Polski
Autumn is a special time of year when evenings get much longer and the weather is not conducive to outdoor activities. That’s when you can hide under a warm blanket with no regrets, with a mug of hot chocolate and a book in hand. The publishing market currently has many interesting items on offer, but the editors of GentleWoman POLAND decided to prepare a list of the top 10 books worth reading in the fall.
Table of contents
- “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen
- “Last Stories” by Olga Tokarczuk
- “A Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood
- “Blonde” by Joyce Carol Oates
- “Audrey Hepburn. The epitome of elegance” Sean Ferrer Hepburn
- “A sensitive guide. A Woman’s Path to Self” by Natalia De Barbaro
- “Diary” by Anna Frank
- “Kamala Harris. The First Biography” by Dan Morain
- “Beloved” by Toni Morrison
- “Ladies, girls, girls” Anna Dziewit-Meller
- So many books, so little time
“Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen
We will start with an undisputed classic, namely Jane Austen’s most famous novel “Pride and Prejudice.” It is a humorous story about getting married . And although the story is set in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the plot is still relevant to the present day. Finding a suitable candidate for a husband is no easy task, as the Bennet sisters have found out. And although the theme of love is interspersed throughout the book, it is undoubtedly an item not only for loyal romance fans. This is because it is one of the first social and moral novels where we can look at the life of the English upper classes.
After reading, it’s a good idea to sit down in front of the TV screen and watch the 2005 film based on the novel of the same name, starring Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen.
“Last Stories” by Olga Tokarczuk
“Last Stories” is the story of three generations of women: a daughter, a mother and a grandmother portrayed in a peculiar way. Death, life, passing is the main theme. Although at first glance it seems too gloomy for the already long, cloudy autumn evenings, nothing could be further from the truth. Olga Tokarczuk is famous for her clever and thoughtful handling of words. And this book is also like that. Full of reflections, wise, interesting and encouraging to take notes! In it, the topic of death is discussed with stoic calm, even though it is not easy to talk about it.
Olga Tokarczuk’s book “Last Stories” forces us to talk about the meaning of life, faith and what guides us in life. The author shows that death is not only associated with fear, but we are also torn by other, completely extreme emotions. This is a book that is definitely worth returning to, so don’t wait. Be sure to purchase it for your home library!
“A Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood
Although Margaret Atwood’s “A CANDIDATE’S TALE” is now almost 40 years old, it only really became popular when the filming of the series based on it . At one time it was in the TOP 3 on the HBO Go platform.
The novel is set in the near future in the United States and is a direct reference to the rule of Ronald Reagan, who tried to limit the emancipation of women. The utopian state (the Republic of Gilead) is ruled by a new authority based on principles enshrined in the Old Testament. This is how the title “handymen” – women created solely for reproduction– are created. “Handheld Tales” is a book that will really draw you in for a long time!
“Blonde” by Joyce Carol Oates
“Blonde” by Joyce Carol Oates is the latest book telling the story of movie star Marilyn Monroe, who tragically died years ago. And while many books have been written telling her story, this one differs significantly from them. Joyce Carol Oates portrays her as a woman with two different faces. On the one hand, Norma Jane (the actress’ real name, the editors recall) had it all: beauty, fame, money, a slew of devoted fans and men at her feet. On the other hand, we see a lost and full of complexes blonde.
The book is not a typical biographical book. Rather, it’s a novel about the life of the world’s most famous blonde. While you certainly associate Marilyn Monroe from movies like “Men Prefer Blondes” and “The Straw Widowmaker,” you certainly didn’t know her like this. A must-read among the top 10 books to read in the fall.
“Audrey Hepburn. The epitome of elegance” Sean Ferrer Hepburn
It’s time for another biographical book telling the story of another cinema legend, Audrey Hepburn. This time the author is none other than her native son. It has many advantages, as we can find in it more than 300 photos from a private family album. The book “Audrey Hepburn. Sean Ferrer’s “The Embodiment of Elegance” Hepburn portrays the actress not only as one of cinema’s biggest stars, but also as a mother.
The book describes Audrey Hepburn’s life with all its glories and shadows: a childhood marked by abandonment by her father, hard labor, war, a distinguished acting career and charity work. It is full of previously unknown anecdotes from her private life and reproductions of paintings painted by the actress. It’s worth downloading for, especially if “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” is your favorite movie!
“A sensitive guide. A Woman’s Path to Self” by Natalia De Barbaro
The book “Tender Guide. A Woman’s Path to Self” by Natalia De Barbaro is a story about the path to self-knowledge. It is not always simple and strewn with roses. In it, the author asks many questions to which she seeks answers. She talks about how to be guided in life by the title “Sensitive Guide” or so-called female intuition.
It is a kind of discussion about why women act against their will, why they do something against themselves instead of choosing their own happiness. This psychological study is based on the experience of the author, who has worked with women for many years and serves as a columnist for “High Heels.” If you are planning to change something in your life, you should definitely start with this item!
“Diary” by Anna Frank
“Diary” of Anne Frank was based on the entries of her diary from the time of the German occupation. In it, this only 16-year-old girl describes all the reality around her. It is a sad story of a unique will to survive, while full of hope for a better tomorrow. The author describes the events of everyday life: minor quarrels, the stage of growing up, and even the first interest in boys.
Anne Frank is portrayed as a young, impressionable
A woman just entering adulthood. Her entire world was enclosed for two years in a small room – her father’s studio. It was there that she and her family hid from the Nazi invasion. And although it is difficult to look for a happy ending here, it is worth reaching for “Diary” if only in the context of the war in Ukraine.
“Kamala Harris. The First Biography” by Dan Morain
The book “Kamala Harris. Dan Morain’s “First Biography” is the story of one of America’s most important women. The autobiography of the U.S. vice president is not only a story about politics, but also about what kind of mother she is to her foster children.
She herself has sucked the love of politics from her mother’s milk. From an early age, she accompanied her parents to rallies and protests. She herself has Indian-Jamaican roots, and therefore knows full well what racism and an unequal start to the future is. That’s why he always takes the side of the victims in his work, including after the high-profile death of George Floyd, who was killed by a police officer. Her election win gives hope that the world is changing for the better. Therefore, we strongly encourage you to reach for Kamala Harris’ biography as a must-read for long autumn evenings.
“Beloved” by Toni Morrison
Toni Morrison’s extraordinary novel “Beloved” has been recognized as one of the most important books of the century. In turn, the author herself won two top literary prizes: the Nobel and the Pulitzer.
The novel tells the story of Sethe, an African-American woman who is a fugitive slave from Kentucky. In the book we can find a whole cross-section of emotions and psychological study of the main character: from fear, escape, unimaginable pain, to an extraordinary desire for life, freedom, pride and love. In “Beloved” the real world is mixed with the world of magic. Under the figure of Sethe is a young, innocent child murdered by his own mother. Want to know how it all turned out? Be sure to take a look at another of the top 10 books to read in the fall.
“Ladies, girls, girls” Anna Dziewit-Meller
If you are looking for inspiration and motivation, then the book “Ladies, Girls, Girls” by Anna Dziewit-Meller should be your must-read. It contains short stories of Polish women: those famous and those overlooked, which are certainly worth mentioning. Among them are Wanda Rutkiewicz (conqueror of the world’s highest peaks) or Anna Henryka Pustowójtówna (the only girl who took an active part in the January Uprising). Each of the heroines stands out for their incredible courage, and one can certainly say that they are ahead of the times in which they lived.
Although both the entire setting of the book and the language with which it is written may give the illusion that it is aimed at children, nothing could be further from the truth! This is because Anna Dziewit-Meller is famous for the light language with which she presents history to the reader. An unquestionable plus of the book “Ladies, Girls, Girls” is that after each of the 16 stories presented you will find a mini dictionary with the most important terms.
So many books, so little time
The list of the 10 best books to read in autumn is really a needle in a haystack, but we believe that every GentleWoman will find something here. We have books for biography lovers: “Blonde” by Joyce Carol Oates, “Audrey Hepburn. The epitome of elegance” by Sean Ferrer Hepburn and “Kamala Harris. The First Biography” by Dan Morain. Books that are difficult, yet address important topics: “Beloved” by Toni Morrison, “A Tender Guide. A Woman’s Path to Self” by Natalia De Barbaro or “Last Stories” by Olga Tokarczuk. Our list also could not miss classic literature, which undoubtedly includes Jane Austen’s novel “Pride and Prejudice” and one that became popular only after it was filmed – Margaret Atwood’s “A Cabin Story”. If, on the other hand, you are looking for a book that will stay in your memory for a long time, it is undoubtedly “Diary” by Anne Frank. Women looking for inspiration and motivation in action are sure to enjoy Anna Dziewit-Meller’s beautifully illustrated book “Ladies, Girls, Girls”.
The only thing to remember is that autumn lasts only 90 days, and there are many more books worthy of attention. So, the editors of GentleWoman POLAND can’t help but wish you a pleasant reading experience!
