by Elizabeth Kostova. Thanks for your list–adding #’s 4 and 5 to my own list. As always, thanks for a lovely read every week!
I will persevere! I have a copy of Grace Adieu somewhere as well, but obviously waiting with this until I manage to finish JS&MN. And I did like The Historian a lot, too – it’s very much my kind of entertainment.
Thank you for that post. Will add some of them to my reading list. #10 Gardens of the Moon sounds like something way too crazy to start with. So I’m probably in 😀
#1 somehow it took me about 3/4 of the book to understand do I like it or not. The plot is exactly my cup of tea but something was off. But after finishing it I started to love it.
Right now I’m reading 11:22:63 by Stephen King which is over 700 pages. Interesting but moving sooooo slow.
Overall I love extra thick books but to me they belong to the summer (pure statistics).
Enjoy your autumn reads!
You know, I think you might actually like Malazan, as you can do pretty dark books and you can do high-quality fantasy. It’s incredibly intricate, however, and demands concentration. And of course everyone says it’ll get really good only after book one or two 🙂
And I also probably read more big books in the summer (by nature, I actually like shorter ones better), simply because I usually have more time for reading during the holidays. But in terms of the mood, I think they work better in the autumn.