Whether you need a break from studying or the violence and hate on TV, there's no better solution that curling up with a good book. Autumn is the perfect time to get reading. How can you not be inspired by the change in the colors outside? Here are four books I recommend you read before the inviting smell of pumpkin transforms into the cold of winter. (But remember: there's never a wrong time to read.)
1. "The Lovely Bones" by Alice Sebold
Maybe this was influenced by my perception of the film adaptation (with its beautiful fall colors), but I feel like this book gives off autumnal vibes. It is a depressing story, but it is equally beautiful. Taking place in the 70s, a teenage girl named Susie Salmon is murdered. The novel is told from her perspective, observing her family and friends as she remains a spirit unable to contact them.
2. "Room" by Emma Donoghue
This pick is a bit strange; there's nothing about it that makes it particularly fall-appropriate. However, it's a page-turner. I laid on my bed for hours at a time trying to finish this guy. (Unfortunately, I was repeatedly interrupted by life.) I'd categorize this as a suspense about a mother and son trapped in a room. I don't want to give anything else away.
3. "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy
Anyone who knows about my reading habits could've anticipated this book would be on the list. (It's my favorite, in case you didn't already know. Sorry, Rachel.) This is a post-apocalyptic novel in which a man and boy try to move to a warmer climate to survive. That sounds pretty basic, and the style and language itself is generally basic, but there is so much to this novel. Give her a chance.
4. "Night Film" by Marisha Pessl
Personal opinions aside, this book screams fall. It's not my favorite. Actually, it's one of my least favorites. However, it receives generally good reviews and there are lots of people who enjoyed this novel. I suppose I'm an outlier in that regard, so maybe you'll like it better than I did. It's a mystery thriller involving a too-curious journalist who lets the search for truth run his life.
