Book Recs for Autumn: ‘Tis the Season To be Cozy

Arts & Culture, Books

With fall fully in swing, and the temperatures dropping, now is a perfect time to cuddle up in your twin xl bed with a good book and some Dana hot chocolate. But there are so many books to choose from, how does one pick? Well, look no further. Here are the top three books to read during the fall. 

If you want something mind twisting and thrilling, but not too scary, then The Silent Patient is definitely the book for you. “The Silent Patient” by Alex Michaelide follows the story of a famous artist who suddenly breaks and kills her husband. When she is found, she refuses to talk and has refused to talk for years. Theo Faber, a criminal psychotherapist is determined to get her to tell the whole story. The book follows the two, their meetings together, their own lives, and the twisting path to find the truth in what happened that night. If you want to read a book in one sitting, this is the one. The anticipation and changing perspectives will keep you hooked till the very end.  

Not looking for something scary? Want an early start to the Hallmark Christmas movie channel? Well, luckily, the latest BookTok craze has been around a book called “The Pumpkin Spice Café” by Laurie Gilmore that seems to be the perfect cross between a Hallmark romance and a Gilmore Girls vibe. The story follows a woman named Jeanie who leaves her desk job when her aunt gifts her the Pumpkin Spice Café in Dream Harbor. Then she meets Logan, the grumpy local farmer who wants nothing to do with a newcomer. But everyone must cross paths when living in a small town. While I haven’t personally read it, it sounds like a fun and easy read for a well-deserved break from all that studying on a fall weekend.  

If you are more into the classics, but don’t want to read “Frankenstein” again, “Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Brontë is a perfect fall read. This moody, Victorian-era story is a great fall read. The book follows the story of an orphaned girl growing up in a cruel relative’s home. It follows the loneliness of her childhood all the way to her success as a governess in the home of Mr. Rochester. A beautiful romance blooms between the two, but it is not without its fair share of drama and hidden secrets that turn monstrous. While it sounds like a high school reading assignment, trust me when I say this book is a work of art.  

There are plenty of other good reads out there for the fall, especially any of the classic Stephen King novels or the entire Harry Potter series, but these three books cover the romance, the thriller, and the classical aspects that one might want. Happy reading! 

5 costly fall travel errors you can easily avoid this year

Travel

AI-assisted summaryTravelers should expect crowds and higher prices due to the busy fall and holiday season.Unpredictable weather patterns make it crucial to pack for a variety of conditions.Thorough planning is essential, including budgeting, route mapping, and checking travel advisories.Traveling somewhere this fall? Better check your assumptions along with your baggage.Unrealistic expectations are the single biggest error travelers can make. Like “the weather will be great” (don’t count on anything, considering the wacky conditions we’ve had this year). Or “the place will be empty” (no, not in 2024). Or “It’ll be inexpensive” (unlikely!).”Autumn is a rather unpredictable season when it comes to travel,” said Jay Ternavan, founder of Jayway Travel. “I’ve witnessed some of the most bizarre decisions travelers make during this time of year.”Let me point out my own folly.Check out Elliott Confidential, the newsletter the travel industry doesn’t want you to read. Each issue is filled with breaking news, deep insights, and exclusive strategies for becoming a better traveler. But don’t tell anyone!There was the early fall trip to Scotland when I foolishly packed one long-sleeved shirt and no jacket. What was I thinking? It was so cold it could have snowed. And there was a road trip to Connecticut to see the autumn leaves – on a weekend when everyone else had the same idea. And when it comes to prices, I’m in an almost constant state of sticker shock these days.But that doesn’t have to be you. Here are the five biggest fall travel mistakes people are making this year. New strategiesfor avoiding vacation rental ‘gotchas’Do you have luggage rage?Here’s how to know – and what to do about itFall travel mistake #1: Not preparing for the crowdsRemember, this is the busiest year for travel in the history of modern travel. So if you think there’s going to be an “off” season for anything, think again. The crowds will be worse than ever. “The stupidest thing I have done on a fall trip is to drive the scenic Kancamagus Highway in New Hampshire on Sunday of the October holiday weekend,” Victoria Yore, a photographer from Tampa, said. “This is by far the busiest day. I should have known better.”Yore said it took two hours to drive only a few miles on a Sunday. While the foliage is spectacular, it seems everyone knows it. Experts say they expect that this fall, the madness will spread beyond the weekends, and in some places, there may not even be a significant shoulder season.Where are the crowds? Check out one of the fall foliage maps, like this one from Explore Fall. You can use the slider to determine where the leaves will be turning – and when all the people are likely to turn up.Fall travel mistake #2: Poor budgeting – or none at allYou’ve probably heard that travel prices have fallen, especially airfares. (It’s true; ticket prices haven’t been this affordable in years.) However, one of the biggest fall travel mistakes you can make is assuming things will stay that way. Because they almost certainly won’t. As we head into the busy holiday travel season, airlines, car rental companies and hotels will raise their rates as demand increases. Experts say you must either book your travel now to take advantage of the lower prices or budget a little extra for the Thanksgiving or Christmas trip.I’ll be the first to admit that budgeting is one of the most boring aspects of travel. But a budgeting app like Pocketguard or Trabee can help you set a realistic budget and maybe keep you from overspending.Planning a trip?Don’t get destination-dupedSummer’s over.What are your top vacation regrets?Fall travel mistake #3: Assuming the weather will be fineKevin Shahnazari, a frequent traveler and financial advisor from Vancouver, Canada, said he double-checks to ensure he’s dressed for the weather after an embarrassing trip to Chicago last fall.”I came to the Windy City, carrying nothing but light business suits, very appropriate for the mild autumn I had just left behind,” he recalled. “As soon as I stepped out into the streets from O’Hare, a biting wind and near-freezing temperatures greeted me. My thin suit did nothing to protect me against the famously unpredictable Chicago fall.”Shahnazari said he thinks the situation will worsen as climate change makes weather even more unpredictable. (Indeed, we’re wrapping up what’s expected to be one of the most active hurricane seasons in years.) “So flexibility in your wardrobe – and your mindset – is more paramount than ever,” he said.By the way, you can hedge yourself against lousy weather with protection from companies like WeatherPromise or Sensible Weather.Fall travel mistake #4: Spectacularly bad planning!I don’t know what it is about fall trips that bring out the doofus in us, but I’m definitely part of this group. For some reason, I forget all the savvy advice I used to plan my summer trips – and I get into deep trouble.And I’m not the only one who does that. Kevin Mercier did, too. Last fall, he decided to tour the French countryside and take photos for his travel site. “I had a grand plan to visit several charming villages in a single day, but I didn’t think about how much driving that would require,” he remembers. “I got so caught up in taking photos and admiring the picturesque scenery that I lost track of time.”You can probably guess what happened next. His rental car was running on empty and coincidentally, he also lost his phone signal, and just like that, Mercier was stranded in the dark. “Luckily, a friendly local farmer came to my rescue,” he said. “He towed my car to the nearest village where I could get help.”A competent travel advisor can help you plan a trip right. You can find a professional at the American Society of Travel Advisors site or use Google Maps to ensure you have enough time to get between your stops. (This works any time of the year, of course.)Fall travel mistake #5: Throwing caution to the windI probably don’t have to tell you that we’re heading into a contentious presidential election. No one knows what will happen, but some places might get dicey. I’m not just talking about possible unrest on November 6 in the United States, but also some anti-American sentiment being directed at Americans who are overseas during that time. And then there’s Inauguration Day, but that’s beyond this story’s scope. (Don’t even get me started on politics. This is a travel column!)Security experts say reviewing the government advisories around this time is more important than ever. There are State Department travel advisories for foreign travel. I also like to check out the government advisories for the U.S. issued by Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom. If there’s trouble brewing here, you’ll probably find it there.Ignoring the warnings would be pure folly, especially at this time. And I must admit, I’m headed to the Mideast this fall, so I won’t make that mistake. Otherwise, you might not have a travel columnist to make fun of, and what fun would that be?So before you pack your bags and head out into the great autumn unknown, remember: A little planning goes a long way this fall. Skip the crowds, budget wisely, pack a jacket, and plan your gas breaks, for heaven’s sake. Otherwise, you might be shivering in Scotland or stranded in the French countryside, wondering where everything went wrong.Christopher Elliott is an author, consumer advocate, and journalist. He foundedElliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that helps solve consumer problems. He publishesElliott Confidential, a travel newsletter, and theElliott Report, a news site about customer service. If you need help with a consumer problem, you canreach him here or email him at [email protected].

UK Business Leaders Call on Gov. to Prioritise EU Relations this Budget

Business News

As the UK gears up for the Labour Government’s first Budget, research from innovation incentives specialist ForrestBrown reveals the key policy changes business leaders want from the new Government. 
Data from 500 senior business leaders across the nation found widespread support for targeted policy changes in three key areas: closer ties with the European Union (EU), tax stability, and increased R&D funding.
While the Government ruled out rejoining the EU’s single market and customs union, it has promised to tear down ‘unnecessary barriers to trade’ – which the survey suggests would be welcomed by many business leaders. According to the data1, 22% of business leaders thought improving the UK’s relations with the European Union (EU) should be the Government’s top priority. This figure rises to 32% for business leaders in the finance sector.
Stability in taxation emerged as a key issue, with 16% rating it as the most important policy commitment for their business, followed closely by reforming business rates with a new business property taxation system (16%).
The transition to a net-zero economy also ranks high on the agenda, with 13% of business leaders highlighting the necessity of increased investment in clean energy as the key focus for the Government.
Table 1: Labour policy commitments most valued by UK Business Leaders

Policy Commitment
Proportion of Business Leaders (%)

Making the UK’s relationship with the EU work better for business
22%

Stability and certainty in taxation
16%

Reforming business rates with a new system of business property taxation
16%

Increasing investment in clean energy
13%

Workforce development e.g. working conditions, youth unemployment
13%

Addressing the skills shortage by reforming the immigration points system
9%

Addressing the UK’s ageing infrastructure
7%

 R&D investment – a top priority
As the Government prepares for its first Budget against the backdrop of a much reported ‘black hole’ in the public finances and an agenda to deliver economic growth, nearly three-quarters (70%) of business leaders are calling for an increase in public spending on R&D. Additionally, one in five UK businesses (20%) plan to invest in R&D in Europe, highlighting the urgent need for a more innovation-friendly tax regime to ensure private sector investment does not shift abroad.
Over a third (37%) are advocating for reduced business rates for R&D facilities, and a further third (33%) support the implementation of lower Corporation Tax rates for profits related to R&D. ForrestBrown’s research also found that 17% of business leaders think the 25% cap on Corporation Tax is the most important policy for their business.
Running counter to recent concerns regarding the effectiveness of R&D tax relief in encouraging genuine innovation, 58% of businesses plan to increase their investment in R&D over the next year, and 14% of business leaders emphasise the importance of retaining this incentive. They urge the Government to refrain from making any revisions in the upcoming Autumn Statement, stressing that stability is essential.
Sara Brigden, Managing Director at ForrestBrown, said:
“Private sector innovation has a vital role to play in kickstarting economic growth. It’s important that the government balances addressing the ‘black hole’ in the public finances with investment that supports an environment in which businesses can facilitate its growth agenda.
 “Our research shows that business leaders put a premium on stability when it comes to taxation. It’s positive that the Government is making a concerted effort to position the UK as an attractive destination for foreign direct investment, but UK businesses still need the reassurance of a stable tax and policy regime when making their own financial decisions.
 “This is especially critical for innovative firms, as R&D is inherently risky. Setting out a clear, consistent framework in this month’s Budget would allow businesses to look to the future with confidence, unlocking private-sector innovation and driving economic growth.”

Choices for US Catholics in the 2024 election

2024 Election

The paradoxical “both-and” of Catholicism, the ability to unite two contraries, should be different from allowing a former president to utter profanities and insults during a speech at a white-tie Catholic charity dinner. Former President Donald Trump’s insults targeted a sitting Catholic president, Joe Biden, his vice president, Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, a governor, a…

Inaugural Crozet Book Fest is all familiarity and no formality

Arts & Culture, Books

The inaugural Crozet Book Fest starts Friday with book-related trivia at Starr Hill Brewery and ends on Saturday with a spirited dramatic reading of crowd-sourced Mad Libs in the same place. From painting pumpkins with children to toasting s’mores around the campfire, this isn’t your grandfather’s ultra-formal collection of genteel readings.Then again, “we always joke that it’s not your grandmother’s bookstore,” Flannery Buchanan, owner of Bluebird & Co. bookstore in Crozet, told The Daily Progress. The shop’s community focus and support of homegrown talent are giving the new festival its own fall flavor.

All events are within walking distance of Bluebird & Co., the festival’s host and home base, at 5792 Three Notch’d Road. Buchanan said overflow parking is available at the nearby Crozet United Methodist Church at 1156 Crozet Ave.

People are also reading…

“We’ve always wanted to do it, but it was a 2025-2026 thing, and we thought we’d try a smaller one first,” Buchanan said while returning from an errand to pick up folding tables for the festival. “We have a really nice network of local authors that we’ve grown close to; friends of friends sounded like a safe way to start.”

Flannery Buchanan poses for a photo at her bookshop Bluebird & Co. in Crozet on Friday, Dec. 15, 2023.

CAL CARY, THE DAILY PROGRESS

Starting small and strollable and keeping the focus on local authors and the readers who enjoy discovering them helps the new festival stay informal and welcoming. A homegrown book deserves the same embrace as a handmade work of art.“A book signing sounds very stuffy and niche,” Buchanan said. When a reader loves a book they can’t put down, “you appreciate the work so much more when you know the person. It’s a whole other layer of appreciation.”Plans for the fest started to form around Memorial Day, when organizers realized that there were so many book releases scheduled for autumn that a larger gathering made sense.The festival kicks off at 5 p.m. Friday with “Bookish Trivia” at Starr Hill, at 5391 Three Notch’d Road.Saturday’s festivities start at 9 a.m. with the family fun of pumpkin decorating with Hannah Barnaby at Mudhouse Coffee Roasters at 5793 the Square.

Bluebird & Co. is located at 5792 Three Notch’d Road in Crozet.

CAL CARY THE DAILY PROGRESS

It’s followed by “So You Want to Be a Writer?” at 10 a.m. at Bar Botanical at 2025 Library Ave., where Elle Cosimano, Kathryn Erskine, Bruce Holsinger and Jo Piazza will take part in a question-and-answer session about what it’s really like to be a writer. Books will be available for purchase and signing.“Sliding Doors,” at noon Saturday at Bar Botanical, will feature authors Audrey Ingram, Rachel McRady, Sara Read and Johanna Copeland in a discussion of the forks in the road one can encounter in writing and life in general. Samantha Koon Jones will serve as moderator.Jones, who is the The Daily Progress’ book critic, said she looks forward to sharing not only the authors and their works with audience members, but also the supportive book-loving community Buchanan has created through her Crozet shop.“I think Saturday’s event is just about celebrating the written word and celebrating authors and celebrating local authors,” Jones said, adding that Bluebird & Co. is “approachable, too. I think that’s important.”

Jones

“Flannery has formed a great community. It’s got a great girl-power vibe to it. I feel like Lucy Ricardo getting ready for this.”Next is “Building Empathy,” which explores the power of fiction to help instill empathy in readers. It begins at 1:30 p.m. at Mudhouse.“Stories and S’mores,” set for 2 p.m. at the Yellow Mug at 1260 Crozet Ave., offers readers a chance to hear readings by authors of books for readers in middle grades and young-adult selections while sampling s’mores around a campfire. By Tuesday, there already were more than 40 reservations for the event, Buchanan said.“That’s a really hard demographic to reach,” Buchanan added.Next on the schedule is “C’ville Fantastic” at 2:30 p.m. at Mudhouse. That’s where James Blakey, Tim Freer, Kurt Johnson, Deidra Whitt Lovegren, Karen M. Kumor and Catherine Simpson will talk about the new compilation of fantasy stories they’ve set in and near Charlottesville.At 3:30 p.m., “Planning the Perfect Murder,” also at Mudhouse, will feature authors Olivia Blacke, Elle Cosimano, KT Nguyen, Katharine Schellman and Polly Stewart, who’ll speak with Johanna Copeland.The final event, at 5 p.m. at Starr Hill, is “Mad Libs with Audiobook Narrators.” Marni Penning will present dramatic readings of crowd-created Mad Libs, bringing the first fest to a close with some fill-in-the-blank fun.Every event is free, but reservations are requested for “Building Empathy,” “Stories and S’mores,” “So You Want to Be a Writer?” and the pumpkin decorating for planning purposes. Make reservations online at bluebirdcrozet.com.
Jane Dunlap Sathe (434) [email protected]

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Make Your Next TSA Experience A Piece Of Cake With These 20 Target Travel Essentials

Travel

Promising review: “This bag has been to NYC, Boston, Rome, Sorrento, Florence, Amsterdam and London. I have had this suitcase for 3 years and carried it on flights and trains, and it has been an absolute trooper. No issues, very sturdy, the wheels are smooth. Bought my daughter one too. I highly recommend this bag!” —SFM22Price: $62.99 (originally $89.99; available in six colors)

21 “Captivating” Books That People Recommend If You’re In A Reading Rut

Arts & Culture, Books

I don’t know about you guys, but I’m adding some of these books to my TBR as we speak! Also, no shade, but Throne of Glass IS better than ACOTAR, and there’s no question about it. If you’ve gone through a reading slump, what book got you out of it? Let me know in the comments, or you can anonymously submit using this form!

Note: Some submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity.