Cozy Fall Companions: Books, Movies, and TV For Autumn Evenings, Episode 1

🍁 Welcome to the very first episode of my new “Seasonal Favorites” series! Each season, I’ll be sharing a collection of cozy reads, classic films, and feel-good shows that bring peace to the heart and remind us that goodness still shines in the world of entertainment. In this week’s video, I’m sharing my fall favorites—so watch the video first, then be sure to scroll through the rest of the blog post for even more cozy details and inspiration.

🍁 Need A Break from All the Noise? 🍂

When the air turns crisp and the days grow shorter, I start to crave evenings spent at home with a warm blanket, a cup of tea, and a good story. Whether it’s a book that stirs the imagination or a movie that makes you smile, autumn is the perfect time to hunker down with something wholesome and uplifting.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve grown weary of all the harshness that seems to have crept into so many modern stories. So much of what’s out there today is filled with cynicism, coarse language, and dark humor, and sometimes downright disturbing topics that leave my heart feeling heavy rather than refreshed.

But there are still real gems to be found—stories with kindness, honesty, and heart. They may be tucked away in the back corners of your library, movie streaming service, or even as late-night TV reruns! But when you discover them, they feel like finding an old friend.

That’s what I love about this little collection I’ve put together—it celebrates beauty, decency, and joy. (And yes, these are closed-door stories.)

📖 Books That Are Timeless Classics

There’s something about a well-loved book that feels like coming home. Whether it’s a timeless classic, a gentle mystery, or an old-fashioned romance, the best stories remind us of what truly matters—faith, family, courage, and compassion.

In my Cozy Fall Companions video, I share a few of my favorites for fall—the kind that make you want to slow down, turn off the noise, and spend time with characters who inspire you to be better. I also have a bonus for you. I share movie, mini-series, or TV tie-ins to go along with each book!

📚Books Perfect for Fall Reading with Tie-ins!

• 📚St. Francis of Assisi – Selections from The Little Flowers of St. Francis
  Gentle stories of Francis’s humility, love for creation, and devotion to God. (Also read my blog post, The Feast of Saint Francis: A Joyful Celebration of Faith, Love, and the Annual Pet Blessing!)
  🎬 Tie-ins:
  • Francis of Assisi (1961, Bradford Dillman & Dolores Hart) – reverent and beautifully old-fashioned.
  • Francis: The Knight of Assisi (2014, CCC of America) – animated, family-friendly version for younger viewers.
• 📚Daphne du Maurier – Jamaica Inn
  Smugglers, secrets, and the wild moors—classic gothic suspense.
  🎬 Tie-in: Jamaica Inn (1939, Charles Laughton and Maureen O’Hara, Hitchcock), (1983, Jane Seymour TV Movie), or (2014, Jessica Brown Findlay and Matthew McNulty, BBC mini-series).
• 📚Wilkie Collins – The Woman in White
  Twisting plots, mistaken identities, and gothic suspense from one of Dickens’s contemporaries.
  🎬 Tie-in: The Woman in White (1948, Gig Young and Eleanor Parker), (1997, Tara Fitzgerald; Justine Waddell), or (2018, Jessie Buckley and Ben Hardy, BBC mini-series).
• Elizabeth Gaskell – Cranford
  Gentle stories of small-town life in 19th-century England—warm, witty, and heart-tugging.
  🎬 Tie-in: Cranford (2007, Judi Dench & Imelda Staunton, BBC mini-series), plus Return to Cranford (2009).
• 📚James Herriot – All Creatures Great and Small and All Things Bright and Beautiful
  Heartwarming stories from the Yorkshire vet, filled with humor, rustic charm, and cozy seasonal moods. (Also James Herriot’s Treasury for Children.)
  🎬 Tie-in: All Creatures Great and Small (1978, Christopher Timothy and Robert Hardy, BBC original) or (2020, Nicholas Ralph and Samuel West, PBS Masterpiece series).
• 📚Jane Austen – Northanger Abbey
  A witty, autumn-perfect tale where romance meets gothic parody—playful, charming, and delightfully atmospheric.
  🎬 Tie-in: Northanger Abbey (2007, Felicity Jones and JJ Feild, TV movie).
• 📚Winston Graham – Ross Poldark (This is the first book in the Poldark series, originally titled The Renegade when published in the United States.)
  Sweeping Cornish landscapes, stormy seas, and passionate drama—more brooding, like du Maurier’s Cornwall in Jamaica Inn.
  🎬 Poldark (2015–2019, Aidan Turner and Eleanor Tomlinson, BBC series).
  (Language is fine, but some themes lean PG-mature.)
• 📚Charlotte Brontë – Jane Eyre
  A lush, atmospheric gothic romance with moody landscapes and a closed-door love story perfect for autumn nights.
  🎬 Jane Eyre (1943, Joan Fontaine and Orson Welles) or (2006, Ruth Wilson and Toby Stephens, BBC mini-series).
• 📚BONUS: Wish You Well – David Baldacci. Although written in 2000, this will surely become a timeless family classic! Baldacci, known for his thrillers, takes a turn with this book, bringing us on a journey to the 1940s when two New York children go to live with their great-grandmother in the Virginia mountains. Just as they are starting to adjust to their country life, they find themselves embroiled in a bitter battle to save the farm.
  🎬 Wish You Well (2016, Ellen Burstyn, Mackenzie Foy, Josh Lucas)

📖 Yet to Read

I haven’t yet read this book, but the jacket description sounds intriguing:

📕The Thirteen Tale by Diane Setterfield (2006 New York Times Bestseller)

Goodreads says about this book: “The protagonist, Margaret, grew up in a bookstore and learned to read using 19th century novels, and there are clear parallels in the story to Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, The Turn of the Screw…”

From other reviews that I have read, I suspect this book is for those who love the gothic atmosphere and are in the mood for something hauntingly literary and introspective—like curling up with a Brontë novel on a rainy night. If you like that sort of novel, I suspect this will be a wonderful choice.

Once I get a chance to read (or listen to—thanks to Audible!), The Thirteenth Tale, I will report back. In the meantime, be sure to join me over on Goodreads, and add me as a friend. 📖

✍️ Please Share Your Favorites!

If you have a cherished book that always brings you comfort, I’d love to hear about it in the comments. Sharing recommendations is one of the sweetest parts of our little community!

Get a 30-day Audible Trial with Free Audiobook

If you’d rather listen to your books, especially while you’re resting, exercising, or working on other tasks around the home (or driving into town), you’ll want an audio version of a book that’s read by a trained reader’s voice, rather than computer-generated. And the best human-read audiobooks I’ve found have been with Amazon’s Audible service, which you can try for 30 days with a free audiobook!

I chat about a book I listened to with Audible earlier this fall in my Fall’s Here But the AC Is Still On blog post.

🎬 Classic Movies that Never Go Out of Style

Some nights call for stories that will make you smile—the ones you can watch with the whole family without worrying about what might pop up on the screen. These are the shows and films that bring warmth, laughter, and just the right touch of nostalgia.

In my Cozy Fall Companions video, I mention a few that are especially perfect for fall—from old-fashioned romances to gentle dramas and a few treasured classics. Since these are all older classics, you may be able to watch them for free on YouTube or even on TV. And, of course, most can be found on any of the popular streaming services available today.

Check Out Movies From Your Local Library

When we can’t find them on YouTube or a streaming service we subscribe to, my husband Ted and I regularly check out DVDs of movies, especially older ones, from our local library. You may have good luck finding DVDs of older movies on your library’s shelves too!

If they don’t have your film in their borrower’s catalog, try using your library’s Interlibrary Loan System, where the library can checkout content from other library systems and bring that content to your library on loan for a period of time.

🎬 Movies for Cozy Fall Evenings 🍁

• The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947, Gene Tierney & Rex Harrison)
  A tender, romantic ghost story filled with longing and charm—timeless and hauntingly beautiful.
• Portrait of Jennie (1948, Jennifer Jones & Joseph Cotten)
  A mysterious, atmospheric romance that blends time, art, and destiny—perfect for a candlelit evening.
• Laura (1944, Gene Tierney & Dana Andrews)
  A suspenseful mystery wrapped in intrigue with romance and an unforgettable musical score. 
• All That Heaven Allows (1955, Jane Wyman & Rock Hudson)
  A heart-stirring Douglas Sirk classic about love, class, and second chances—lush, colorful, and perfect for autumn reflection. 
• The Uninvited (1944, Ray Milland & Ruth Hussey)
  A gorgeously atmospheric ghost story that mixes mystery, suspense, and romance—a classic for autumn nights. 

If you enjoy wholesome movies with depth and heart, you’ll love these picks that I’ve shared here. They’re perfect for evenings when you want to unwind, rest your mind, and end the day with a smile. And by all means, please share in the comments below some of your favorite movies!

Add a Little Spice to Your Movie Night

And if you’d like to make your cozy evening extra special, why not bake up something warm and delicious? My Blender Pumpkin Cake recipe includes a delightful blend of cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and ginger. Best of all, it’s incredibly simple to make, as you simply blend all the ingredients together in a blender!

Here are more fall favorite recipes you’ll enjoy:

• Traditional French Pumpkin Soup
• Easy Pumpkin Pie Recipe from Scratch with a No-Roll Crust
• Little House on the Prairie Cookbook Pumpkin Pie

📺 Classic TV Shows Are Still the Best!

When it comes to television programs to catch up on when the nights turn a bit chilly, you can’t go wrong with two of my classic favorites—Murder She Wrote and Little House on the Prairie. These series span the calendar seasons, but if you search online for their best fall episodes, you’re sure to find them!

📺 Autumn TV Classics

📺 “Murder Takes the Bus” (Murder She Wrote, Season 1, Episode 19): Jessica and other passengers take refuge from a storm at a remote diner, making this an atmospheric and cozy watch for fall (or winter).

📺 “A Harvest of Friends” (Little House on the Prairie, Season 1, Episode 1) Charles and Laura prepare for the harvest.

Starting a New Tradition

As we settle into this beautiful season, I’m excited to share that this video and post mark the beginning of a new Modern Pioneer tradition here at Mary’s Nest! Each season, I’ll bring you more of my favorite wholesome books, heartwarming movies, mini-series, and TV programs — the kind that make our homes feel even cozier.

Whether it’s winter stories by the fire, springtime inspirations, or summertime classics, I look forward to sharing these simple joys with you all year long. So be sure to stay tuned!

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Best of all, when you subscribe, you’ll also receive free eBooks, including:

• Stocking Your Essential Traditional Foods Pantry
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• The 15 Best Books for Your Traditional Foods Journey

Enjoy the Autumn Season

So join me in seeking out stories that feed the heart and bring peace to our lives. Life can feel noisy and hurried, but a good book, an uplifting movie, and a quiet evening at home remind us that beauty still exists—and often, it’s right where we are.

So pour a cup of tea, bake a scrumptiously spiced treat, and make a little time to enjoy something wholesome this weekend.

Farmhouse Teas (and Herbs!)

If you are looking for an excellent source for dry herbs and teas to enjoy this autumn, look no further than Farmhouse Teas. And even better, they are offering my sweet friends a 10% discount off their wide selection of herbal tea blends and individual dry herbs.

You can also use my discount code and links below to get the ingredients to make the following natural remedies that I’ve shown you how to make in earlier recipe videos.

• Anti-Inflammatory Drinks Recipe
  • Get the ingredients for this recipe from Farmhouse Teas
• Herbal Acne Salve Recipe
  • Get the ingredients for this recipe from Farmhouse Teas
• Star Anise Tincture Recipe
  • Get the ingredients for this recipefrom Farmhouse Teas
• Herbal Elixir Recipe
  • Get the ingredients for this recipe from Farmhouse Teas

Backwoods Home and Self-Reliance

The Backwoods Home and Self Reliance printed magazines are two of our favorite publications, especially since they deal with topics of interest to traditional foods cooks and modern pioneers.

Guideposts

Guideposts is a faith-based inspirational magazine with stories about ordinary people who overcome life’s challenges through faith and hope. An earlier issue of Guideposts magazine featured my Faith, Love, and Grace story. I’m a subscriber, and I know you’ll enjoy this uplifting publication too. Be sure to take advantage of the discounted rate below for new subscribers.

Start Your Traditional Foods Journey

Sharing my passion for traditional cooking goes beyond my YouTube cooking school—it also comes to life in the pages of my cookbooks. Both of my books, The Modern Pioneer Cookbook and The Modern Pioneer Pantry, are proudly published by Penguin Random House.

The first is filled with time-honored recipes to help you create a traditional foods kitchen, while the second is your complete guide to home food preservation. Order both books today to start or continue your traditional foods journey.

Download Your Free 36-Page Pantry List

For an extensive list of the traditional foods you can make and purchase to stock your pantry, be sure to download my free 36-page Traditional Foods Pantry List. This comprehensive eBook is full of links to recipe videos, helpful articles, and more!

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Are you looking for more traditional foods videos? If so, I invite you to join the Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy. Members of this optional paid YouTube community get access to exclusive videos and other members-only perks. Plus, your YouTube comments include a special members-only badge.

Kitchen Academy Videos

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Focus on traditional recipes with real food. Don’t chase trends.

Let’s Talk Akkermansia: A Tiny Helper for Big Gut Health

Discover how Akkermansia muciniphila supports gut and immune health—and how traditional foods help this mighty microbe thrive.

Stay in Touch with Mary’s Nest

1. Subscribe to My YouTube Channel for Traditional Foods Videos (Free) - When you subscribe, be sure to click on the notification bell that will let you know each time I upload a new video.
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3. Join the Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy - For more detailed videos and exclusive members-only perks, join my YouTube membership community.
4. Order The Modern Pioneer Cookbook - Get a hardcover book of Mary's nourishing recipes from a Traditional Foods Kitchen. This bestselling cookbook is published by Penguin Random House with their DK imprint.
5. Order The Modern Pioneer Pantry - Get Mary's latest hardcover cookbook about preserving food and making delicious meals from your Four Corners Pantry. Mary's second cookbook is also published by Penguin Random House.

I look forward to having you join me in my Texas Hill Country Kitchen!

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