Fall and winter is an amazing time to pick up a book. Somehow the cool, rainy weather, auburn leaves, and pumpkin-flavored products come together to build the perfect setting to read. So here are a few recommendations for what to read during the cold weather.
A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft
I read this book in September and thoroughly enjoyed it! It’s about a girl named Margaret who teams up with a boy, Weston, to kill the hala, a mythical fox. Wes hopes to become an alchemist in the future and have the means to help his family financially. Although it includes magical elements, the heart of the story is in Margaret’s journey in leaving her manipulative mother and finding love elsewhere. If you are a fan of young adult fantasy, then I would definitely recommend this one. The robust atmosphere and romance come together to make a well rounded story. I also liked the emphasis put on Weston and Margaret’s familial relationships, which is not a common storyline in young adult books. However A Far Wilder magic struggled to focus on a clear setting, which sometimes took me out of the story. Additionally, the author glossed over a lot of magical elements that I would have liked to hear more about. But overall this book has a great autumnal atmosphere and kept me reading the whole time.
The Madman’s Daughter by Megan Shepherd
Another young adult fantasy, this one is for people looking for a book on the grotesque side. The Madman’s Daughter is the first of a trilogy that is a very loose spinoff of The Island of Dr. Moreau, but stands on its own as a great read. It also includes a classic love triangle! It’s about a girl named Juliet who finds out her father is not dead and is actually alive and well working on a deserted island. She travels with a childhood friend to visit the island and grows increasingly suspicious of the “science” her father does. This book was creepier than I anticipated. I enjoyed it so much that I continued to read the next two books in the series!
Coraline by Neil Gaiman
Chances are, you’ve seen the Tim Burton movie. But did you know that it is based on a children’s book? Although the original Coraline is marketed towards kids, anyone can enjoy this nostalgic read, especially as halloween nears. It is about a girl called Coraline who discovers a secret door in her house. When she steps through the door, she finds an alternate version of her parents who seem to be nicer, cooler, and more attentive. She is allowed to live with them forever, as long as she agrees to let her new mother sew buttons on her eyes. Coraline is a shockingly dynamic character for a kid, and the atmosphere is creepy enough to leave readers with a chill. Highly recommend!
The Silent Patient by Alex Micahelides This psychological thriller was engrossing from start to finish! It is about a psychotherapist named Theo Faber who gets a new job at a mental hospital. One of the patients at the hospital, Alicia Berenson, is admitted for the murder of her husband and has not spoken a word since her arrest. Theo hopes to get Alicia talking about why she committed such a heinous crime. The plot twist was utterly shocking! If you liked the book or movie Gone Girl, then you will also enjoy this book. The Silent Patient was also City’s book club pick for October. If you are someone who is trying to get into reading, wants to expand their taste, or just likes discussing books, then you should definitely listen for announcements about book club. It meets every other Thursday in room 225.
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