Fall TBR List – Top Ten Tuesday

It’s another week of Top Ten Tuesday, a weekly meme hosted by the ladies of The Broke and The Bookish. Top Ten Tuesday covers a variety of bookish topics week to week, and this week it’s about the top ten books in your “to be read,” or TBR, list. I’m not sure how “fall” is being defined, whether it’s September 23 through December 21 (astronomically), or if it’s September through November (socially).

I have a bad habit of adding books to my Goodreads’ TBR list but rarely go back to see what they are. Bookish A.D.D.? Perhaps… But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to read them eventually. This fall, I really want to catch up on a few things that I’ve started or have been meaning to start, so with that, here are my top ten books to read this fall:

1. The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova: I began reading this book the day after Halloween last year, and I’m only 220-ish pages into the behemoth. I’m determined to finish it this year, but it’s so emotionally draining and strenuous. Beautiful story, but it is a commitment!
2. Girl Waits With Gun by Amy Stewart: A fictionalized story about the real-life Kopp sisters, one of whom named Constance became one of America’s first female deputy sheriffs. I read the promotional material in my publicity class in July and was excited to get my hands on this book. I bought it. It’s sitting next to my bed.
3. Nobody’s Cuter Than You: A Memoir About the Beauty of Friendship by Melanie Shankle: I picked this up as an impromptu purchase when I saw it on The Pioneer Woman’s blog. The idea of reflecting on childhood friendships and the evolution of “friendship” through the ages (and before Facebook) stood out. I’ve read a few chapters so far and I’m not disappointed.
4. And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell: Banned Books Week is next week (September 27 – October 3), and And Tango Makes Three was on the list for 2014. Goodreads’ description is very short, stating it’s a fictionalized story about two male penguins in the Central Park Zoo that raise a penguin chick (an actually occurrence).
5. Zombie by Joyce Carol Oates: Because I need to fill my JCO quota for the year (oh, how I’ve neglected you!), and why not choose a book that seems fitting for the season?
6. The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson: I have been wanting to read this book for YEARS. I will make it happen this fall. America’s first serial killer hunting for victims during the World’s Fair in Chicago in 1893? Can’t wait!
7. The Marvels by Brian Selznick: I was a huge fan of The Invention of Hugo Cabret and love Selznick’s style of illustrations doing a big portion of storytelling. Over 600 pages would be a put-off if I’m in a pinch for time, but honestly, it’s hard to notice when you’re reading his work.
8. Unstuff Your Life! by Andrew Mellen: That’s right. A book about organizing. I’ve head the first few chapters, and while straightforward and seemingly obvious tips, it does help to have guidelines to motivate you. I have more thoughts on this, but I will share them later.
9. Crushed (Pretty Little Liars #13) by Sara Shepard: I am determined to finish this series as quickly as possible.
10. Proof: A Play by David Auburn: Not everyone enjoys reading (or watching) plays, but I find plays to reflect people sometimes better than novelizations. Play-writing is a gift that not everyone has, and the best playwrights evoke powerful emotions in the observer with just dialogue. Considering this was a Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2001, Proof has clearly evoked plenty of emotion.

If I read all 10 of these books in the next three months, I am a winner. Hopefully I can stay on track and hop to it! What’s on your top ten list to read this fall?