The autumn equinox arrives, and with it, the light wanes and darkness descends. Pumpkins decorate porches, the leaves flush red and fall, the wind takes a spooky turn and someone breaks out the apple cider.
It’s undeniable that the months of September, October and November take on a different color than the rest of the year, literally and figuratively.
For some, it’s a sinister season of witches, cosplay and Halloweekend parties. For others, it’s a cozy, comforting time to bring cardigans and boots back into their wardrobe. For others, it’s a spiritual season to honor the deceased, to contemplate the Veil and all that lies beyond it.
Whatever your taste is for the season, autumn traditionally invites us to slow down, achieve balance, gather with community and prepare before the brittle winter months.
For me, that looks like getting outside as much as possible to take advantage of the remaining sunlight; but it also looks like embracing the weather and curling up with a good book by the fireplace. My go-to stops during this time are the library and bookstore for exciting new stories to dive into, in-between apple-picking with friends, planning my costume and sampling pumpkin spice lattes.
Plan on doing the same but not sure where to begin? Here are nine autumnal activities with an accompanying book recommendation for your seasonal enjoyment.
Pairing 1: Visiting the pumpkin patch with the graphic novel “Pumpkinheads” written by Rainbow Rowell and illustrated by Faith Erin Hicks
This is one of those comics I reread every fall. The artwork is so festive and captivating, I feel like I’m working at the DeKnock’s pumpkin patch alongside the two main characters. It’s only fitting, then, that this book is read in tandem with a trip to your local pumpkin patch!
In this book, it’s best friends Deja and Josiah’s final day working together at their local pumpkin patch before leaving for college, and their goal is to make it count. It’s a love story, a friendship story, a community story and of course, an autumn story of change. So, naturally, there are caramelized apples, weird customers and perhaps-romantic hay rides aplenty.
At the core of it, this comic is fun. The storyline is short, sweet and playful, but never dull, overcomplicated or gloomy. It touches on the nostalgia of the season, the inevitable endings and happy new beginnings.
So if you’re looking for a pick-me-up rom-com that’s easy to flip through in a single sitting, “Pumpkinheads” is the one.
Pairing 2: Crafting with the novel “An Enchantment of Ravens” by Margaret Rogerson
For those who yearn for a whimsical fall, filled with art and the beautiful aesthetics of the season, I highly recommend this book. Even more, if you’re someone who’s eager to leave behind the sweltering heat of August, this one is for you.
Isobel is a painter who lives in a town of perpetual summer called Whimsy. She trades her artwork for valuables with immortal fae-folk. Isobel’s first royal client is Rook, the Autumn Prince, but a grave mistake casts her out of summer and into an unusual, fantastical and dangerous autumn world.
This book is a blend of romance and storybook magic. The plot is simple and straightforward, making it a great pick for someone searching for an uncomplicated read. I loved the fairy-tale vibe of this story and experiencing fall through the eyes of someone who has only ever lived in summer.
Human crafts play a pivotal role in this story; activities such as baking, sewing, writing and painting are deeply treasured by the faeries and provide meaningful currency. When reading this book, I felt more appreciative of my artistic hobbies, however unimportant they might sometimes feel. As such, I think that pairing this book with a craft activity is only natural.
Pairing 3: Hosting a dreamy dinner party with the novel “The Night Circus” by Erin Morgenstern
The Circus of Dreams appears only at night. You’ll recognize it by the black-and-white striped tent that materializes, anywhere in the world at any time.
Lush, imaginative, theatrical and highly romantic, reading this novel felt like being swept into the excitement alongside the protagonist magicians, Celia Bowen and Marco Alisdair, as they compete intensely for success.
I could think of no better activity to pair with this book than an opportunity to replicate such a magical event at home (as best as you can replicate an enchanted circus, of course).
The book features several mouth-watering snacks to include on the dinner menu, including cinnamon-dusted caramel apples. The color palette should emphasize black and white elegance, gauzy draperies, glowing candles. You could even find some way to incorporate the Wishing Tree, a place where circusgoers write their deepest wishes and dreams on candles, into the event.
Like the Circus of Dreams itself, get imaginative!
Pairing 4: Keeping a personal diary with the novel “The Secret History” by Donna Tartt
“I am nothing in my soul if not obsessive.”
This reflection of protagonist Richard Papen grows in the dark and atmospheric Hampden College, beginning during a fall semester shuffled between literature and Ancient Latin lessons. Blustery New England provides a moody and almost sinister backdrop. It draws readers into the warmth of philosophy classrooms alongside Richard and his elusive, mysterious peers.
If you’re fond of academic settings, philosophical exploration and the diary-like narration of someone uncovering the hidden corners of both his own mind and the world around him (alongside a large serving of decadence), I highly recommend this novel.
I was obsessed with this book when I first read it.
And so I think keeping a journal (scribbling poetry, jotting down your favorite quotes, researching fascinating topics, venting your deepest feelings or studying ancient languages) does the themes of obsession and intellectual depth their due justice.
Who knows? Maybe it’ll feel like you’re sitting at Richard’s rickety dorm desk, finishing homework in the late hours beneath the fading lamplight.
Pairing 5: Going on a ghost tour with the novel “Cemetery Boys” by Aiden Thomas
Día de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, approaches for Yadriel Vélez Flores. He’s a teen boy whose traditional family struggles to accept his transgender identity. And in a family of magic practitioners split in their special abilities by gender, Yadriel desires more than anything to prove his identity as a man.
As a bruja, a female magic-user, he would be a healer. To prove that he is truly a brujo, a male magic-user, he embarks on a mission to successfully summon the spirit of his missing cousin.
This book is magical, spooky, adventurous and fast-paced. It’s jam-packed with ghosts, mysteries and heartwarming moments. For me, the characters and their relationships were the highlight, alongside the autumnal worldbuilding.
What autumn activities and stories are you hoping to enjoy this season? Let us know at @HerCampusSJSU!