I have continued to do a lot of reading this fall across a wide range of topics and genres. I find great new books through several trusted sources: Anne Bogel, whose Quick Lit post I am linking to today, the Bookshelf in Thomasville, Georgia, a small independent bookstore- the owner’s taste generally matches mine (I follow her on Instagram and subscribe to her monthly Shelf Subscription) – and more recently I have followed Austin Kleon and find that many of my favorite reads have been recommended by him. Here are 14 recent reads and a couple I am currently reading.

I liked all of these books and would recommend all as good reads but my favorite was The Overstory, a bit upsetting in places but such a good read-it really has stayed with me. It reminded me a bit of The Nix which I read and loved earlier this year. I also loved Florida and Awayland, two short story collections, A Spool of Blue Thread, a backlist title by a favorite author and two memoirs about living in New York City in the 1960s and 70s: Just Kids and Arbitrary Stupid Goal. I also really enjoyed several mysteries.

I loved both Florida and Awayland. Each collection of short stories is beautifully written, inventive, a little weird and each contains a couple of absolutely stunning stories that take your breath away,

I rediscovered Anne Tyler this year when Clock Dance was a Shelf Subscription book. I had read almost all of her books years ago but missed the last few when I was back in school. I really enjoy her quirky characters and A Spool of Blue Thread did not disappoint.

I love Kate Atkinson’s writing so had to read her latest book as soon as it was published. I definitely enjoyed it but it didn’t blow me away as the last two did. But certainly worth reading.

I read both the Penelope Fitzgerald and Ali Smith books because I somehow went down a rabbit hole on the topic of books about libraries. I enjoyed them both.

I love memoir and found Arbitrary Stupid Goal and You and the Road and a Bike, both of which I enjoyed, through Austin Kleon. Arbitrary Stupid Goal gave a window into NYC and specifically Greenwich Village in the 70’s. In the same vein of New York memoirs, I finally read Patti Smith’s memoir Just Kids which I highly recommend. What a life she has led. And I really enjoyed listening to Rick Bragg’s stories about life in the South.

I read several good new mysteries: the new Cormorant Strike book, Lethal White, which is great on audio, an older Tana French Dublin police squad mystery and the first book in a fun new British mystery series: The Word is Murder.

Finally, I read the latest Michael Lewis take on the Trump transition team ( or lack thereof). It was really interesting and didn’t depress me, although maybe it should have. I found his profiles of scientists really interesting and really learned a lot reading his book while being entertained.

I am listening to Middlemarch. This will be the year I finish it. I am loving it on audio narrated by Juliet Stevenson (thanks to Modern Mrs Darcy for the recommendation) and plan to read the text version next year because there are so many passages I will want to go back to.

What are you reading and loving?