November has brought with it a bit of cooler weather, and we have turned our clocks back to standard time. Afternoons are shorter and it gets dark well before dinner time. All this makes for more curl-up-with-a- book evening time! So here are our recommendations for your fall pleasure reading:
Fiction: The Mercy Rule by Perri Klass is a heartfelt novel about contemporary parenting. The author is a pediatrician and a noteworthy author of fiction and nonfiction works. For a humorous read, try Jim Harrison's The English Major. It features a 60-something divorced guy out on a cross country road trip. Fans of "Chick Lit" books will not be disappointed with Emily Giffin's latest, entitled Love the One You're With. Who knew that the playwright Anton Chekhov was also a short story writer? He actually was a prolific author of short fiction and published quite a bit of it in his lifetime. A new compilation features many of his stories of psychological suspense: A Night in the Cemetery and Other Stories of Crime and Suspense. Mystery fan? Check out Kate Atkinson's latest thriller set in England: When Will There Be Good News? If you prefer your mysteries with a bit of light entertainment, a la Janet Evanovich, read Bone Island Mambo by Tom Corcoran. His books are all funny and fast paced.
The nonfiction list of recommendations has something for everyone. There are so many books being written about living "greener" and helping the environment: green consuming, green housecleaning, etc. Lots of how-to's. But one that we found very interesting is Bottlemania: How Water Went on Sale and Why We Bought It by Elizabeth Royte. The author explores the bottled water trend of the last decade. Interesting reading now that we are all more concerned about waste and recycling. Dry Storeroom No. 1 : the Secret Life of the Natural History Museum by Richard Fortey is a museum lover's dream come true: a look behind the scenes at the Natural History Museum in London: the collections, the space, the workers who put it all together. Are you raising a son or just want to understand today's youths? You'll want to read Guyland: the Perilous World Where Boys Become Men by Michael Kimmel. The author is a sociology professor who studied and interviewed males between the ages of adolescence and adulthood to find out what makes them tick.
We all seem to be eating out less and cooking more at home these days. Cooking With All Things Trader Joe's by Deana Gunn and Wona Miniati is loaded with recipes using TJ's ingredients. Combine their unique sauces with their other healthy fare and you've got a meal in no time.
We hope that you enjoy these recommendations and find other worthy books that aren't on the big bestseller lists. Let us know what you enjoy!