Autumn, Fall, Pumpkin Spice Season, whatever you want to call it, I love this time of year with the cooler weather perfect for leggings, jeans and sweatshirts. In Minnesota it always feels even more special, with all of the corn and beans ripening, the apples ready for picking, and the trees changing colors. Backyard grilling and fires over which to roast marshmallows. County and state fairs with delicacies galore. Favorite stop offs like the giant yellow candy store in Shakopee and pie at Emma Krumbee’s. New possibilities like zip lining at Kerfoot or exploring trails in Henderson. Hiking at the state parks and taking day trips with friends and family. Hunting for future Christmas gifts. Cooking fall dishes like butternut squash soup or spicy Indian food. Attending Trunk or Treats or Halloween/Fall parties. Drinking hot cider and hot cocoa. And especially, curling on the couch with a hot drink and a good book. Minnesota is awesome all around, but especially in the fall.

Some Updates: Only two more books, The Silver Chair and The Last Battle, until I finish The Chronicles of Narnia. So far The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is still my favorite.

I will be selling books at a book fair at Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, MN, on October 2nd, so if you want copies of Trolls for Dust or an autograph, stop on by.

Loving The Possessed by Fyodor Dostoevsky so far and beginning another Brandon Sanderson one, Elantris. I am really trying to like and read Throne of Bones by Vox Day, but so far it is one long battle and that’s about it. Liked Summa Elvetica a lot better, but I will keep at it and hope once the story really picks up I will like it. Have another interesting fantasy series on my list: The Book of the New Sun by Gene Wolf. Sounds like it might be difficult to get through, too, but I met a big fan of the series who really talked it up, so at least have to try it. Also reading The Moon-Spinners by Mary Stewart. Saw the movie based on this with Hayley Mills awhile ago and it was a trippy adventure. The book is waylaid by a lot of scenery description. Am I the only one who finds most detailed scenery descriptions unnecessary in stories? Guess I’m more of a get the plot moving or characters moving kind of girl.

As far as Kdramas: I am rewatching the awesome The Lookout or The Guardians starring Kim Young Kwang (Pinocchio) and Lee Si Young (Playful Kiss). It’s got a stellar soundtrack and lots of action and intrigue. Started Witch‘s Court/Witch at Court with Jung Ryeo Won (The Lord of Dramas) and Yoon Hyun Min (Tunnel). Although I’m excited to see Yoon as a leading man here, it’s a heavy topic: Two prosecutors end up working in the Crimes against Girls unit. Jung’s character is thus far rather unsympathetic to her sex, but I think that will change over time. She plays a character you love to hate that will turn into one you’ll just love. At least, I hope so. Both leads have good chemistry so far and the acting is good. They seem like real people. Maybe not regular, but real people.