Some I've read, some I've loved, one I can't stand (Wuthering Heights) and a couple to look out for. Particularly happy to see Autumn Journal on your list, so much beautiful poetry..from memory 'September has come, it is hers whose vitality leaps in the Autumn, whose nature prefers trees without leaves and a fire in the grate'. Also 'all of London littered with remembered kisses...' wonderful stuff, thank you.
What a terrific list! The Barbara Comyns is brilliant (as are all her novels), I'm currently reading a biography of her by Avril Horner, which is so fascinating.
I love Barbara Pym and Quartet in Autumn is one of her best - slow, perfectly observed,, with the spikes of humour she does so well.
I don't know Lolly Willowes but that sounds right up my street so I shall look for it this week. Also the MacNeice.
The Woodlanders - almost drove me mad. Too long. Too 'Hardy'.
Wuthering Heights - more for winter in my opinion. So histrionic, all that flouncing (Cathy) and all that head-banging, Heathcliffe. But such a complex, dark story with few redeeming characters.
O Caledonia is one of my favorite novels, and I just finished The Vet's Daughter. Both excellent autumn reads. Quartet in Autumn is on my TBR, and I wasn't familiar with that Hardy, but it looks great!
Rebecca is a *perfect* autumn read, in my opinion. I’m working up the gumption to start in on Kristen Lavransdatter this fall…it’s (very) long, but I’ve heard so many good things about it that I’m quite looking forward to it.
I’m heading into KL too. I’m just back from Iceland so I’m up for more north!
I think it all depends on the translation. One is very stilted and I sent those books to the charity shop but now have the Tiina Nunnally which seems much better. Friend read it recently and loved it.
Wonderful selection especially Lolly Willowes which is also the Sherlock & Pages book club read this month so looking forward to reading it again and it’s obviously time to finally read O Caledonia.
I’m not sure why but autumn always makes me pick up Joseph Roth. Hotel Savoy is a little masterpiece.
What a lovely, stimulating round-up Henry. I might be partisan, having just written a post about it, but FM Mayor's The Rector's Daughter (1924) is surely a classic for autumn/fall. All those muted greys of Dedmayne, the dying of the light, a life closing in on itself... before love disrupts everything.
Some I've read, some I've loved, one I can't stand (Wuthering Heights) and a couple to look out for. Particularly happy to see Autumn Journal on your list, so much beautiful poetry..from memory 'September has come, it is hers whose vitality leaps in the Autumn, whose nature prefers trees without leaves and a fire in the grate'. Also 'all of London littered with remembered kisses...' wonderful stuff, thank you.
What a terrific list! The Barbara Comyns is brilliant (as are all her novels), I'm currently reading a biography of her by Avril Horner, which is so fascinating.
I love Barbara Pym and Quartet in Autumn is one of her best - slow, perfectly observed,, with the spikes of humour she does so well.
I don't know Lolly Willowes but that sounds right up my street so I shall look for it this week. Also the MacNeice.
The Woodlanders - almost drove me mad. Too long. Too 'Hardy'.
Wuthering Heights - more for winter in my opinion. So histrionic, all that flouncing (Cathy) and all that head-banging, Heathcliffe. But such a complex, dark story with few redeeming characters.
The others I have read and enjoyed.
A great list - thanks again.
so many here I haven’t read and need to! big fan of Rebecca and The Scarlet Letter - not so much anything from a Bronte.
O Caledonia is one of my favorite novels, and I just finished The Vet's Daughter. Both excellent autumn reads. Quartet in Autumn is on my TBR, and I wasn't familiar with that Hardy, but it looks great!
Rebecca is a *perfect* autumn read, in my opinion. I’m working up the gumption to start in on Kristen Lavransdatter this fall…it’s (very) long, but I’ve heard so many good things about it that I’m quite looking forward to it.
I’m heading into KL too. I’m just back from Iceland so I’m up for more north!
I think it all depends on the translation. One is very stilted and I sent those books to the charity shop but now have the Tiina Nunnally which seems much better. Friend read it recently and loved it.
I tried KL earlier this year. It was a bit of a trial and I didn't finish it.
Wonderful selection especially Lolly Willowes which is also the Sherlock & Pages book club read this month so looking forward to reading it again and it’s obviously time to finally read O Caledonia.
I’m not sure why but autumn always makes me pick up Joseph Roth. Hotel Savoy is a little masterpiece.
What a lovely, stimulating round-up Henry. I might be partisan, having just written a post about it, but FM Mayor's The Rector's Daughter (1924) is surely a classic for autumn/fall. All those muted greys of Dedmayne, the dying of the light, a life closing in on itself... before love disrupts everything.
https://akennedysmith.substack.com/p/laughter-in-the-library
Thank you Henry. A couple of London novels there that I haven’t read. Thanks for the succinct summaries.
Thank you for the recommendations! Some number of them are new to me—always looking for those.