A Big, Juicy Round Up of Fall Recommendations
What are your hopes and dreams for the fall? Mine are to: a) eat all the Reese’s pumpkins, bats, and ghosts I can get my hands on, and b) consume the great movies, books, etc. that come out in the fall. If you feel the same, here’s a juicy list of fun stuff to read, watch, cook and wear (and I’d love to hear your recs!)…
Movies: Left-Handed Girl was shot on a 4K iPhone camera (!), and that kind of grit reflects the film itself. The story follows a Taiwanese woman and her two daughters who relocate to Taipei to open a night market stall, struggling to make ends meet and squeezing into a tiny flat. Among stunning scenes of city life, the movie portrays the tender, complex relationships between mothers and daughters. Can’t wait to watch.
British actor Josh O’Connor’s face somehow manages to show 100 expressions at the same time, and I love his bashful sexiness. So, I was thrilled to see that he plays the lead in The Mastermind (October 17th). The movie follows J.B. Mooney, a schlumpy unemployed dad in the ’70s, who decides his new job should be…art thief. What could possibly go wrong?
TV: My current guilty pleasure is watching Love Is Blind from various countries and observing the cultural differences. It’s called anthropology, guys. For example, when the American couples see each other for the first time, the women usually run to the men and giddily spin around; whereas in France, they typically lock eyes, slooooooooowly approach one another, and wordlessly begin to kiss. In the Swedish version, people tend to be more blunt — when one woman asked her fiancé, “Did you tell your mom about me on the phone?” he calmly answered, “No.” I don’t know if these norms are true widely, or just with the people who appear on reality TV, but it’s fun to watch nonetheless. Special thank you to Freddie for being a generous listener while I talked about this non-stop during dinner last Friday.
I’m always excited for a good psychological thriller — think: The Talented Mr. Ripley, Parasite — so the premise of The Girlfriend jumped right out. When gallery owner Laura (Robin Wright) meets her son’s new girlfriend (Olivia Cooke), she fears she’s a manipulative social climber, but is she just being paranoid? Who can we trust? Elle says it’s a “must-watch” and the Guardian calls it a “sexy oedipal thriller” and “brilliantly slippery beast of a drama.” (Watch the trailer here, if you’d like.)
Books: Gabrielle Hamilton’s first memoir — Blood, Bones & Butter – was described by Anthony Bourdain as “simply the best memoir by a chef ever.” Somehow I missed that one, but this month her second memoir, Next of Kin (October 14th), brought me to my knees. While taking care of her ill mother, from whom she’d been estranged for decades, Gabrielle looks back at the family she grew up in — her charismatic dad, demanding mom, and four brothers and sisters. Like a family, the memoir is, by turns, hilarious, electric, unflinching, and devastating. A few lines I flagged: “He gets into hot water all over town but gets himself right out because, as one of the grownups says, He can charm the rats off a cheesecake.” “The way my mother loved to introduce herself at dinner parties…was to quip, ‘If you haven’t got anything nice to say about anybody, come sit next to me!’” “I’d been living with all of my questions like a hoarder who lives with stacked newspapers and bags of kitty litter. So crowded is my own mind with loose questions stacked on top of other questions that certain doors can’t even open all the way.”
Also, every single fall book list I’ve read so far features The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy, a novel that follows five female friends over two decades. From their 20s to their 40s, they navigate careers, marriages, motherhood, and city life, aka “the wilderness,” that life stage where the demands of adulthood become real and you have to figure out your tangled path. Can anyone relate?
A few more upcoming books: Heart the Lover by Lily King, The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai, and Wreck by our beloved Catherine Newman.
Food: My boys are finally at the age where they’ll eat soup! I don’t know what they held against it until now, but as long as a crusty baguette is on the table, they’re game for whatever’s in the bowl. Samin Nosrat’s corn soup is delicious, plus our old favorite zucchini soup recipe and my friend’s tortilla soup with toppings. Separately, any pumpkin-y recipes you swear by? All ears.
Beauty: At age 46, I finally figured out my hair, which meant packing away my blow dryer and straightener, and instead simply air drying with a few excellent products. RŌZ milk hair serum is my newest find — you just smooth on a little bit, and it makes your hair smooth and silky and sleek, even on humid or rainy days. Your hair also smells clean and fresh all day, like you just got out of the shower. I keep raving about it, and now a bunch of my friends are hooked, too. Bonus for all readers: RŌZ is offering 15% off everything (except bundles) with code COJ15, good until September 30th.
Style: Finally, do you have pieces you’ve worn so many times they feel like old friends? I’ve pulled on my J.Crew cashmere sweater a thousand times over the years; it’s super soft and works with jeans, pants, skirts, everything. This relaxed one is also effortlessly beautiful — chic as a sweater, easy as a sweatshirt — and I’d love to wear it all the time, too, maybe with a hair tuck. And, of course, the biggest trend right now: red flats, like these and these.
What would you add? What are you watching, reading, wearing, and eating? And Shana Tova to those who celebrate!
P.S. Funny dos and don’ts, and what are your top three books?
(Illustration of Wilderness by Gigi Rose Gray / New York Times.)
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Comments
149 comments– Watching: nothing, I’m taking a break from TV – Reading: just finished The Wedding People (by Alison Espach) – gosh, I loved the book SOOOO much. Comes quite close in terms of warmth and self-discovery to my absolute favourite “Project Hail Mary”, by Andy Weir. – Eating: this Bon Appetit lentil salad, over and over. Can’t get enough of this weird flavour combo – thanks to whoever recommended it earlier on COJ! https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/make-ahead-lentil-salad
The girlfriend was so, so good! Seeing the same scene from two perspectives was brilliant. Suspenseful but not too scary for this wimp. Thanks for the rec and happy fall!!
I have been making this pumpkin bread every weekend. My 2 year old daughter loves it so much and now says everything smells like pumpkin bread- even the concrete sidewalk. https://teachingfromscratch.org/sourdough-banana-bread-recipe/
Watching: Nothing :( My three kids (10-14) and husband are currently very chatty in the evenings, and I’m staying sane by putting myself to bed on time after giving them all some one-on-one attention. I just keep reminding myself that this season is only a few years of my life, and I’ll miss it. Looking forward to Shrinking returning later this year though! Reading: just finished This is Our Story by Ashley Elston – YA whodunnit murder mystery; not gruesome/scary. **** Wearing: fleece pants, a “homebody” crewneck sweater, and wool glerups slippers (PNW) Eating: so much tomato toast! Griddled sourdough, mayo, end-of-season-tomatoes, sea salt
Ya’ll, it’s 3am and I just finished reading the book Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley. My millennial heart is so in love with this book! Highly recommend!!
Oh my gosh I just stumbled on this post/comment but I’m halfway through this book and I love it so much!! I feel like there are a lot of novels written in a detached tone about a character who doesn’t care about much and it is such a delight to be in someone’s head who cares SO MUCH about anything, and especially music! I’ve been reading a little slowly to savor it but might just finish it all this weekend.
I wish my girls would eat soup! What a milestone.
I’m the type to listen to a song I really vibe with on repeat for days, but Tate McRae’s whole album “So Close To What” has been on repeat for a week now!!! Three skips only.
Bri McKoy’s Harvest Chili uses canned pumpkin and pumpkin ale but those flavors turn into some amazing flavor in this soup without tasting pumpkin-y. Highly recommend – it is a fall and winter regular at our house. Highly recommend her cookbook! Perfect for bridal showers or housewarming gifts. https://brimckoy.com/pumpkin-chili-recipe-perfect-chilly-weather/
Two compelling and fun reads: my son’s applying to college in the fall, so reading ‘Sandwich’ a few weeks ago hit home hard. Followed that up with ‘Vera, or Faith’, which given everything going on resonated deeply too. For a listen – a podcast episode I’d recommend to anyone who has someone in their life with ADHD, especially a child – latest one on Laugh Lines with Dr. Emily King. I wish every single one of my kid’s teachers would listen to it.
Thank you for sharing, Maddie! I’ll listen the episode on my walk tomorrow.
Watching- Gardeners’ World with Monty Don (YouTube)- soooo soothing Reading- Trip by Amie Barrodale- just as the title suggests, it’s trippy Wearing- Today, it’s my Ann Taylor classic black suit (surprise, I’m a lawyer lol) Eating- tomatoes, eggplant and peppers from the garden ( I wish it could go on forever…)
Gardner’s World is the ultimate slow/cozy TV.
Reading: The house by the cerulean sea by TJ Klune. It’s so, so good!! The cover endorsement says, “It’s like being wrapped up in a big gay blanket. Simply perfect” which I just think is the most delightful quote ever and perfectly encapsulates the vibes.
I am having an obsession with excellent food writing in fiction, so I’m reading through a lot of Ruth Reichl’s work—just finished the Paris Novel! I know I preached about it here before, but I also loved Piglet for the same glorious food writing!
Watching: A K-drama called “Sell Your Haunted House” on Viki. Highly recommend for anyone looking for something to watch during spooky season! It’s about a realtor who is also an exorcist and specializes in selling haunted houses after getting rid of the ghosts. It has a “monster of the week” kind of format, but the stories about the ghosts are really compelling, as is the relationship between the realtor and her ghost mom. There’s also a slow burn romance with a con man who also happens to be a medium. Reading: I love fantasy year round, but during this time of year I especially like to lean into all the witchy vibes. Some recommendations — The Hexologists (gas lamp fantasy, adorable husband and wife couple investigate magic crimes, does go a little dark), The Tainted Cup and its sequel A Drop of Corruption (Sherlock and Watson-type investigator pair, very unique fantasy world with magic system related to botany, again does have some horror vibes). I’m also eagerly awaiting the new T. Kingfisher, Hemlock & Silver, to come off hold at my library. Wearing: Currently 6 months pregnant so it’s mostly maternity leggings and oversized shirts and sweaters. Anyone have good pants recs that could work for both maternity and non-maternity? I can’t commit to buying full on maternity jeans since I know once I don’t have a bump, they’ll be difficult to wear, but I miss pants! Eating: I made this creamy tortellini soup from Dan Pelosi this week and it’s been so perfect for the chilly, rainy week we’ve been having here in Maine. (NYT gift link) https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1026148-creamy-tortellini-soup?unlocked_article_code=1.ok8.q0eM.jMXzaGaVn0Xt&smid=share-url
I’m also 6 months pregnant and love the pants I got from Emme Mama! https://emmemama.com/ The cotton gauze especially are soooo comfy. The price is worth it for me because they are wearable throughout the whole pregnancy and after, and I like supporting a small woman-owned company. They also have a denim jogger – I don’t have that one but it looks cute. I will say, a friend gave me a couple pairs of maternity jeans, and it does feel good to put on “real” jeans. I’d suggest thrifting! I’ve found a bunch at Goodwill and online through Poshmark. Also, Sell Your Haunted House sounds fantastic, I’ll be checking that out!
Do you have kids’ clothing consignment sales in your area? I’m in the Chicago suburbs and some of the schools do very large sales twice a year; many include maternity clothes in them. You would pay $5 for pants that were originally $80. Or try thrift stores or eBay? (Side note: My pet peeve when pregnant and before I knew about the options above, was going to very expensive maternity stores and only finding pants made for very tall women, with very skinny thighs but very large belly bumps. Which, sure there are a couple of those out there, but why weren’t there pants for the 5 ft 4 in average height woman with normal thighs (and butts) that have pregnancy plumped, but aren’t carrying triplets????
I had a baby a month ago and I hated all the actual maternity pants I tried. Over the belly was so uncomfortable to me! I swore by wide legged linen elastic waist pants (found them at a local boutique but most brands have an equivalent right now) up until 41 weeks and am still wearing them postpartum! Also my pre pregnancy size was a 6 and I got some low rise Old Navy jeans in a size 10 for $15 and am still wearing them postpartum with a screw on button to adjust as belly grows and now as my body changes back. I also found that flared leggings look a bit more like pants and are fun with the bump! Adjustable button here – https://www.amazon.com/ICEYLI-Removable-Replacement-Screwdrivers-Clothing/dp/B08H72786M
I’m 7 months pregnant and I’ve been wearing my pre-pregnancy Athleta endless pants my whole pregnancy! They have a stretchy band that’s not FULLY over my belly and look like slacks. I wore my normal size the first 2 trimesters and a size up now. I find a lot of options on Poshmark for 1/2 off too!
Re: Soup AND pumpkin! I also remember being anti-soup for much of my life until my thirties and now I can’t get enough. My girlfriends and I have dubbed Sundays from October to March as “Soup Sundays.” Each week we share what recipe we’re making and it gives me something to look forward to on Sundays instead of dreading the sunday scaries. It’s wonderful for romanticizing the cold/dark months (Chicago) and usually provides enough for a couple days’ dinners or lunches. My friend shared this pumpkin turkey chili, now one of my all time favorite soup recipes and perfect for fall! https://familystylefood.com/turkey-pumpkin-chili/
Annaliese, my husband and I also do Soup Sundays in the fall and winter! And then Sandwich Sundays in the summer to avoid turning on the stove :)
I’m making this tomorrow! Thanksss!!
Watching: The Summer I Turned Pretty ( I hate it ! ha ) Can’t wait to check out the recs here Wearing : scrubs or PJs Reading : Just finished Fox by Joyce Carol Oates WOW Eating : whatever my husband puts in front of me at the end of my long work day. Yesterday it was grilled cheese and tomato soup ! :)
Highly rec the Girlfriend! I am not a binger – I can usually only watch one episode of anything, or half a movie, before I get restless. Sat myself down for 3+ hours, made my husband stay, just watching episode after episode. A fun roller coaster ride of a show! As for books, I’ve been going through a stressful time, and am gravitating towards books that are fun, take me for a ride, and don’t ask much of me. Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson delivered, as did The Husbands by Holly Gramazio. I look forward to getting back in the mood for literary fiction, but not there yet!
Loved The Husbands on audiobook. So clever!
OMG I loved the husbands! I bet the audiobook is fantastic!
Hey Joanna! Do you mind sharing your air dry hair routine? What other products do you use?
hi!! I use rōz shampoo and conditioner, comb it when it’s wet, and then I used to use oribe but now I use rōz hair serum so it dries to look silky and piece-y (if that makes sense!). that’s all :)
Watching: Nothing. Reading: The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden. Sexy, riveting, and electric. Wearing: Clothes. Eating: The softest fruit bread.
The Safekeep was such a great read!
The Safekeep was such a great read! So unusual and intriguing.
Just wanted to say, at Sephora (at least online) they have a small gift set for “winter hair” that has the roz hair milk! I just bought a ton of small travel sized hair products because I am committed to growing my hair despite the breakage.
For the pumpkin recipe, I swear by this soup on the My New Roots website: https://www.mynewroots.org/2016/11/pumpkin-miso-broth-soba/ – most of the time I don’t even bother with the soba and I just pair it with bread! I’d also recommend not skipping the mushroom if you can. It’s so rich and satisfying (tried and tested with several friends too!), I highly recommend it.
Watching: Brooklyn Nine-Nine (first time! So fun!) and waiting on Shrinking and Nobody Wants This to come back. Reading: Just finished Liz Gilbert’s new book. Looking forward to searching through the comments to find my next read! Wearing: I bought a comfy sweater, in a pretty shade a blue… with a mallard duck on it and I love it! Idk why it makes me so happy but it does. (It’s from TJ Max, or it’s called TK Max here, in Germany?) I should know its name here, apologies German readers. Eating: all the soups. Just made a butternut squash one, pair that with some delicious German bread and you have chefs kiss! We just ordered some canned pumpkin so we will be making some pumpkin muffins and marbled pumpkin cake soon too. Tis the season. 🎃🍁🧡
Yes to Shrinking and Nobody Wants This! Both are shows that my spouse and I can both enjoy (that Venn diagram doesn’t have a ton of overlap).
Watching: the Lilith Fair doc, Sort Of (heart-warming x 10000), and Left-Handed Girl Listening: the Heavyweight podcast is back! And a good bit of Fleetwood Mac. They’re having a moment, aren’t they? Reading: One Day Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad and Heart Lamp by Banu Mustaq Wearing: 3/4 boat neck shirt and a rugby half-zip from Kotn and yoga jeans which are so flexible and soft. Also debating these Mary Janes y/n? https://poppybarley.com/products/the-editorial-mary-jane-french-press-ready-to-wear?variant=41640771190871 Cooking: pies!
Yes Heavyweight! The only podcast I love and have listened to every episode. What is your favorite pie?
The new episode of Heavyweight is a knock out, don’t you think? WOW. Savoury pies are my fave, especially chicken pot pie but lately I’ve been throwing left-over stew into a dish with a crust on top and calling it pie. With braised greens on the side… perfection. Maybe an apple pie for dessert.
LOVE these Mary Jane’s
Second: I L O V E D watching Sort Of. I devoured it and loved every minute of it! Highly recommend.
I just finished listening to Ina Garten’s memoir, Be Ready When the Luck Happens, and loved it. It makes me want to cook! I’m on a little vacation right now, but am looking forward to picking one of her cookbooks out when I get home and get into the kitchen (and am hoping it cools down some in SoCal). I downloaded Kamala Harris’ new book, 107 Days, and am excited to listen. But today was not the day. Everything feels heavy. The Morning Show is back on Apple, so when I get home, my husband and I will be catching up on that. Lots of great shows have new seasons starting in the next couple of months, including The Diplomat and Shrinking. But tomorrow, I am off to San Francisco to meet up with my 4th grade BFF and belatedly celebrate our 60th birthdays!
Love is Blind France is so good (much better than the U.S. versions) — top drama!! The latest season of LIB Brazil, with a 50+ cast, is also very interesting.
I relocated south to my home state last year and I’m STRUGGLING with the heat. I grew up in a cooler climate, and was in NYC for a long time before we moved, and I just can’t get used to the heat and humidity continuing into October and November. Last Halloween, we were all sweating and couldn’t even really wear our costumes. I can handle it during the summer, but the endurance of the heat through autumn – a time of year I always loved for the crisp chill in the air, the changing leaves, etc.- it feels like a heartbreak and I honestly want to move away. But we can’t b/c of my husband’s job, we bought a house, etc. I feel so bad because I was the one who pushed to move here. I am trying to “get into it” because I can’t get out of it. Here are my ideas so far: -put a small “cocktail pool” in our backyard -buy more sleeveless, but professional dresses to wear to work -lose weight so I have less body fat keeping me hot -keep ice cold water with me at all times Did anyone feel like this and grow out of it and get used to the heat? Did anyone move south and then leave due to the heat, uproot your family and move back north? Thoughts/ ideas/ pep talks?
Can’t say I’ve been through this exact thing, but my advice is twofold. For now, definitely embrace what you can about the situation – the cocktail pool sounds fun! But if you aren’t happy there and your husband is open to it, I’d consider a longer term plan to move back. Obviously I don’t know your circumstances and what is feasible, but life is short and if that’s what you’d prefer I’d at least discuss the possibility. It’s okay to realize what you wanted is not serving you. Sending hugs in the meantime!
hi from michigan, where it also doesn’t feel like fall 😞 i don’t know if this is helpful, but because of climate change, cool weather is arriving later and less predictably. if we want fall, i think the best thing we can do is change our culture and politics to protect the planet instead of burning fossil fuels like we don’t know any better. i imagine this will be a bummer to read, but i thought it might be helpful to know that fall elsewhere is likely not as crisp and cozy as you’re imagining it 💛🧡
Peptalk: it takes time for your body to adjust! Keeping ice water with you and paying attention. to the fabrics you are wearing, not just the sleeve length, will help you adjust. Everyone has an “office shawl” or “office cardigan” for warmer months when it is too hot outside but freezing in air conditioning. Early morning exercise and an appreciation for the various forms of “cool air” that make their way to us will also help: Frost? breeze? lack of humidity? each bring their own form of relief!
texas girl here who loves cold weather, especially fall!, and knows the distinct disappointment of 90 degrees on halloween. this time of year is always a bummer, wishing and hoping for the cooler days while the rest of the world feels like it’s already bundling up in sweaters. but i do think there are ways to not only cope but make it special in it’s own way! a “cocktail pool” (we have “cowboy pools” in texas) are a great idea, as is the ice water. i agree with Allison that lighter fabrics help a lot, and use air conditioned spaces to break out your fall layers. and also like Allison said, your body will adjust! this is a hard one to remember. there’s also a little bit of just faking it if im honest. if there’s a rainy day, i seize the opportunity with sweatshirts, cozy drinks, and movies. go to pumpkin patches, eat fall flavored ice creams, light candles. and maybe my favorite thing – go on walks in the same places so you can start to notice the small seasonal changes, because they might not be as dramatic as you’re used to but they are there. sending you a hug and a fan!
For work dresses I really like MM LeFleur. They look great and they are washable.
Hi Mollie! I am not a fan of hot weather and I live in Texas were we also melt in Halloween costumes.. the only thing that worked for me: Hot exercise, I started doing hotworx, it’s different types of yoga, pilates workouts in a sauna.. sounds like hell, but my body got used to the heat and now I can endure 100 degree summer without a sweat.. good luck!!
Coffee to nurture a good attitude; Stretch to tend well my body; Read as the brain park where my imagination can frolic; Recipes to not take my health for granted. Those are the four coordinates my winter will navigate each day with purpose.
Blood, Bones & Butter is one of my all-time favorite memoirs. Beautifully written and evocative on every sensory level. Can’t wait to read Hamilton’s latest!!!
Jacob Tierney’s adaptation of Rachel Reid’s Heated Rivalry is coming out in Canada in November!!!! It was just announced today and they better find a US distributor for it, or I’m going to be pirating the hell out of it. I can’t wait to see it – it’s my feel good, so funny, so filled with yearning M/M hockey romance favorite! I can’t yell this loudly enough; it’s the best!!!
Smitten Kitchen’s black bean pumpkin soup is a winner. I also will make a pumpkin bolognese that’s quite tasty. You can mix pumpkin purée into pancake mix, subbing out a bit of the water.
My hopes & dreams for fall are numerous because I’m a teacher & I am in menopause & literally begging for cooler temps. A) I hope I can be effective in teaching students ways to manage their anxiety in these scary times or at least show them that there are still caring rational adults around. B) Dreaming of fall leaf peeping bike rides with my peeps ;)
Reading: Play Nice- just finished it, and while it’s not my usual kind of book, I LOVED it Watching (er, re-watching): Gilmore Girls Eating: Chai w/ Trader Joe’s pumpkin biscotti Wearing: A new plaid blouse from Old Navy with a little Peter pan collar and gold huggies
Can’t wait to to dig into Kiran Desai’s new book, The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny! Also excited for a couple of new books from Indian publishing … Tangerine by the brilliant and amazing Namita Devidayal, and Real Life by Amrita Mahale.
Oooo thank you for the recs! 😍 responding to so much because this post makes me excited! (Equally excited to read through all the comments later!) Re books, movies: Wreck!! Cannot wait! Adding Gabriel Hamilton to my to-read list. Love is Blind & The Girlfriend both sound captivating and will be keeping them in mind for cuddle-up-in-front-of-a-screen nights. I also have never read The Goldfinch but for some reason have envisioned reading it in the fall?! Re clothing: my neighbor who is in her 70s handed down to me a few beautiful, timeless wool and suede jackets, and I am eager to create outfits around them. Also ordering new pair of glasses in the prettiest shade of green! https://www.warbyparker.com/eyeglasses/gideon/green-tea-crystal Re food: I am so grateful for the link to Jenny’s Substack post and the chart she shared! How genius! Buying her book now and maybe just referencing that chapter all fall & winter?! Also re: soups! I know this sounds insane but I truly have to describe this lemony shrimp and bean stew as DIVINE. (Yes, shrimp and beans!) I’m not even a shrimp OR bean person! But it’s the best adjective for it. It’s been a favorite of every member of my family’s – kids included – since we first tried it a year or so ago. It might be the recipe we most frequently return to. We love it with sourdough that’s been toasted in olive oil with a pinch of flaky salt, but I’m confident crusty bread would be perfect too. We usually add a glug or two of white wine vingear while the leeks are cooking https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020828-lemony-shrimp-and-bean-stew?smid=ck-recipe-iOS-share Also, I deeply enjoy collecting seeds from my flowers – and others’ with permission – in the fall. It makes the death of the plants something beautiful to look forward to. Love being in nature at this time of year, the leaves, the grasses, the breezes..! Finally, a moody fall playlist in the background of it all 🍂🍁
Collecting flower seeds! On my morning walk th other day, I thought I should put some envelopes in my pocket for that purpose. My mother was always doing that — pinching mature seedheads from a plant she liked while out walking, and slipping it into an unused bill-paying envelope she carried in her purse. Labeling the seeds would also help, even if just “tall with orange flowers” or something if one doesn’t know the plant. She was a thrifty environmentalist.
I don’t usually watch TV but I’m currently using a free 3-months of Apple TV to watch Ted Lasso (starting over from the beginning) and it’s much healthier than doomscrolling for an hour every night, that’s for sure. I’m currently reading Heart Lamp which won the Booker International prize. I’ve been reading more fiction from Southeast Asia in recent years and it’s always fascinating as I know very very little about any of the cultures and countries.
I’m reading Heart Lamp too! Isn’t it fantastic?
I just finished Heart Lamp with my book club. Not being from India, I felt like there was a lot of context that I was missing. It made me super curious about the author and her life experience. And I am glad I was able to read something so different from my usual type of book.
Almost forgot to highly recommend the movie Twinless! A brilliant movie by a young filmmaker who wrote, directed and plays one of the leads. It might be hard to find but worth the search.
That was an unexpected film! Fascinating.
Oh yes I loved it too
https://carolinagelen.substack.com/p/pumpkin-focaccia I didn’t add the toppings shown opting for homemade sage salt since I made a recent batch. The bread recipe is delicious. Appreciate all the book rec’s!
Oooh I’m noting down so many recs, really love these kind of posts! Thank you Joanna and all the CoJ readers! My autumn obsession is season 5 of Only Murders In The Building and getting inspired by Mabel’s outfits! I always love diving back in Janelle’s articles from season 2 & 3 (*wink wink*secretly praying for a season 5 one!) https://cupofjo.com/2022/08/11/only-murders-building-outfits/ https://cupofjo.com/2023/09/27/only-murders-in-the-building-best-outfits/
Thank you for always linking books to Bookshop! I’m excited to read Wreck too! Plus Malala’s new book and 107 days by Kamala. Cynthia Erivo also has a new book coming out soon!
Might I recommend this Harvest Chili from Bri McKoy? It’s tomato free and features PUMPKIN and pumpkin ale, should you want to add it. It’s delicious! https://brimckoy.com/pumpkin-chili-recipe-perfect-chilly-weather/
My favorite soup is Melissa Clark’s Lemony White Bean soup with turkey and kale. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/23/dining/this-soup-is-a-hug.html looking forward to reading Ta-Nehisi Coates’ The Message.
This is my favorite soup as well! Another winner is this lentil veggie/sausage soup from Smitten Kitchen that is infinitely adaptable. Love a tomato and red lentil base: https://smittenkitchen.com/2013/01/lentil-soup-with-sausage-chard-and-garlic/ Just read and loved Atmosphere, The Three Lives of Cate Kay, and The Correspondent Recent movies: My Old Ass and Never Let Me Go (2010)
I loved Blood, Bones, & Butter, so I’m so excited to learn (here) that Gabrielle’s book will be out soon! Also eager to watch The Girlfriend, and super hyped to read Heart the Lover (I loved Writers and Lovers). And yesterday I saw the trailer for Maggie Gyllenhaal’s The Bride and am so excited (love the punk Bonnie & Clyde horror vibes!), but it will be hard waiting until March of 2026 for its release!
Did anyone else read Hazel Says No by Jessica Berger Gross? There is a Cup of Jo shout out AND it was a fantastic novel!
If anyone is looking for fall/witchy vibes, reading the Practical Magic series is fantastic! Much more in depth than the movie and so great this time of year. The Unmaking of June Farrow is another great fall read, as is The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. Both are such good reads! Also, anything by Daphne Du Maurier tends to be spooky with great writing and mystery. My next read is Weyward, which was highly recommended as another great fall read.
In the witchy vibes category, i LOVE “The Change” by Kirsten Miller. It’s about mid-life women who develop witchy powers when they go through menopause. Thriller, mystery, supernatural/witchy…and empowering badass midlife women!
Magic Lessons is one of my all time favorite novels, but the whole series is wonderful.
I’ve never heard of The Change. Thanks for the recommendation- I’m excited to read it! You might also like “Calling Invisible Women”. Not witchy but middle aged women becoming invisible. It’s so good.
For further witchy vibes, might I recommend the books: Weyward, Lolly Willowes, and Juniper
Thanks! I’m always looking for Halloween witchy books in the fall. Adding these to my list!
I am here for this soup talk! I just made this recipe for the first time last week. Filling and delicious. https://rainbowplantlife.com/lemony-chickpea-soup/
I’m making so many notes for book/TV/movies recs! Thanks ! Just finished reading “Ghosts” by Dolly Alderton- it’s about dating and being ghosted. I really enjoy her writing. I’m about to start The Nix by Nathan Hill. I absolutely ADORED his last latest novel Wellness, so I’m looking forward to this one. I’m currently watching Pernille on Netflix- love it so much. I’m intrigued by the Norwegian language and culture.
I loved Wellness and couldn’t stop talking about it! And I want to be best friends with Pernille,
Ghosts was fantastic, as was Wellness!!! Wellness was both a slog to get through and INCREDIBLE at the same time, one that I can’t stop thinking about.
I currently love to combine pumpkin and carrot in a soup. No specific recipe – I just make a plain/basic soup with onions, carrots, pumpkin and chicken stock.
I need some books that feel like an escape right now. Nothing too heavy! Any recommendations out there?
I don’t know your tastes, but T. Kingfisher is my go-to for an escape! She writes fantasy with a pinch (or a lot of) romance. Some of her books are darker in theme, but The Saint of Steel series is my favourite and pretty light, starting with Paladin’s Grace. Complex world + intrigue + a sexy swordsman who likes to knit!!
Have you read the Thursday Murder Club books? Little mystery, a lot of funny, very cozy, relatively low stakes.
Emma Straub’s This Time Tomorrow was heart-happy escapism for me.
Two lighter-hearted novels I’ve read recently that felt like a reprieve from the world: First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison (romance, spicy Sleepless in Seattle vibes); The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett (kooky found family + a cat on a road trip with some touches of magical realism). Honorary mention: the Monk & Robot series by Becky Chambers always feel like a wonderful warm embrace of escapism.
Try Kevin Wilson’s novels. Short, fun, YA feel.
J.Penner’s Adenashire series is delightful cozy fantasy. It starts with A Fellowship of Bakers & Magic. Or Deanna Raybourn’s Veronica Speedwell series (lady detective but not grisly mayhem).
I’ve been feeling the same way! Anything Carley Fortune has been an escape for me right now. :)
Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers is such a great escape! Really warmed my heart
Thank you all for these recommendations! Updating my library hold list now!
Anything by Katherine Center would fit this bill for me. I love her books when I need escape, light and witty reads.
For Beth who loves family dramas spanning generations, I cannot recommend highly enough the Cazalet Chronicles by Elizabeth Jane Howard. It is a set of five novels that span from the 1920s to the 1950s and feature an upper middle class British family. I rarely reread books, but I’ve read the set twice and will undoubtedly read it again. All of the characters have such depth, and the books are an amazing window into the massive social changes in Britain over the course of those decades.
Nothing better than a September Cazalet reread <3 (just finished mine! I had the books on Kindle and got a beautiful paper edition, I'm so glad)
Late to this thread, but I also love the Cazalets! I heard about the series on the podcast for the London literary magazine and bookshop, Slightly Foxed, as a comfort read in the early days of the pandemic. So good! Like Louise Penny’s books, I savor these and have read them slowly over time, and still have only one or two left. I’ve gifted the first book to several people, too!
Movies I want to see: The Baltimorons, Eleanor the Great, The Mastermind, Dead of Winter, The History of Sound. Shows: Not as many of these but am watching Black Rabbit and the new season of Only Murders Books: Too many of those including ones you mentioned, The Phoebe Variations, The White Octopus Hotel, The Botanist’s Assistant, 6:40 to Montreal, The Second Chance Cinema, and more. I also want to make some apple snacking cake from a recipe I recently read. Also, I am going to NYC in early November. I wonder if we could get a crowd source or you sourced or whomever post about updated things to do in NY as an adult when you have been there enough to see the major tourism stuff but still want to see some new things. I know I would have suggestions, but would love to hear from others.
Would love the NY recommendations. I used to live in NYC for three years in my twenties, but now wants to visit and do some new things.
the brooklyn museum — my favorite place in the world
The Balmorians was very enjoyable, as was A Little Prayer.. Also want to see Eleanor the Great
Hi Elizabeth and Min! Nightmare before Christmas lights at NY botanical garden in the Bronx https://feverup.com/m/414167?thm=5678&cp_landing_source=thenightmarebeforechristmaslighttrail&utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic! If you are in Brooklyn – the Brooklyn Museum is wonderful and there will be a new Monet exhibit this fall. Also weather permitting you can explore Prospect Park and the neighborhoods near by before or after – lots of fun places and good food in Prospect Heights or Park Slope. Also, I find a lot of things to do (some are much more touristy than others) looking at Time Out NY – here is a link to November events: https://www.timeout.com/newyork/events-calendar/november-events-calendar Enjoy your trip!!
The Frick Museum!!! Even if you have been; it’s just re opened after after an years long refresh, and it is GORGEOUS! More spaces open, more on display, it is truly truly a jewel box. You will be astonished at the range of real masters paintings, from many eras, and the splendor of the building itself. It’s eyepopping. Make reservations, because the word is out, and its a hot ticket. Not a long slog, you can get through all of it in several hours, but take your time feasting your eyes on the incredible treasures within. We spent a week in NYC, after a week in Boston, and the Frick was my favorite thing in the entire 2 weeks!
My favorite pumpkin recipe is this curry with pumpkin, lentils and tahini: https://www.ica.se/recept/linscurry-med-pumpa-kokos-och-lime-722760/ (you’ll have to put it through a translator) It’s nice enough to serve guests! I serve it with rice and the suggested cucumber sallad and yoghurt sauce, but also with my mum’s coriander pesto (switch in koriander instead of basil, feta instead of parmesan, and sunflower seeds instead of pine nuts).
This looks amazing!
Pernille on Netflix is really good. If you liked Pam Aldon’s Better Things you’ll probably love it. I got sucked in to this Norwegian series about a single mother fast!
Love Pernille! I’m on season 4 and it’s just brilliantly done.
Yes!!! Binged it after reading about it here. Really lovely.
I just read The Last Green Valley, a true story about a family that escaped Stalin and Nazi Germany during WW2. A page turner that took my breath away, highly recommend!
Concurring the excitement about season 5 of Slow Horses. Also, a new season of Survivor!!!!!
My kids are the exact same age as yours (12 and 15), but they still hate soup! It’s so annoying, as it’s the best food to make in winter :(
Heston Blumenthal’s pumpkin soup is a total faff to prepare – two different preparation methods for the pumpkin, rosemary-infused milk, etc. but my god it’s absolutely spectacular. Like last-supper style. Set aside some time if you’re able and reap the rewards!
We woke up to falling leaves and a dusting of snow in Alaska this morning. My current read is keeping me nice and cozy. I’m loving Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy.
I loved Once There Were Wolves!!! Shes such a gorgeous writer. Her most recent, Wild Dark Shore, is excellent as well (though I think I liked Wolves a touch more.)
I’m half way through this… I just want to exist in wolf land! I love her writing and her desperate dream that humans stop destroying the wild.
Genuine question! Could you fact check to confirm if the mother in Left-Handed Girl is in fact Chinese? The filmmaker and actors/actresses are Taiwanese so this should be corrected if the mother is in fact Taiwanese. Thank you!
Yes, thank you so much for this edit! We’d read that she was a Chinese woman but we’ve fact-checked elsewhere to confirm the family in the film is Taiwanese!
I’m watching Ken Jennings’s original run on Jeopardy, which was recently added to Hulu. I’ve been in a bit of a TV rut and the Girlfriend looks good! Will have to check that out next. Made the Cup of Jo same day peasant bread this week–my first ever homemade bread! It was delicious! And tonight I made these coconut curry lentils and roasted carrots. My one year old actually ate them and said “mmm.” I feel on top of the world. https://www.budgetbytes.com/creamy-coconut-curry-lentils-with-spinach/ Also looking forward to making the King Arthur pretzel bites mix (another Cup of Jo rec!) and beer cheese for our neighborhood Oktoberfest block party. Of course I will also need to make a test batch just for me and my husband. OK now to scroll through everyone’s comments and add things to my list!
Oh fall! My kids are grown now, but for years, we would drive up to Rocky Mountain National Park (about 45 minutes from us) for elk bugling season. We’d pack a thermos of soup, and a yummy dessert. We all loved a yummy tortellini soup made with chicken broth with small diced tomatoes and baby spinach. I remember one chilly late afternoon, sitting cross legged in the back of our big old suburban eating soup. As we finished up, we realized our young son was actually sitting on the cake! It was foil wrapped, in a 9×13 pan. Delicious anyway! I spent the rainy morning today, just unable to put down the book Tilt, by Emma Pattee. Wow, a short and intense page turner. Another old time fall favorite was a smooth cream of cauliflower soup. We always made a bowl of buttered popcorn to go with it. Kids love to drop in a few popped kernels at a time, and scoop them up into a bite.
I am in RMNP for an artist residency all month and it is the perfect fall experience. I had never heard an elk bugle before last week and it is so eerie! We had an entire herd outside our cabin the other day. They are such beautiful animals!
That memory of the Rockies, elks, cake and soup sound so perfect! I just read it out loud to my husband.
I love the sense of cozy nostalgia in the memories you shared here, Lisa!
Watching: DISH IT OUT on amazon- it’s an old school cooking show, but with the very cute and charming and young Tilly Ramsey? It’s fun to have on as I make dinner and the kids futz around. Listening: TALK EASY podcast- Sam’s interview’s are in depth and focused and leave me feeling part of something bigger. Again, great company for the 5pm hour!
Perhaps I’m biased, but I’m watching my own show—Dish It Out on Amazon Prime! This was my first show-running gig after becoming a mom, and I got to bring my 5-month-old to London for the shoot. It was a great adventure and gave me the confidence to do anything as a parent: international travel, handling diaper blowouts on the big red buses, and even set visits from my little guy. It’s so fun to watch it now with him beside me (I even got to show him our billboard!). I set out to make a beautiful, cheerful “chop-and-chat,” as they call them in the UK. Tilly Ramsay hosts it—she’s warm and charming, and the father/daughter connection feels especially tender to me. I’m so proud of the series and hope it’s wonderful company for other CoJ readers!
So exciting & congrats, Briana!! Can’t wait to watch this!
Omg I’ve watched this show!! Such a good comfort watch to have on while I meal prep or pack lunches. Congrats!
WHAAAAT a celebrity in our midst! I LOVE Dish It Out! I watch with my kids. COJ comments section proving itself the coolest yet again!
How is everyone cleaning their cashmere sweaters? Hand washing? Dry cleaning? I just don’t know if I can commit to anything other than machine washing!
I don’t have cashmere but I have several wool sweaters (mostly alpaca) and I always wash them in the machine on delicate, cold wash, with very little detergent and a 1/4 cup white vinegar, then hang or lay flat to dry. I also don’t wash them every wear – but they are not very tight-fitting, so don’t often get sweaty.
Wash by hand with Woolite or similar, and add a little bit of your favorite hair conditioner before you rinse and rinse and rinse. I have washed J. Crew cashmere on the hand-wash cycle of my HE front loader when it says it’s machine-washable and it’s fine. I reshape it on a big towel, cover it and roll it to blot the excess water. Our place is too small to dry anything flat so I use a padded hanger and shape it carefully again after I have most of the water out of it. Shaping is important. Wear a layer under your cashmere so you don’t need to do this often!
Machine Wash: If you are going to machine wash – make sure you first do a handwash to check for dye colorfastness. Once we are sure it is colorfast (sometimes it takes two handwashings ) we put it in a mesh bag in the wash with other gentle wash of same colors – unless it is one of our posh/precious handwash items. We machine wash on gentle cool or cold in a Mesh Bag. Mesh Bag = We like the link below because they have actual larger holes for plenty of water to get through. Other people like a finer mesh. Use size closest to size of sweater gently crumpled into it (not full size of sweater). Mesh Bags are also great for socks, underwear, bras (you can even get special rigid mesh bags for underwire bras), scarves, neckscarves etc. Mesh bags help keep your sweater from twisting out of shape or tangling up with other things. Gently reshape. https://laundrybags.com/mesh-laundry-bags/ Handwash: Cool or cold water. Spin excess out using a Salad Spinner. —> YES!!! A SALAD SPINNER! I have the larger OXO size and it is perfect for all handwashing. You control the speed and force of extraction. Cuts down on drying time. No need to press out using towels etc. Gently reshape. Dry: By hanging up Inside Out on plastic hangers with the best shoulder curve you can find OR a sweater drying rack. We put our everyday ones on hangers to dry (and check their drying status before bed – do they need readjusting to avoid shoulder divots? ) and put our posh ones on racks. (Do NOT use a dryer – not even air fluff. Trust.) We have alpaca, vicuna, cashmere: blankets, sweaters, tops, pants, scarves etc and if we are not willing to bet on it being washable – we don’t buy it (exceptions for blazers and coats/jackets) because dry cleaning really adds up and is not good for them. (Right now I have 28 cashmere and alpaca sweaters in my current closet and more stored away … I have a lot. I love them so much – and it all started long ago when I bought my first one at age 15). Wash it when it gets dirty and/or smelly (so, a few/several wears, depending on what you are wearing it for?) You will probably want to get a sweater storage bag for off-season if it is not a year-round sweater for you. Choose whatever moth-proofing methods you want to use to store it. Wash it before storing it away for off-season. Moths love to make their home in dirty sweaters and eat them up! We love our cashmere etc even though they take a tiny bit more up-front energy to wash and store. I could go on about natural fibers knits but I see I have written plenty and will now stop – enjoy your cashmere!
I have a couple of Quince cashmere sweaters that I machine-wash, delicate cycle, cold war. Lay flat to dry. Have been doing it for years and they are fine. I do this with all natural fabrics. I rarely hand-wash anything.
I have had cashmere/merino shrink in the washer (even on cold/delicate), so I hand wash now, but I only do it once, at the end of the season. I always wear something underneath my sweaters, and they seem to do just fine with very minimal washing.
Yes on the LIB world tour! Have you caught the Brazilian version? Everyone just exudes a lovely sexiness and is so, so warm.
I would love a shampoo/conditioner rec for my newly changed hair that seems to now get greasy easily and gets weighed down by moisturizing shamp/cond. My hair is thin but there’s a lot of it. I air dry like Jo! Tv rec: been enjoying watching Task so far! I thought it would be too violent but not too bad so far…
I have been using a lot of different products from a company called Bright Body – and loved them. I also have thin but abundant hair and let it air dry and their hair products have worked well for me. maybe their shampoo and conditioner would be good? https://mybrightbody.com/collections/hair
Hi! Coming late to the party here but this is my hair! Hormonal changes + fine hair (but a lot) made my hair sad for years. I shelled out for Prose and after a couple of “refines” it works great… but it’s expensive. I was willing to pay for it for awhile though because it gave me so much more confidence! I’ve also noticed that a double wash (shampoo twice) can do the trick, and I only ever condition my ends. Whenever I try the whole head, I’m sad. I dry shampoo at the end of the first day (I shower in the morning) and it’s usually good until the end of the second, so I wash my hair every two days. ALSO, I just went to an Airbnb and they had Monday brand shampoo (which is still vegan, paraben and sulfate free–removing those things often leads to dull hair for me) and that was lovely! And I checked and it’s $7, so I’m going to try that before my Prose runs out. Good luck!
I made the harvest muffins and they were a huge hit with my kids! I made them Sunday and they’re gone. Thanks for the recipe rec, Freddie! I think I’m going to try chopped dried apricots instead of raisins next time.
I just read The God of the Woods by Liz Moore and Ugly Beautiful by Alice Feeney. Both mysteries that kept me guessing until the end and perfect for cozying up with a blanket and coffee.
Loved God of the Woods!
Oops! It’s actually Beautiful Ugly.
I just borrowed God of the Woods from my library yesterday. I am so excited to read it!
When my son was about four he looked at me and said, “I do not like soup. When I am a man, I will eat soup.” He turns 25 this week, and I am happy to say, he loves soup.
this is fantastic!
Looking Forward to reading The Secret of Orange Blossom Cake. Her books always tie together cooking, travel, mystic realism and comfort, without being schmaltzy! I love my Lands End Drifter sweaters……I’ve got a couple I’ve had for 20+ years! They are comfy and worm…perfect for wearing on fall hike through the woods on a chilly day. Once fall hits, I try to make a crock pot of soup weekly….made a pumpkin chili last night, with white beans, pumpkin puree, and turkey sausage. Also, I remeclty tried my first iced matcha latte, and I’m obsessed! They are so good!
Yum! And thanks for the book rec, Martha.
Here are my top 2 pumpkin recipes of all time: https://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/roasted-pumpkin-salad-recipe.html This is off pumpkin theme, but butternut squash works fine in this recipe. Brown rice and red onion chunks are or but the special stuff is better. Do not alter the dressing even one. tiny. bit Here’s my other favorite pumpkin recipes which appears to be off Martha’s site (horror!) http://www.theparsleythief.com/2010/10/harvest-pumpkin-soup.html?m=1 Don’t bother roasting and pureeing a pumpkin- use butternut squash seeds to make the stock/ broth- maybe ones leftover from the above recipe. And canned pumpkin in the soup. Garnish with a swirl of half and half or cream and a sprinkle of brown sugar. To die for and will bring your table to silence and slurping
I’m in opposite hair direction as you. All my life I’ve let my hair air dry. But now I blow dry & my fine straight hair looks much better.