With midterm essays due and exam season just around the corner, it can be too easy to forget about hobbies and personal reading goals. Last year at university, I found myself putting off the book I wanted to read (even though it was perfect for the autumn season) to complete all my course readings – and it made uni life feel all the more strange and overwhelming.
Now, with a new to-be-read pile and a settled routine into the new semester, my aim is to prioritise my personal reading goals while keeping up with uni work. If your goals are similar to mine, you may benefit from some of my recommendations for shorter fiction novels that perfectly fit the autumn vibe!
1. Giovanni’s Room – James baldwin
This is my first recommendation for two reasons: James Baldwin is my favourite author, and I believe everyone should read one of his novels and/or essays at least once, and it’s a book that takes you out of reality and gets you so invested in the central characters and their experiences. With a large portion of the novel set in autumn in Paris, Baldwin’s writing makes you feel like you’re with David and Giovanni as they experience a complicated and moving relationship. As a book with less than 200 pages, it is amazing that every one is so emotional and beautifully written.
2. dead poets society – Nancy H Kleinbaum
Inspired by the 1989 film, Dead Poets Society is a short and easy read that explores a group of boys and their experience at a prestigious prep school. It fits the dark academia vibe perfectly, if you’re wanting to read more of that genre but haven’t had the time to read The Secret History by Donna Tartt. The best aspect of this book is how much you feel for the characters and how fleshed out they are – especially Neil and Todd. And the character of Mr. Keating is so inspiring and heartfelt, which makes it a great read on an autumn evening.
3. Carmilla – Sheridan LE Fanu
For those that would rather have this year’s ‘Halloweekend’ cosied up with a good book, then Carmilla is a perfect fit. Written 20 years before Bram Stoker’s classic Dracula, Fanu’s novel is about the first vampire, Carmilla, and her homoerotic friendship with Laura. It has a perfectly haunting atmosphere, and the fact that it is the first classic about a female vampire makes this a very exciting read. The gothic romantic setting and tension are all packed into 156 pages – a great read if you’re wanting to delve into the classical horror/thriller genre.
4. normal people – sally rooney
At times this novel, as well-written as it is, feels like a horror tale as it focuses on the complicated relationship between Marianne and Connell at university in Dublin. It’s well known for a reason, as Sally Rooney’s writing style is very easy to get the hang of, and the book becomes a quick but very impactful read. If you’ve seen the show before, I definitely recommend giving her novel a read (or a re-read) this season as it captures the first-semester experience, with drama enhancing it so well. The show highlights the depth of Marianne and Connell and says much about relationships and growing up through university.
With any of these recommendations, it will be so easy to get back to reading for pleasure and make the university workload a bit less daunting over the next month. Happy reading this autumn season!!