Autumn is well under way, with shorter days and cooler temperatures making it an ideal time to curl up indoors with a good book.
Getting cosy, making a hot drink, and relaxing for an hour or two with an interesting read can be the perfect pastime this season.
Plus, you’ll be doing your health and wellbeing a favour in the process. The BBC reports that research has found that reading for pleasure at any age improves brain and mental health, enhances cognitive performance, and reduces the risk of mental decline.
Whether you’re a fan of fiction or non-fiction, there’s a whole world out there to discover. Read on to explore six of our favourite autumn reads.
1. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
This definitive Gothic horror is a classic, especially if you’re looking for a spooky Halloween read. The eponymous Hill House is a mansion described in the opening paragraph as “not sane”, setting the scene for the strange and unexplained events which follow.
A small group of supernatural investigators are gathered at the house, with one in particular experiencing disturbing phenomena often not seen by the others.
The events are often evocative and ambiguous, with flashes of unease and disquiet setting the tone. This is one to read if you prefer unsettling, creeping dread to big jump scares and overt horror.
2. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
Rainy afternoons and Jane Eyre were made for each other. This classic coming-of-age novel follows the orphan Jane through times of severe hardship, austerity, and tragedy, before she enters into the employ of Mr Rochester.
It’s a richly deep and tender story, with the character of Jane showing a complex blend of independence, principles, passion, and strength. It’s one to enjoy when you have plenty of time, as its slow pace and lengthy social commentary command your full attention.
3. The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
This story is told through the letters and emails of a retired lawyer in her 70s, Sybil Van Antwerp. The events of her life unfold via her fascinating correspondence to her friend Rosalie, brother Felix, and Harry, the young son of a colleague, as well as numerous others.
We learn the story of her formidable legal career, the tragedy of losing her young son, and the events of her marriage, while discovering early on that she is losing her sight.
As well as the letters from Sybil herself, readers can see occasional replies from her correspondents. It’s a lovely book to try if you enjoy a change from traditional narrative prose.
4. The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
If there’s such a thing as a cosy murder mystery, this is it. Set within a retirement village, its main protagonists are four residents – Elizabeth, Ron, Ibrahim, and Joyce – who follow cold cases for fun. However, when a murder takes place in their locality, they become embroiled in the live case, putting their skills to work to help the police solve the crime.
This gentle, wholesome read is the first in a series, so there are more of the same to look forward to if it grabs your attention.
5. Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake
This fascinating non-fiction explores “how fungi make our worlds, change our minds, and shape our futures”, shining a spotlight onto these elusive organisms.
Once thought of as plants, fungi are now understood to be closer to animals – problem-solving entities, but ones without brains.
They can survive and thrive in the most uninhabitable environments and austere conditions; they have shaped humankind through life-saving medicines and continue to be harnessed in breakthrough technologies.
If you thought fungi were just mushrooms, this absorbing, informative, and often astonishing book is here to change your perceptions.
6. Wintering by Katherine May
This beautiful and poignant read focuses on the “power of rest and retreat in difficult times”. The author shares glimpses into her world, where times of trouble led her to seek solace in the healing powers of “winter” sanctuary.
From accepting the cyclical nature of life and pain to listening to the rhythms of her body and mind, the author creates an almost meditative and enlightening journey for her readers.
The wintering is metaphorical, taking time to embrace and accept her own fallow season, and literal, as we see the author attempting a sauna in Kent and visiting Stonehenge for the winter solstice.
It’s a graceful and illuminating take on how we can learn to navigate the darker days.
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Please note
This article is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at individuals only.
All information is correct at the time of writing and is subject to change in the future.