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Thrilled to see the Charlotte Wood in the mix. And Robbie Arnott too, which weirdly I don’t think of as dystopian even though it totally is. The Power, hmmm, I have thoughts. Lol.

Prophet song is *not* a dystopian novel. Paul spoke of this himself. As a war child i find it infuriating especially with the state of the world as it is that readers think this is dystopian. This happened and is still happening.

I’ve read some of these and will look out some of the others, especially Prophet Song, that sounds really good. A dystopian book I recently read is The Blue Book of Nebo by Manon Steffan Ros. I really liked it.

I love dystopian stories, they're a great way to study the consequences of choices that humanity is making and their long-term consequences. I heard about the Handmaid's Tales in my early twenties but only got around to reading it a decade laterwhen the TV series came out. I think it was a good thing that I read it later in life, I think it resonated more because of the life experience I had gained. I'm glad to see The Power on your list, I spotted this book at my library and it's on my list of novels to put on hold when I come back from vacation (once I catch up with what I've already borrowed). It does sound like a fascinating concept. I haven't read A Clockwork Orange, but our psychology teacher showed us the movie in his class when I was in college. Having no idea what we were about to watch, that one was a little bit of a shock.

Dystopian is one of my top genres so loving this video . I agree w all you said regarding Prophet Song and have only read that and Parable of The Sower ( also loved ) , but I own Rain Heron. 📖 🪱 💚

You are amazing! I really enjoy your reviews.

Loved Anna! Great writing and such terrifying images. Have you read another Italian dystopian novel, The Last Man Standing by Davide Longo? Horrifying and unforgettable.

I read The Rain Heron based on your recommendation and loved it; so beautifully written and such wonderful imagery. I wanted to include it in my dystopian novel class, but several friends have asked if it’s really a dystopian novel as it doesn’t really cover the politics behind the story. Argentinian novel Tender is the Flesh, not for the faint hearted, but fascinating! The 10% Thief by Lakshminarayan, I really enjoyed this. It feels disjointed when you start, but hang in there it really comes together. I agree with what you said about the author needing to make us uncomfortable and put their protagonist in jeopardy; I read 2 new novels that were interesting but the authors just couldn’t endanger their creations and it didn’t quite work!

Thf Mayor of Casterbridge is the only one on the list that I’ve read, but my TBR has just grown. Great recommendations!

I saw a Netflix series about The Power which starred Toni Collette but unfortunately there was only one season run of the show disappointingly. I did not know the series was based on a book. Much to my delight my local library has an online copy of The Power which I have just downloaded, thank you so much Louise and hello from Australia 🇦🇺

💕😀xx fantastic list. Thanks so much Louise. Some I have read and others on my tbr. The rain heron I absolutely LOVED and others by him too. 🥰

Great recommendations! I’ve added more that a few to my TBR. Not sure of you’ve read the Wall by Marlen Haushofer but it might be up your street with the recommendations you gave here. It’s more “quiet” of a novel but I adored it when I read it!

Another brilliant book is called " The Wall " by John Lancaster published in early 2000's . ( it's like 1984 forseening the future today) . I can believe this could happen given climate change and people seeking better life having to leave their own country via boats. I pray that this won't happen , building wall around the coastal island of UK keeping people out . Trump mexio wall etc....people have now been speaking of protecting coastal boundaries ! This book has stayed with me. I you liked Paul Lynch you will enjoy John Lancaster writing.

Love Octavia E. Butler’s work.

Must read Paul Lynch Beyond the sea started to read his back list.

Here I was ready to tell you it was Cormac McCarthy and then you remembered so my comment is null and void. Thank you, Louise.

Glad you remembered Cormack Mcarthy in the end 😉 I love a good dystopian tale. You have named a lot of my favourites and also given me some great recommendations. Another one that I love is Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel.

I love dystopian fiction but don’t really need it right now with the US election looming. Gilead exists over there.

Love a good dystopian novel. Have read quite a number of these. Great vid. Will be reading The Rain Heron and the Charlotte Wood novels based on your reviews! ❤

I don't normally like or read dystopian novels, but I loved The Rain Heron

I received my new Elizabeth Strout Tell Me Everything yesterday, pre-ordered, so I received a break on the hardback price, good old Olive Kitteridge, Lucy Barton and Bob Burgess. "Ludwig Von," read it and watched the movie, A Clockwork Orange. Loved The Handmaid's Tale, "don't let the bastards wear you down." Sounds better in latin. I enjoyed The Rain Heron and The Road by Cormac McCarthy, have a set of his last two books that I will get to eventually.

Thank you both🕸🍁🍂🕷

I have the same edition of The Mayor of Casterbridge! It was part of a stack of second hand classics I got as a teenager. Thank you for all the autumnal reading inspiration 📚🍂🧡

Great to see you both together. Love the shirt, Louise! I agree 100% about Hardy, wonderful books. The Mayor of Casterbridge is fantastic! The Western Wind sounds fun and perfect for a rainy day. I just finished Sovereign, the 3rd Shardlake, I’m reading them very very slowly because I know there won’t be more. 😢 House of Sand & Fog is amazing, but so tragic. Yummy, Like Water for Chocolate! The film is fabulous too, wonderful scenes! I love the wedding cake with all the tears….and the rose petal dinner!! A coven in Melbourne….ooooh! I saw Apple Tree Yard and I kept shouting at her “cctv cameras!”…. Thank you Simon for the Charlotte Wood, I’ll read that for the dystopian novel class I will teach. Sounds fascinating. Sounds a bit lie I Who Have Never Known Men. Autumn is a great time to read classics again, I love The Good Soldier by Maddox Ford. A book where nothing happens yet everything happens. I also loved The Wasted Vigil, by Nadeem Aslam , now that Afghanistan is back in the news. Shattering but beautiful.

You've possibly convinced me to reread The Natural Way of Things, a book in which I found no redeeming merit when I read it years ago. It became so boring I had to drag myself to the end. I'm one who always finishes a book and finishing that one nearly broke a lifelong habit. I'm not questioning that it can be feminist to show how deranged women can be and how we can luxuriate in demonizing others. But, to what end in this story? If you found wisdom in this book, I must have totally missed the point of it.

Autumn is my favourite month. The colours, the crisp air etc. Fashion wise I only feel myself once I'm in knitwear, boots, scarves. Hardy-wise, I'm still traumatized by Jude the Obscure 30 years after first reading it 😢your Fred story reminds me of my brothers ferret (a very Yorkshire cliche).

I still haven't recovered from filming this, is may take the whole of autumn🤣

Love these videos 😊🤣 I’m afraid school ruined The Mayor of Casterbridge for me but I have read Far From The Madding Crowd and enjoyed it 😊 As a female scientist myself I agree there are very few as protagonists - would love it if you could do a recommendations video. 😊 Now crumble ….to use oats or to not use oats?

My favourite season is summer

I'm not buying more books, I'm not buying more books.

Love your videos Louise and your gorgeous library! 241 today with you and Simon, loved it, especially that the recommendations are not all new releases, thanks!

Great Friday night content to watch. I love you two! Hi from Australia

I have a Guinea pig called Thumper which my daughter left when she left home !

Great video! So much so, I watched it a second time. Thanx for all the recs, much appreciated. Love seeing you both, you bring out the best in each other xx

Love you both together, so funny. But I've never seen Simon go so red as when you used a word from my youth. Brilliant, I laughed out loud, it was so unexpected. 😊

absolutely charmed by both of you! very intrigued by House of Sand and Fog! i can't help but think domestic and be domestic for fall! it just makes sense!

The House of Sand and Fog is unforgettable, the movie adaptation was well done too.

Cracking video, thanks. I want to read all of those that I haven't already read immediately... even though it's spring in Australia of course.

Double the fun today - always a pleasure to see you both at once and enjoy the banter. The comment about "very mindful, very demure" at the end just cracked me up. 🤣

Yesssss ! I have been hoping for this video ! 📕🪱💚

I loved Water for Chocolate -- talk about steamy! The Mayor of Casterbridge is also a favorite -- the book, not the man -- what a b@$t@rd he was! I love videos of you both - they're so much fun 🎉🎉🎉

Thomas Hardy’s Far From the Madding Crowd & Jude Obscure also strike me as autumnal. Especially the harvest season in Far From. Good choice Louise! I love the sound of The Western Wind. Another TBR add on.

I too don’t care for February. It’s grey gloomy vibes and I try to offset it w getting into Valentine’s Day in a platonic love and non hallmark way

Terrific recommendations (and really thoughtful ones) from the both of you. Count me in on the autumn love fest. Far and away my favorite time of year. Thanks for the laughter after a very long day. It’s a real treat!

Whenever I watch your videos together I'm always hoping for a fun tag at the end and you did not disappoint😂🧡

I really like your channel!

Love Simon's sly scepticism when you said teenagers in the classroom enjoyed the opening of The Mayor of Casterbridge! 🤣

Louise, I love your shirt! I also love and have read most of Hardy’s novels. Simon, I love your roses! Green suits you. Great Autumn recs. Thank-you! Always a pleasure and uplift seeing you both!! 💕📚

Some books you might like The Alternatives by Caoilinn Hughes The Coast Road by Alan Murrin The God of The Woods by Liz Moore The Unseen World by Liz Moore The Caretaker by Ron Rash Service by Sarah Gilmartin Little Monsters by Adrienne Brodeur Crow Lake by Mary Lawson The Road Dalton by Shannon Bowing Fellowship Point by Alice Elliott Dark All That’s Left Unsaid by Tracey Chein ☘️☕️🍀📚📕📖

Thank you both for the recommendations. I was having a bad day; however, your video cheered me up immensely. I now have more books to put on my endlessly growing TBR. I also read House of Sound and Fog, and I really enjoyed it as well. I agree with your assessment of the book: it was rather bleak indeed.