Hosted by E. @ Local Bee Hunter’s Nook, #5OnMyTBR is a bookish meme where we talk about 5 books on our TBR on Mondays. You can learn more about it in E.’s original announcement or #5OnMyTBR page.
This week’s prompt: Autumn Read.
Before I start talking about books, I want to give a little background information on why I consider ghosts and cemeteries related to autumn/fall. The reason isn’t Halloween. The seventh month in the lunar calendar is the first month of autumn and Ghost Month (鬼月). It is believed that ghosts run free during these thirty or so days. In Taiwan, some people consider the month haunted and avoid activities that are high risk for fear of death. I don’t know how many people truly believe that spirits populate the living realm in the seventh month, practicing related rituals are very common here, and thus I associate the dead (or undead) with autumn/fall.
Another thing is the moon. On the fifteenth day of the eighth month in the lunar calendar is Mid-Autumn Festival (中秋節). During that day, friends and families get together to watch the full moon, have mooncakes and pomelos, and in Taiwan, we also have barbecue. It is a wonderful holiday and mooncakes are one of the best pastries ever.
There is a saying in Chinese: “春耕、夏耘、秋穫、冬藏” (chūn gēng, xìa yún, qiū huò, dōng cáng) which basically means “cultivate in spring, weed in summer, harvest in autumn, store in winter.” Anything relating to harvesting automatically has an autumn vibe to it.
Below are 5 books on my TBR that have autumn feels.
Click on the book cover for more info on Goodreads.
Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
- Publisher: Swoon Reads, September 1st 2019
- Genre: Fantasy, Romance, LGBTQ+ (achillean, trans)
- Page Count: 352 pages
I have heard so many amazing things about this book and desperately wanted to read it for some time already.
The End of Summer by Tillie Walden
- Publisher: Avery Hill, June 19th 2015
- Genre: Graphic Novel, Fantasy, LGBTQ+
- Page Count: 100 pages
Walden’s art style takes my breath away (my review of On a Sunbeam) and I want to read everything she writes and illustrates.
The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth
- Publisher: Balzer + Bray, February 7th 2012
- Genre: Young Adult, LGBTQ+ (sapphic)
- Page Count: 470 pages
Danforth’s Plain Bad Heroines is coming out soon, so I’ve been hearing a lot about her debut.
Two to Tangle (A Tangle Valley Romance #2) by Melissa Brayden
- Publisher: Bold Strokes Books, November 1st 2020
- Genre: Romance, LGBTQ+ (sapphic)
The series’ first book Entangled (my review) was such a joy and I’ve been waiting on the sequel ever since.
Ghost Wood Song by Erica Waters
- Publisher: HarperTeen, July 14th 2020
- Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, LGBTQ+ (sapphic)
- Page Count: 368 pages
I have no recollection of why this book ends up on my TBR, but have you seen the gorgeous cover?
Have you read any of these books? What are your #5OnMyTBR of autumn read? Comment and share your thoughts below!
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10 Comments
Rach @ Anxious Nachos
Many great books! I still haven’t read The Miseducation of Cameron Post either, I definitely need to it soon! And of course Cemetery Boys is high on my list too, I’m just waiting for my copy to arrive and will likely be reading it immediately!
Hsinju @ Hsinju's Lit Log
YES!! Thank you, Rach! Hope you’ll enjoy Cemetery Boys, and I cannot wait to hear what you think about it!! 💕💕 Also, I just purchased both books and am so excited! Happy reading!!
meltotheany
i love this blog post… a lot! and i love this TBR! I am extra excited to see your thoughts on ghost wood song! happy reading! 💕💕
Hsinju @ Hsinju's Lit Log
Thank you so much, Melanie!! I’m excited to give it a try! And happy reading to you, too! 💖💖
altheaareads
I’ve never heard of Ghost Month before that’s so interesting! I made mooncakes a couple of years ago in my Chinese class and they were so delicious! This is making me want to make them again! The Miseducation of Cameron Post was one of the first sapphic books I read and I loved it so much! I highly recommend the book and the film (but the book is better in my opinion)! I also really want to read Cemetery Boys and Ghost Wood Song!
Hsinju @ Hsinju's Lit Log
Not sure how many countries still observe Ghost Month but it’s pretty big here in Taiwan! People put out feasts of offerings on Ghost Festival (15th day of 7th month). It’s called 中元普渡.
WHAT YOU MAKE MOONCAKES??? I want to try bake something similar like pineapple cakes (YUM) but it just seems super hard and I cannot even make bread.
The Miseducation of Cameron Post is now in my shopping cart!! Every week, I get super excited about all the books on my own #5OnMyTBR list it’s becoming a problem. 🤭🤭🤭 Hope you’ll enjoy those two books!! Thanks for reading and commenting, Althea!!
altheaareads
Yes!! Every Mid-Autumn Festival there would be a celebration at my university and all of us studying Chinese would get to make Mooncakes!! I think I made mine with red bean paste? They were delicious anyway!
Yesss! I’m so excited for you to read Cameron Post!! Hahaha I know how you feel! I see someone recommend a book I have on my TBR and I add it to my shopping cart! 😂
Hsinju @ Hsinju's Lit Log
Wow, this is so cool!! I imagine it’s a wonderful way to connect with other students studying Chinese and also enjoy the mooncakes afterward! YUM!! I love red bean ones with salty egg yolks in them. Scratch that, I love everything with salty egg yolks. 😉
Yayyy, thanks! I just put down the order and anticipating its arrival now. Totally feel that and not at all guilty about buying all the recs. 😂💕 I just need more reading time!
E. @localbeehuntersnook
I would love to try Mooncakes and attend the festival! That sounds really cool!! 😀
Cemetery Boys is so good and cute!! I loved it!! And it’s super autumn-y with ghosts and Dia de los Muertes!! And Ghost Wood Song’s cover is indeed really pretty!! <3
Hsinju @ Hsinju's Lit Log
Mooncakes are yummy!! Not sure about the ones you could get overseas (they tend to be too sweet) but they’re still great to try! Even better when shared among friends and family. ☺️ I’d mail you some if not for the pandemic. Remind me next year and I’ll try!
Awwww I cannot wait to read Cemetery Boys!! Thank you so much, E.!