Fall Reading List
This Thursday begins the first day of fall. Just like how I made a Summer Reading List, here is one for fall. This isn't a post about upcoming book releases, This list features books that might have been on a required reading list in school or a book that has a fall theme, ex. horror. And I've added a movie tie in. Happy reading and watching!
Picture via Penguin Books
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Just in time for Halloween next month, this classic horror tale has been frightening readers for decades. The tale of a scientist, Victor Frankenstein who creates a monster. In 1931 Universal Pictures made a film version, starring Boris Karloff as the monster, and with his giant stature, green skin and bolts in his neck he's not hard to miss. The character of Frankenstein has been in pop culture from the character Herman Munster in the sitcom, The Munsters to Mel Brooks' comedy Young Frankenstein, even to the musical The Rocky Horror Picture Show where Dr. Frank-N-Furter creates a man for his own pleasure. Frankenstein is part of the Universal Monsters along with Dracula, The Wolfman and The Mummy. This was when Universal Pictures was known as the horror movie capital from the 1930s to the 1950s. From time to time these characters appear at Universal Studios parks.
Picture via Penguin Random House
Dracula by Bram Stoker
Another horror themed read, this classic tale of the famous Transylvanian vampire, Dracula. In the book Dracula is supposed to have a grotesque apperance, however in the 1931 film he is human like. The same story is told, he lurks in the night finding unsuspecting humans to bite, leaving them in a trance, then he turns in a bat flying off into the night. Another 1931 Universal Pictures film, this time Bela Lugosi stars in the title role. I made a post about this movie last year if you'd like to read it, so I won't go to much into that. Tons of Dracula movies have been made from the Hammer Horror films most notably starring Christopher Lee to another Mel Brooks' comedy, Dracula: Dead and Loving It to the Blaxploitation film, Blacula.
Picture via HarperCollins
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
This semiautobiographical story of a young girl growing up in two decades of the 20th century, dealing with adolescence and unfortunately an alcoholic father. In 1945 Elia Kazan directed a film version starring James Dunn, Joan Blondell and Peggy Ann Garner in the role of Francie Nolan, who won a special Academy Award for child actress. The book is heaving dealing with themes of alcoholism, poverty, child abuse and sex causing it to have been on banned book lists over the years. Critics have applauded the film version and it won 2 Academy Awards.
Picture via HarperCollins
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Another book that has been on banned book lists due to racism. The story focuses on a white laywer named Atticus Finch who defends a black man accused of raping a white woman set in Alabama in the 1930s. Themes that are still relevant today. The story is shown through the eyes of Atticus's two children, son Jem and daughter Jean Louise 'Scout'. Atticus tries to explain to his children, especially Scout, about racial divide and tells her, you never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view. A 1962 film version starring Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch was released. It won three Academy Awards, including Gregory Peck as best actor. Most recently it was turned into a play on Broadway, created by Aaron Sorkin and starring Jeff Daniels as Atticus.
Image via Penguin Random House
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
This beloved book has been around for centuries, introducing generation after generation to The March Sisters, Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy. Set in Massachusettes in the 1860s, the book is set in two parts. The first part of the book introduces us to the teen and pre-teen girls, alont with their mother, Marmee, are growing up and becoming ladies all while awaiting for their father to return home from war. The girls are a bit immature, selfish but have caring hearts. The 2nd part of the book shows them more mature and dealing with adult situations like marriage, children and death. Little Women has been in several movies and TV series and even anime cartoons. The first version is a silent film from 1917 and the most recent is a 2019 version directed by Greta Gerwig and starring Saoirse Ronan, Meryl Streep and Laura Dern.
Until Next Time,
Ashley A.
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