September’s arrival brought about not only the shift from hot summer days to cold fall nights but also an embraceable season. With fall break right around the corner, students’ opportunities for free time emerge. A hot cup of tea and a captivating book to read offers a heartwarming way to spend your time.
“Fall is my favorite season and if I’m reading, it’s during the fall. I love to curl up with a blanket and some hot tea and take things slow with a book. I like reading horror, true crime and mystery books, especially during Halloween, it sets the mood. But I also like cozier books, like a young adult mystery or a cheesy romance,” sophomore Cassie Cervantes said.
“The Picture of Dorian Grey,” written by Irish poet and playwright Oscar Wilde, explores the themes of aestheticism and vanity as it tells the story of a young man purchasing eternal youth at the expense of his own soul. Considered a classic social commentary on hedonism and the duality of human nature, this novel allows readers to learn about themselves and assess their own flaws, while simultaneously imagining the author as he explains his critiques and failure to live up to his own expectations. The overlying themes tie the story together while also exploring Victorian society, and allowing readers to immerse themselves into the narrative fully.
“Little Women” by Louisa May Alcott serves as the perfect novel to pick up on a chilly fall evening. It explores the themes of women’s struggles, family values, personal growth and marriage. This classic novel unwraps the story of four young sisters; as the readers travel further into the narrative, it describes the different paths the girls take throughout adolescence and into adulthood while their loving mother raises them. The international adventures focused on family dynamics and guaranteed a sense of warmth and comfort to readers throughout the fall season.
“I read ‘Little Women’ a long time ago, I think I had to read it in high school. I remember liking it a lot but my mother and grandmother highly recommended it so I think because I had family members who liked it a lot, that influenced my opinion of it. They said it was a great read about women and families and supporting each other,” Librarian Lisa Minderman said.
As the weather progressively cools, the days shorten and Halloween creeps closer, horror novels become the trend. Author Stephen King tells the story of an unusual love triangle. Arnie Cunningham, high school misfit and protagonist dates Leigh Cabot, but their relationship takes a turn as Cunningham’s Fire-red 1958 Plymouth Fury enters the picture. Cunningham’s haunted car becomes possessive and jealous as it proceeds on a murderous rampage. This book provides a compelling account and chills readers to their core.
Another one of King’s novels, written in 1975 and known as his favorite of all of his books, follows the chilling chronicle of an author visiting his hometown and discovering that vampires infested the isolated city. As the vampires spread their disease, the main character, Ben Mears, convinces a group of believers to combat the undead to save the town. “Salem’s Lot” provides the perfect pick to satisfy cravings for spooky Halloween vibes and excited audiences await the film, releasing October 4, 2024.
Overall, fall is deemed the perfect season for students to pick up a novel and branch out their interests. The selection of “The Picture of Dorian Grey,” “Little Women,” “Christine” and “‘Salem’s Lot,” will satisfy the cravings for both classical literature and horror to match the mood of the season.
