Due to the cornonavirus this year, I have largely replaced holidays, events, galleries, museums, restaurants, walks, and socialising with reading. I have not seen any of my friends since early February, and I've had to cancel plans for holidays and other events that I was looking forward to. I have filled this time with reading more. Reading allows me to escape into a new world while the real world feels like it is falling apart. I have always been an avid reader although I had neglected it in more recent years. I have put together a list of autumn reads that I think you will enjoy.
"October, October" by Katya Balen and Angela Harding
Bloomsbury Publishing, released 17 September, 2020
This is considered children's fiction, and I'd categorise it as young adult fiction, but it is one of those that an adult could pick up and read and still be interested in. The book focuses on a young girl who lives in the woods with her father and pet owl. An accident takes place, and the girl must live in the city with her mother and rekindle a relationship with her. She learns to part ways and let go and also learns how to make friends in London. She sparks a friendship and hobby of mudlarking on the Thames. I love finding lost treasures, and I've been mudlarking and follow a group on social media, so this particular aspect interested me. The story has a lesson, and I think young adults and adults will enjoy this short story. I think it is one that will stick in minds for some time to come as it is so original.
My review: 9/10
"English Pastoral" by James Rebanks
Penguin Random House, released 3 September, 2020
Rebanks focuses on his personal story growing up with as the third generation of family farmers in the Lake District. He shares memories of his grandfather and his father and their ways of farming and understanding the land and its creatures. This book struck a particular chord with me and of my own memories and childhood growing up in a similar family where my grandfather and father tended to the farm full time with some of my help, so I completely understood and agreed with the author on the observations and the change to farming over time. Of particular interest is that small farmers, like Rebanks and my own family, are a dying breed as there are more corporation farms and practices that jeopardise or have jeopardised the environment and way of life. This is a book about generational change and highlighting some of the concerns; perhaps it will help people removed gain more appreciation for farmers.
My review: 10/10
"Autumn Leaves at Mill Grange" by Jenny Kane
Aria and Aries, released 10 September, 2020
This lovely story is set in Exmoor and is a second installment to a previous story. The story has a couple of plots. The first focuses on a couple of archeological digs and a celebrity television personality and a keen girl who is obsessed with him even though he has a girlfriend. The other story focuses on clausterphobic ex-soldier Sam and Tina who are attempting to renovate Mill Grange. While I appreciated the story and the budding romance between Sam and Tina, I felt that I missed out and felt that some of the story did not make sense because it implied that the reader has read the previous installment. I think this would be an even better read following the first book, but it was still enjoyable. I preferred the archeological plots, even though they seemed to be secondary ones.
My review: 8/10
"The Lost Spells" by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris
Penguin, released 1 October, 2020
This set of poems is accompanied with beautiful natural illustrations. Elements of nature have been described with poems and phrases to allow readers to get a sense of the natural world around them and a better appreciation of it. The phrases are written to be read out, and some of the themes include owls, trees, foxes, and birds. The illustrations make this a perfect book for those who have time to sit out and enjoy nature. I think it is a perfect autumn book with the change of the seasons.
My review: 6/10
"Escaping Dreamland" by Charlie Lovett
Blackstone Publishing, released 22 September, 2020
This original story covers two timelines. The first timeline is set in 2010 with an author who has had some success but has become recluse and uncommunicative to his partner. He rekindles his lost love of children's adventure series, which was a passion he shared with his late father, and this leads him on a discovery of the authors of his favourite series. The other plot-line focuses on three individuals who were the writers of the children's series of books, and this was the plot-line that I enjoyed. The three characters, all from different backgrounds and different secrets, come together under unusual circumstances to write. The settings of New York City in this time and the events were based on true stories, events, and people. The story follows their relationship from start to end and then wraps up with the 2010 plot-line. One of the defining moments happens in "Dreamland", a theme park set in New York City in the early 1900s. I could not put this book down; it was very addictive.
My review: 10/10
"Autumn" by Ali Smith
Penguin, released 31 August, 2017
This short story was given awards and listed for the Man Booker Prize. In the book, we come to know about Elisabeth and Daniel in different times from when Elisabeth was a little girl. She befriends her older neighbour, and they have a connection to each other. He remains an important figure in her life, and she visits him in care homes. The backdrop of the story is during and following the summer of 2016 Brexit referendum. Past events also feature in the book, but I was not too familiar with these and a little lost when they were being discussed as the author implied that I had heard of them. The book reads like a stream of consciousness rather than a traditional novel.
My review: 7/10
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