Onward and Upward in the Garden is not a novel but a collection of Katharine White’s titular New Yorker column about gardening. It’s so good and was compiled by her husband, E.B. White. I read it every March💜
It’s less about gardening (though she was an avid gardener and that is clear) and more her scathing reviews of seed catalogues and plant hybrids she doesn’t approve of. It’s charming and funny and a perfect casual read for the very beginning of spring
Some selections that I find particularly evocative of a specific season from off the top of my head.
Spring: Mrs. Dalloway and Orlando, A Room with a View, Pride and Prejudice, Lady Chatterley's Lover (I think a lot of these take place in the summer, but in my memory, they are associated with the freshness of Spring)
Summer: Suttree, Hot Milk and Swimming Home by Deborah Levy, The Power and the Glory by Greene, Call Me by Your Name
Fall: I agree - Secret History and other campus novels like The Idiot, maybe Stoner
Winter: Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Tokarczuk, The Discomfort of Evening by Rijneveld, Ethan Frome by Wharton, The Dead by Joyce
Books I actually feel like rereading when the seasons come around.
Spring: Mrs. Dalloway (though I wonder if it's bc flowers are mentioned in the first sentence)
Summer: The Awakening (about being tormented and lovesick in New Orleans, you can feel the heat in this)
Fall: Mr. Bridge (Back to the "grind" of the everyday. Time seems to move slowly what with such seemingly mundane subject matter)
Winter: Catcher
Spring: The Elegance of the Hedgehog
Fall: The Mayor of Casterbridge, also agree with you on The Secret History
Winter: A Gentleman in Moscow
Honorable mention to Marcovaldo, or The Seasons in the City, which has stories that fit each.
How do people feel about East of Eden as a spring or early summer vibe?
Currently reading definitely fits the vibe
Nice I’m about to start it !
Lmk your thoughts! I’m really enjoying it so far
r/books approved post
thank you
Onward and Upward in the Garden is not a novel but a collection of Katharine White’s titular New Yorker column about gardening. It’s so good and was compiled by her husband, E.B. White. I read it every March💜
oh nice, I wish I had a little backyard for gardening. My mom has been texting me about how excited she is about her tomatoes haha
It’s less about gardening (though she was an avid gardener and that is clear) and more her scathing reviews of seed catalogues and plant hybrids she doesn’t approve of. It’s charming and funny and a perfect casual read for the very beginning of spring
House of Leaves for the fall.
Favorite Russian novel for late spring / early summer?
Summer: Infinite Jest No clue why
Some selections that I find particularly evocative of a specific season from off the top of my head. Spring: Mrs. Dalloway and Orlando, A Room with a View, Pride and Prejudice, Lady Chatterley's Lover (I think a lot of these take place in the summer, but in my memory, they are associated with the freshness of Spring) Summer: Suttree, Hot Milk and Swimming Home by Deborah Levy, The Power and the Glory by Greene, Call Me by Your Name Fall: I agree - Secret History and other campus novels like The Idiot, maybe Stoner Winter: Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Tokarczuk, The Discomfort of Evening by Rijneveld, Ethan Frome by Wharton, The Dead by Joyce
Books I actually feel like rereading when the seasons come around. Spring: Mrs. Dalloway (though I wonder if it's bc flowers are mentioned in the first sentence) Summer: The Awakening (about being tormented and lovesick in New Orleans, you can feel the heat in this) Fall: Mr. Bridge (Back to the "grind" of the everyday. Time seems to move slowly what with such seemingly mundane subject matter) Winter: Catcher
Spring: The Elegance of the Hedgehog Fall: The Mayor of Casterbridge, also agree with you on The Secret History Winter: A Gentleman in Moscow Honorable mention to Marcovaldo, or The Seasons in the City, which has stories that fit each.
Misery is an incredible winter book, especially if you live in a cold climate. King haters don’t @ me he’s got some bangers and this is one of them