Over the past few days, the weather has turned – Autumn is upon us! I’m not a cold-climate person; I love the warm, light evenings and wearing shorts. Despite the rain, daylight savings and expensive bills, this season does have one perk. It’s time for a good read in a cosy nook by a warm fire! I don’t actually possess one of these, but if you do, here are some book recommendations:
- To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. I believe for some schools this text is mandatory, but if you haven’t been forced to read it, I’d encourage you to read it for pleasure. This summer, I really knuckled down and got stuck into some classics. In my opinion, this was the best one, the most well-written, and the least wordy. It was written in 1960 so it’s not a difficult book, but I found myself looking at Spark Notes to fully understand all the themes, nuance, and hidden meanings.
- Intimations by Zadie Smith. This book is small and perfect for a train journey. It was gifted to me by a friend for my birthday who is a literature student, which makes sense! It’s a non-fiction set of essays written through the beginning of lockdown, which gives it a really contemporary and relatable feel. If you don’t enjoy it, it’s only something like 100 pages, so it’s still worth a read.
- Every Other Weekend by Zulema Renee Summerfield. I’ve almost finished this one, but I will readily recommend it. Set in 1980s California, it tells the tale of a broken and blended familial situation from the perspective of a 9-year-old. If you like fast-paced books, this one is perfect: the chapters are of mixed length, so it never feels like the storyline is dragging. It’s surprising and you never are quite sure who is the protagonist.
- Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson. This book received quite a few awards, and it’s hardly unsurprising. It’s a beautiful love story between two Black artists in London who feel vulnerable and unseen. The topics of race, masculinity and romance are written so excellently. Again, it’s not a long book, and old enough now to be available in libraries. I walked past it in my local one and just couldn’t just ignore it!
- Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid. This book has been everywhere, but I thought I’d mention it just in case you missed it’s hype. It’s gotten mixed reviews – some would say it gave too much away, but I personally found it very engaging. Evelyn Hugo is a fictional character, but it’s surely very reminiscent of any woman in Hollywood during the 20th She leads a tragic life of loss but remains very sure of herself. Well worth the read.
I do hope you read some of these and use your local library. My library card has become well-worn over this summer, but it’s been great to find time to go. Now it’s time to invest in a cosy reading nook!
