Do you read seasonally? I would say I’m more of a mood reader than a seasonal reader, but neither of those descriptions feels quite right to me. More than anything I like variety in my reading life, so if I finish a fast-paced thriller, I like to move on to something completely different next.
Choosing a handful of books at the beginning of the month does help me read more with the season in mind, which may not come naturally to me, but I do enjoy, as it turns out. (For example, kicking off fall by listening to the next—for me—installment in Louise Penny’s Inspector Gamache series felt absolutely perfect.)
I can’t say that all of these scream FALL, but I think choosing any from my line-up for October will go quite well with the season. Here are 5 books to read this month.
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara. To me, diving into a big, heartbreaking book feels seasonally appropriate for this time of year, and I know there are others who feel the same way. I’ve heard so many things about this story of four friends who meet in college then move to New York. All I know is that it’s about friendship, found family, and love, and that it is absolutely gut-wrenching.
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. Described as a gothic horror, Mexican Gothic sounds like a perfect October read, right? I’ve seen this one everywhere, and while I’m not totally sure it’s for me, I look forward to reading it as the next book club pick at Bliss, my local bookstore. I’ve heard that this one is spooky, suspenseful, surprising, and very compelling.
Devotions by Mary Oliver. Let’s take a sharp turn, shall we? Devotions is a collection of poems by Mary Oliver, whose work I’m ashamed to say I don’t know at all. While I grew up loving children’s poetry, I never read it as an adult, and I would like to change that. This collection of nature poems sounds like a great way to dip my toe (back) into poetry this fall.
Everyone in this Room Will Someday Be Dead by Emily Austin. This is the story of Gilda, a twenty-something atheist and lesbian, who wanders into a Catholic church seeking free therapy and somehow winds up with a job replacing the church’s recently deceased receptionist. This one sounds a bit lighter to balance out the darker, heavier picks this month, and promises a smart, quirky female protagonist, which I always love.
The Push by Ashley Audrain. I couldn’t do a book list for October and not include a thriller, although this one, from what I hear, is much more than just that. It’s described as a psychological drama about a woman whose experience as a mother was not at all what she’d hoped for. She fears there is something wrong with her daughter, who doesn’t behave like most children do, and yet no one else seems to notice but her. This sounds dark and creepy, yet thought-provoking, and absolutely perfect for fall.
I’d love to hear if you pick up any of these books this month!
