Hi friends, You are invited to come hang out with the Close Reads team on a special live Q&A for subscribers, this Wednesday at 8:30 pm eastern! Tim, Heidi, Sean, an I will be discussing our favorite autumn reads, and will be taking questions about all things spooky, creepy, and downright scary. (And whatever else you want to ask.)
What are some works of literature (novels, poetry, plays) you love that embrace the melancholy, introspective, intense but fading beauty dimension of autumn (not the scary/spooky part!)?
I love The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, but so far no one else I know does. (Except my mother and my 11 year old son. ) Is Sleepy Hollow lame and I missed it somehow? For Pete’s sake. It’s got autumn and Dutch people and practical jokes (maybe) and good food and a character named Ichabod. What’s not to like?
If you each got the opportunity to adapt any "spooky" (loosely categorized, here, feel free to read "autumnal") book into a great feature film or BBC adaptation, what would it be?
I know this ain’t the Daily Poem, but would this be truly Autumn-themed without some poetry?! Please, tell me what poetry you go to at this magical time of year. Also, do y’all have any favorite play or short story read-throughs you’ve done (or plan to do) with friends or family, either for this time of year or just in general?
And one more question: favorite Autumn food and drink?
Yay! I so enjoy hanging out and seeing everyone on these!
I’d definitely like the hosts’ take on Something Wicked This Way Comes, as I consider it the perfect fall read, but have lost my copy somehow across multiple moves.
Reviews on If We Were Villains would be welcome too. (Read it for my husband’s work book club and the meeting got canceled, so I never got to unload my pros and cons.)
I’m not big on horror (see stipulations below), but have heard lots of positive things about Dracula as a novel. Please elaborate on why it’s worth reading.
Best spooky read that doesn’t get into demonic/occult-type stuff or gratuitous gore?
Pros and cons of the genre as a whole? What makes it worthwhile? Why do people enjoy being scared (Enneagram 6 doesn’t understand 😂)?
Well, have you ever been alone reading a book that freaked you out so much that you had to put it down and wait until later when it was “safe”? What book was it? Is it scarier to read a horror novel or to watch a horror movie?
Ohh yes! I tried to read “It” when I was 12. It made me feel physically ill, and I had to take it out of my room just to be able to sleep. I used to watch a lot of horror movies, but I think books are scarier because my imagination can conjure some pretty creepy stuff! Great question!
I'd love to participate, but it's not at a great time for me. Will it be available recorded later?
Also, The Thirteenth Tale, by Diane Setterfield, is at the top of my To-be-Read list, and I'm wondering if anyone has an opinion on it. Finally, we recently watched the 2017 Mary Shelley movie and would be interested in hearing reviews and reactions to that that any of you may have.
Is it okay if we fold laundry while we are on the zoom call?
If you were going to dress up as a literary character, who would you be?
Heidi, when is your book coming out?
What are some works of literature (novels, poetry, plays) you love that embrace the melancholy, introspective, intense but fading beauty dimension of autumn (not the scary/spooky part!)?
I love The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, but so far no one else I know does. (Except my mother and my 11 year old son. ) Is Sleepy Hollow lame and I missed it somehow? For Pete’s sake. It’s got autumn and Dutch people and practical jokes (maybe) and good food and a character named Ichabod. What’s not to like?
Please advise!
If you each got the opportunity to adapt any "spooky" (loosely categorized, here, feel free to read "autumnal") book into a great feature film or BBC adaptation, what would it be?
What are your top 5 Mystery novels? (each of you!)
Also, Stranger Things. Do you watch it? Do you like it? I’m not a big horror/thriller person, but this show is the one of its kind that I love.
I know this ain’t the Daily Poem, but would this be truly Autumn-themed without some poetry?! Please, tell me what poetry you go to at this magical time of year. Also, do y’all have any favorite play or short story read-throughs you’ve done (or plan to do) with friends or family, either for this time of year or just in general?
And one more question: favorite Autumn food and drink?
Edna St. Vincent Millay - God's World
When the Frost in on the Punkin by James Whitcomb Riley is the first one that comes to my mind. Harvest Home and We Gather Together for hymns.
Oh yeah, and a favorite autumn baked good! I'm on an apple baking kick at the moment.
Here’s one that I’m making today:
Apple Cake
2 c. peeled chopped apples
1 c. sugar
1 tsp each cinnamon, salt, baking soda.
1 1/2 c. flour
1/2 c. oil
1 egg.
Stir together in order listed batter will be very stiff. bake in 8x8 pan @ 350*F for 40 minutes. To double for 13x9 pan, use only 3/4 c. oil.
That looks delicious and so easy!
Music as well! Favorite music this time of year?
Favourite childhood Halloween memory?
What qualifications do y'all have for a book to be an "autumn read?"
What’s the Close Reads take on trick or treating? Harmless way to have fun with kids and neighbors, or not?
Young Frankenstein or The Mummy?
Yay! I so enjoy hanging out and seeing everyone on these!
I’d definitely like the hosts’ take on Something Wicked This Way Comes, as I consider it the perfect fall read, but have lost my copy somehow across multiple moves.
Reviews on If We Were Villains would be welcome too. (Read it for my husband’s work book club and the meeting got canceled, so I never got to unload my pros and cons.)
I’m not big on horror (see stipulations below), but have heard lots of positive things about Dracula as a novel. Please elaborate on why it’s worth reading.
Best spooky read that doesn’t get into demonic/occult-type stuff or gratuitous gore?
Pros and cons of the genre as a whole? What makes it worthwhile? Why do people enjoy being scared (Enneagram 6 doesn’t understand 😂)?
Ooooo I think I’ll be able to make it to this one!!!
Well, have you ever been alone reading a book that freaked you out so much that you had to put it down and wait until later when it was “safe”? What book was it? Is it scarier to read a horror novel or to watch a horror movie?
Ohh yes! I tried to read “It” when I was 12. It made me feel physically ill, and I had to take it out of my room just to be able to sleep. I used to watch a lot of horror movies, but I think books are scarier because my imagination can conjure some pretty creepy stuff! Great question!
I'd love to participate, but it's not at a great time for me. Will it be available recorded later?
Also, The Thirteenth Tale, by Diane Setterfield, is at the top of my To-be-Read list, and I'm wondering if anyone has an opinion on it. Finally, we recently watched the 2017 Mary Shelley movie and would be interested in hearing reviews and reactions to that that any of you may have.
I read The Thirteenth Tale! It was good.
Thanks! Good to know.
More of a request than a question, but I’d like to hear more of Tim’s author impressions.
Yes, please!