Literary Classics and Popular Books...

What I'm Reading this Fall and WHY!

As an editor and instructor, I read a lot of unpublished work from both clients and students. But I feel reading is critical for my ongoing development as a publishing professional. Whether you’re an aspiring author, established author, or work in some capacity with authors, reading is not just necessary—it’s what will set you apart from the competition.

Here’s what I’m reading this fall and why I chose the book!

1. Persuasion by Jane Austen, the annotated edition by David M. Shapard

Pride and Prejudice gets a lot of love from readers, but I’ve always had a soft spot for Anne Eliot. Not only is she an older protagonist (late 20s!), Anne is a woman whose journey taps into some of the most popular contemporary tropes: found family, family drama, second chance at love, and even the “ugly duckling.”

I moderated a book club in October, and since there are so many retellings of Jane Austen’s work, I thought I would revisit one of the original works. On re-reading, I was struck by how timeless the work is. The notes in this edition are helpful, and the illustrations add flavor, but the story itself is cutting in its insights.

I felt that the themes of Persuasion could be applied to modern social media and our “influencer” culture and economy. If you’re not there for the love story (and this is most definitely a romance, complete with HEA), consider reading Persuasion through the lens of modern life. It stands up all too well, and that’s what makes the situations and the pains even more poignant. Some of my favorite characters are Mrs. Smith, who in some ways is a mirror into the possible future for Anne, redeemed by friendship and cheerful by choice. And of course there is Anne herself, the fixer, the do-er, the caretaker. When she finally has the opportunity to rise into the central role of her own story, the resolution (THAT LETTER) is so, so sweet.

2. Last Call, A True Story of Love, Lust, and Murder in Queer New York by Elon Green.

This book has been made into an HBO Original documentary, but I have not seen it yet. I’m captivated by true crime and love an immersive work that explores queer history, so this book was a one-click for me. The work is part true crime, part history, part… Well, it has a lot of parts. And in my opinion, the book does what excellent nonfiction should: it brings the subject to life through storytelling.

In this book, we learn about the victims and their tragic fates, but we also learn about how these men lived during this period of American history. How the delicate and very often adversarial relationship queer people had with the police and justice system influenced the perception of crimes—even very serious crimes. We learn about fingerprinting technology, typesetting, and the evolution of the AIDS epidemic. But rather than biting off too much, the author makes every tidbit fit into the compassionate and terrifying story of finding a killer who lived, loved, lusted, and killed right beside his victims.

3. The Girl in the Bog by Keith Donohue.

   

It’s spooky season, so who could resist the story of an Irish bog body come to life? The writing is so lyrical and beautiful, yet not overdone. I haven’t finished this yet, so I can’t give a final rating, but I’m enjoying it so much, I’m reading slowly and savoring all the vibes. I’ll report back if you’re curious about my final rating!

4. 7 Figure Fiction by Theodora Taylor

If you’ve never read this book, you’re in for a treat. Theodora Taylor is a successful romance author who has literally written the book about universal fantasy. I read this one every so often, but as I’m grappling with a major revision to one of my own books, this slim volume goes down like butter: easy to read, fantastic examples, and oh-so motivating. If you need help reconnecting with the love and passion you have for your genre, pick this up. Theodora will help flavor the words you write so you fall back in love with the craft of storytelling.

What are you reading and why? What’s surprised you about your TBR (to be read) list this fall? Share your book recs in a comment because I will be ready for something new soon!