Are you already tired of pumpkin spice cookies, coffee, muffins, and even cereal? Are you wondering if the fun-size candy will ever come off the shelves? Fall is a great time to pick up a good book, sit outside in the cooler weather, and enjoy the day. So here are some ‘fall’ titles to fall into, but don’t look for any colored leaves here.
Let’s start with some classics:
What could be a better fall book than that of celebrated, somewhat local author Edgar Allen Poe? His classic, Fall of the House of Usher, is well worth picking up (again). Two siblings, a mysterious
illness, a traveler, and strange and terrifying events. What could be better? Maybe a DVD?
Or perhaps graphic novels are your thing. Poe would be pleased to know that his tales have broken through into different genres.
A little further from home, but still widely regarded as a classic is:
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
This book follows the life of Okonkwo, a Nigerian tribal leader, who is exiled from his tribe for the accidental death of a fellow tribesman. It follows his banishment and return. Published in 1958, it is a cornerstone in African literature and deals with themes of tribal beliefs and culture vs the growing influences of the outside world.
From Baltimore to Africa and on to Europe, there are always good books to fall into. Perhaps you prefer non-fiction or history? Why not try:
The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich by William Shirer
This book is the culmination of years of pouring over the mountains of documentation left by the Nazi regime once it fell to the allies. Shirer, a foreign correspondent in Germany, worked with Edward R. Murrow, broadcasting the news of the Nazi actions as they unfolded and then later producing the most definitive work on the Nazi era.
Or, going back even farther:
The Decline and Fall of Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon
This is an abridged version of the original, which makes the content more accessible to the average reader. Gibbon follows the Roman Empire from the second century AD to its collapse on both the western and eastern fronts, respectively.
Perhaps a little less daunting but still on the historical side is Ken Follet’s The Fall of Giants, a work of fiction that follows five families as they navigate the First World War, the Russian Revolution, and women’s suffrage from their homelands of America, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Russia.
Coming back to the present, there are always mysteries and thrillers to fall into. You might want to plunge headlong into one of these:
The Fall by John Lescroart
This is set in San Francisco and starts when a teen in foster care falls from an overpass to her death. An advocate in the foster care system who had met with the young woman earlier that day is the prime suspect. Did he push her? Was someone else from her past involved? The trial could lead to a conviction of the guilty, or it could destroy the lives of the innocent. Read it to find out what happens.
Dying Fall by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
Hot off the press, this book was published in the US in 2022. Another mystery, this story is set in West London. The woman at the bottom of the stairs has obviously fallen to her death, or has she? Is the entire scene a setup to cover a nefarious crime? Both the PC on the scene and the detective from the murder squad think so, but will they be able to find out what happened and who the killer is? You will need to follow the clues to find out.
Free Fall by Robert Crais
This one takes the reader back to the US west coast; this time to the heart of LA’s South Central district and into the world of gangs, cops, and corruption.
Maybe after all of these book suggestions, you would much rather fall onto the couch and watch a show. You could try:
The Fall, season 1
Available on DVD or Hoopla
This British series follows a serial killer loose in Belfast.
Taking the Fall Director Josh Marble
Also on Hoopla, this Audience Award winner at the 2020 Charlotte Film Festival follows a man released from prison only to find his millennial friends stuck in lives they never imagined in their college days.
Finally, find a child, grandchild, neighbor kid, niece, or nephew, and share your love of reading together as you fall into a fun book together. And when you’re done, you might be ready for a cup of cocoa and just one pumpkin cookie.
Free Fall by David Weisner
A beautifully illustrated, wordless picture book about a boy on an unforgettable adventure.
Have fun falling into a great book! Happy landing!
