Fall Fiction

May 28, 2008 10:10 AM

Recommend some fiction that takes place in autumn.

I'm an East-coaster living in California and I miss the seasons. My favorite is autumn, and I'd like to read some fiction that takes place in autumn/has good descriptions of fall weather/in which the season features large in one way or another. Any ideas?

posted by prior to grab bag (16 comments total)

One of my favorite autumn books is Chris Van Allsburg's The Stranger.
posted by bubukaba at 10:15 AM on May 28

John Cheever's "The Swimmer" might also qualify - it's available here with lots of popups.
posted by bubukaba at 10:30 AM on May 28 [1 favorite]

Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury. The best.
posted by Guy_Inamonkeysuit at 10:34 AM on May 28 [1 favorite]

Guy_Inamonkeysuit beat me to it. Positively dripping with autumnalness.
posted by Artw at 10:40 AM on May 28

Autumn by David Moody, funnily enough. It's about the zombie apocalypse in England. The weather has a fairly central role. Lots of vivid imagery; rain, sunsets, chilly nights, woodsmoke, etc.
posted by hjo3 at 11:02 AM on May 28

And Dhalgren, but... well... that's a tough row to hoe, that book.
posted by Guy_Inamonkeysuit at 11:07 AM on May 28

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving
posted by ericb at 11:24 AM on May 28

Brad Leithauser's Equal Distance.
posted by rokusan at 12:00 PM on May 28

The Shipping News progresses from fall into winter. I read it every summer, when it's too damn hot to exist. Makes me feel cooler.
posted by mudpuppie at 12:00 PM on May 28

More Ray Bradbury - his short story compilation October Country. You cant go wrong with Bradbury imho.
posted by elendil71 at 12:42 PM on May 28

'Salem's Lot takes place in the late Fall
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 12:53 PM on May 28

I might also add The Halloween Tree by Bradbury. I should also point out that he has published a 'sequel' to Dandelion Wine called "Farewell Summer" recently. Havent read it so I cannot comment on the appropriateness for the post, but it sounds promising.
posted by elendil71 at 12:53 PM on May 28

Maybe the Cider House Rules? I haven't read it but saw the movie a while ago. I remember apple picking and flanel, which leads me to think of fall.
posted by sully75 at 1:04 PM on May 28

House of Zeor is a science fiction story that has the characters tromping through miserable Novermber-ish weather.
posted by Phalene at 5:18 PM on May 28

Faulkner's Go Down, Moses has a number of hunting scenes that occur in the fall. It's all very symbolic and such.
posted by devilsbrigade at 5:44 PM on May 28

American Gods has some of that stormy November feeling in parts (and then a lot of winter).
posted by salvia at 11:11 PM on May 28