It seems like just yesterday that we posted our 20 most anticipated books for summer, but alas—that was more than two months ago, and now we’re looking forward to fall. Below you’ll find our 25 most anticipated books for the upcoming season. You’ll find romance, conspiracies, history, sports and more . . . which will you read first?
What other fall books are you most excited about?
Blueprints for Building Better Girls by Elissa Schappell
Mothers, daughters, friends, wives and lovers—from the late ’70s to the present day—fill the pages of Elissa Schappell’s wise and witty linked short story collection.
What It Is Like to Go to War by Karl Marlantes
The author of the highly acclaimed Matterhorn uses his personal experiences as illustrations of the psychological, philosophical and spiritual dilemmas that combat soldiers face—in the field and upon returning home.
The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach
This remarkable coming-of-age story, set at a New England college during an extraordinary baseball season, marks Harbach as a writer to watch.
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
This imaginative debut, set in a magical circus, follows two rival magicians who select champions to represent them in a deadly competition.
Life Itself by Roger Ebert
The popular film critic tells the story of his life. Readers of his popular blog–and his reviews—know that Ebert is a wonderful writer; expect this to be great.
The Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard
Millard, author of The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt’s Darkest Journey, is back with a compelling narrative about the assassination of President James A. Garfield.
Reamde by Neal Stephenson
In his most accessible novel yet, Neal Stephenson delivers a fast-paced tech thriller that takes place around the world. In a review of Stephenson’s The System of the World, one BookPage reviewer wrote that the author “practices alchemy of the literary variety, turning words into gold.” Can’t ask for more than that.
The End of the Wasp Season by Denise Mina
Mina follows up Still Midnight with another mystery starring Detective Inspector Alex Morrow—who is called to investigate after a millionaire banker commits suicide.
The Swerve by Stephen Greenblatt
The author of Will in the World (a brilliant biography of Shakespeare) turns his attention to the great cultural “swerve” known as the Renaissance.
Rin Tin Tin by Susan Orlean
One of our best narrative nonfiction writers returns with the story of one of the most remarkable dogs of all time: Rin Tin Tin.
Boomerang by Michael Lewis
The author of many popular nonfiction books including The Blind Side, Liar’s Poker and Next: The Future Just Happened investigates the U.S. financial crisis, and how it effects markets abroad—and vise versa.
The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman
There’s no magic here; Hoffman takes readers to the year 70 CE to dramatize a historical event: the storming of the fortress of Masada where 900 Jews took a stand against the Romans. She tells the story from the perspectives of three very different women. May be the novel fans of The Red Tent have been waiting for?
When She Woke by Hilary Jordan
This novel from the author of Mudbound is sure to be big; it’s a re-telling of The Scarlet Letter set in the not-too-distant future.
The Night Strangers by Chris Bohjalian
A pilot who has to make an emergency landing on water (think Sully) survives the crash. 39 of the 47 other people on board do not. Haunted by the past, he moves with his wife and two daughters to a rambling Victorian house in Vermont, where the haunting becomes literal. Look for shades of The Shining.
The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides
Nearly 10 years after publishing Middlesex, Eugenides will publish The Marriage Plot—the story of a love triangle that takes place after the three main characters graduate from college in 1982.
Zone One by Colson Whitehead
In the wake of the plague, Mark Spitz is working to clear Manhattan of the infected ones—though the only zombies left in the area are not the dangerous kind but the “malfunctioning” sort who are basically catatonic and mourning their former lives. Then it all starts to go wrong.
Nanjing Requiem by Ha Jin
Set during the notorious Nanjing massacre, Nanjing Requiem fictionalizes the experiences of a real-life American missionary, Minnie Vautrin, who stays in China during the 1937 Japanese invasion in the hopes that she can help the community she has lived in for more than a decade.
IQ84 by Haruki Murakami
Murakami’s 1Q84 (a play on Orwell’s 1984) was first published in three volumes in Japan. Critics have called this story a “magnum opus,” and readers have made it a bestseller in Japan. Now Americans can see what all the fuss is about. Added convenience: Knopf will release the trilogy as one single volume (it’ll be 928 pages!).
Midnight Rising by Tony Horwitz
Tony Horowitz—author of Blue Latitudes (and husband of Geraldine Brooks)—shares the story of abolitionist John Brown and his raid on Harpers Ferry in 1859.
Blue Nights by Joan Didion
Didion’s haunting memoir of her husband’s death and illness, The Year of Magical Thinking, was a surprise bestseller. Now she chronicles the life of her daughter Quintana Roo, and ponders aging and death once again.
The Next Always by Nora Roberts
Perennial bestseller Nora Roberts launches the Inn BoonsBoro Trilogy with The Next Always. This series is especially intriguing because it is inspired by the real Inn BoonsBoro, which Roberts bought and restored in 2007.
11/22/1963 by Stephen King
After a high school teacher discovers a portal to 1958 in a diner’s back room, he sets out on a mission to try to prevent the Kennedy assassination. So begins Jake’s new life as George Amberson and his new world of Elvis and JFK, of big American cars and sock hops, of a troubled loner named Lee Harvey Oswald and a beautiful high school librarian named Sadie Dunhill, who becomes the love of Jake’s life—a life that transgresses all the normal rules of time.
The Prague Cemetery by Umberto Eco
Umberto Eco (The Name of the Rose) will inspire plenty of paranoia with his latest work of historical fiction, which investigates conspiracies throughout history.
Catherine the Great by Robert K. Massie
Though Catherine’s eventful life would be a gripping read no matter what, we have high hopes for Massie’s version: His 1981 book, Peter the Great, won the Pulitzer and is pretty much the best bio ever.
Mrs. Nixon by Ann Beattie
Beattie was a literary phenom from the start, hailed as the voice of her generation by no less than the New Yorker, which published many of her stories in the 1980s. Now she tells the story of Pat Nixon, the wife of our most infamous president.
Also biographies of Vonnegut and Richard Brautigan.
Surprised that DeLillo’s first short story collection doesn’t make the list.
I’m already on the hold list at the library for night circus and Dovekeepers sounds really good. It’s always good to throw in a Zombie book- Zone one.
I love reading fiction but the books I am most looking forward to are both non-fiction and about rock stars!
1.) Jagger: Rebel, Rock-Star, Rambler, Rogue by Mark Spitz
2.) Fleetwood Mac: The Definitive History by Mike Evans
When is the second volume of the Hemingses story coming out? How bout the final volume of the LBJ biography?
James Lee Burke has a book coming out this fall which is my most anticipated book!
I know I’m eagerly anticipating the fall release of “Forbidden” by Ted Dekker & Tosca Lee, and our teenaged daughter can’t wait to get her hands on “Inheritance” by Christopher Paolini.
Hands down, my most anticipated book is Terry Pratchett’s “Snuff” — due out Oct. 13, 2011. Pratchett is a modern day Jonathan Swift and can do no wrong, in this reader’s opinion. If you’ve never had the pleasure, try “Night Watch” as an introduction to the hilarious wonder that is Discworld.
Even though I hate to wish time away, I can’t wait to read Joan Didion’s new book “Blue Nights”! And Jeffrey Eugenides “The Marriage Plot”. So many books. so little time!
This must be the best bookish fall in my life. THANK YOU Corey up there for mentioning the Vonnegut bio! I did a search a couple months ago wishing there was a great Vonnegut bio and wouldn’t have known about this one otherwise.
I’ve been eagerly awaiting:
1Q84 – can’t wait!!
The Marriage Plot – it sounds great! And I love that the first page mentions a bunch of 19th century books, and according to the title, pretty much what it is about.
River of Smoke by Amitav Ghosh – I’ve been waiting for this the second I finished the last page of the first in the Ibis trilogy.
Wildwood – Colin Meloy – a songwriter I always said should write books
Zone One – zombies!
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline -sounds like nerdy fun
Underdogs – Markus Zusak – I loved The Book Thief
Out of Oz – Gregory Maguire – in November I think and I still haven’t read the third book in the Wicked series!
When She Woke – Hillary Jordan -though I still haven’t read her first book on my shelf OR The Scarlet Letter it is based on..somehow I missed that one?
I was sent an advance copy of The Night Circus.. so that will be next before all these other great books are out. Best book season ever. Bookish craziness. And already I know of a ton of great books for spring.
I have to admit that I’m not a huge Stephen King fan, however, 11/22/1963 looks really intriguing to me. I can’t wait to read it!
On neither the summer book list nor fall list is ” The Woodcutter” by Reginald Hill. Readers of his Dalziel and Pascoe stores will know that it is a must read and absolutely great. It is a stand-alone book.
It didn’t make the list, but our Whodunit? columnist called it “the ‘don’t miss’ book of the month—perhaps even the year!” That has to count for something! Check out the rest of the August column here: http://bookpage.com/column/crime-creeps-and-the-book-of-2011
The two off the list that I want to read is the new Stephen King book and the book by Nora Roberts.
Great Updates!
Thanks for the updates…looking forward to “The Woodcutter.”
Great news about James Lee Burke. I even sweat when I read his vivid descriptions of Louisiana bayou country although it’s similar weather in this state also.
Pingback: Looking Forward to the Fall « Commentary Magazine
I am eagerly awaiting for the last installment of The Strain Trilogy, The Night Eternal, by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuch Hogan!
Read “A Dog Story” from Elissa Schappell’s Blueprints for Building Better Girls at http://www.anderbo.com/anderbo1/andexcerpt11.html
Pingback: A look at fall books | The Hispanic Reader
I tink I will read Rin Tin Tin. We’ve had three German Shepherds, and they are incredible dogs. So smart and affectionate. I’ve heard about Rin Tin Tin, and I look forward to reading about him.
Pingback: Interesting things to read | News from the Plumb Library
I am anxiously awaiting two new releases–James Lee Burke’s Feast Day of Fools, along with Charles Frazier’s Nightwoods.
I have to agree with the person who said best fall releases ever!! I got an email from my library that i had books in to pick up. holy cow! 6 books at once. I need a vacation from work if i am to get anything done but reading for the next 2 weeks!!!!!
Phew, what a pot of delicious titles. I must check out, THE NIGHT STRANGERS Chris Bohjalian, and 22/11/63 Stephen King, (this one, just because of the era)
Thankyou. Needed something a bit different to check out.
Dave
Attractive component to content. I simply stumbled upon your weblog and in accession capital to say that I acquire in fact loved account your weblog posts. Any way I will be subscribing on your augment or even I fulfillment you get entry to consistently fast.
I reviewed Zone One for BookBrowse.com: http://www.bookbrowse.com/mag/reviews/index.cfm/book_number/2620/zone-one
I’m reading “The Dovekeepers” by Alice Hoffman…it’s not the easiest read but it’s detailed and brings the story alive in my mind. It’s excellent.
My brother suggested I would possibly like this blog. He used to be entirely right. This submit truly made my day. You cann’t consider just how so much time I had spent for this info! Thank you!