S-book-y Season
Melancholic books worth reading this fall.
By Gylf Forsberg, Culture Staff Writer
Being from Wisconsin, we all know how the weather will soon be─cold rain, bitter wind and temperatures dropping down towards freezing─and it’s only October.
Luckily for us, we don’t necessarily need to experience the weather, we can instead curl up under a blanket and stay warm inside. One of my favorite fall activities is staying inside and spending some time with a great book. Some may want to read stories about the sweltering heat of summer to take their minds off of the dropping temperatures outside their doors, but I think the best thing to do is take in some reading that embodies the melancholic nature of Autumn:
The Secret History, Donna Tartt
A whirlwind of a book set against the misty landscape of New England, Donna Tartt’s The Secret History follows a group of Classics students whose studies go incredibly awry. As the plot progresses, several layers of ancient mysticism are brought to the forefront in a fever dream that will have you glued to the book to see what happens. The setting of the New England university and the eeriness of the Bacchanalian rites are sure to put you into the perfect autumn mood.
The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde
A classic of literature, The Picture of Dorian Gray paints a vivid picture of the effects of vice and corruption. In a novel which perfectly blends elements of Gothic horror and French opulence, a young man engages in all levels of indecency and gross sensuality, and as his physical body remains youthful and incorruptible by these evils, his likeness in a portrait ages rapidly reflecting the effects of his life. Oscar Wilde is able to blend several different elements of literature into a piece of work that is as beautiful as it is eerie in this ultimate classic.
When You Are Engulfed In Flames, David Sedaris
David Sedaris’ humor is something that has dominated the world of American storytelling for the past decade. In When You Are Engulfed in Flames, Sedaris weaves together his life through a series of short stories. These short stories span several years, and stages of life, beautifully illustrating the toils and struggles of real life. A perfect choice for a reader who doesn’t necessarily want to commit to an entire novel─you can pick and choose stories when time allows.
Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë
No one is able to embody the melancholic landscape of northern England much like the Brontë sisters. Charlotte Brontë’s most beloved novel illustrates the affair between the strong, courageous Jane and the brooding Rochester. The juxtaposition of the loneliness of Jane’s childhood and the opulence of the later estate is perfect for the transition from summer to winter. Not to mention, it’s a beautiful story of love for all of the autumn romantics out there.
A Storm of Witchcraft, Emerson W. Baker
It’s hard to think about October without thinking about witches and spirits. A nonfiction addition to this list, A Storm of Witchcraft, explores the stories and events of the 1692 witch trials which ravaged the settlement of Salem, Massachusetts. In what Baker describes as a “perfect storm,” this book explores the several different causes that lead to the harrowing events of Salem, as well as the effects and its relation to the larger realm of early American history. Exploring themes of religious crisis, disease and war, A Storm of Witchcraft, expertly posits the true facts of the events that led to witches’ inclusion in many aspects of modern popular culture.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, JK Rowling
It’s hard to create a list of books that exude fall spirit without including the Harry Potter series. Any one of the books could have fit on this list, but I think that the first is the one that feels the most like fall. The pumpkin pasties, house scarves and the impending doom of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named just seem to be the only elements of the season that one needs. Plus, who doesn’t love rereading these books over and over… and over… again.