With cosy nights curled up on the couch just around the corner, there’s one important thing to get sorted: your fall reading list. After coming home from a long day of lectures and walking through the aching cold, what’s better than arriving to a toasty apartment, slipping on your comfiest clothes and opening a good book. Whilst at university it’s hard to make time to read for pleasure, but it’s crucial to stay sane by reading something that isn’t a textbook; and, also, to delve into a world that’s different from the bleak day to day of lectures and cold weather. Reading a book also means you’re actually living in the real world, taking time away from a screen and having a moment all to yourself; genuinely a form of mindfulness. So, with that, lets get started on your ultimate fall reading list.
After You: Jojo Moyes If anyone read or watched the emotional rollercoaster that was Me Before You, well, I’m sure tears were shed. I couldn’t watch a minute without tears pouring down my face. But an emotional rollercoaster is wonderful, as it immerses you in all of the raw feelings you must embrace and suffer in human life. Whilst the book isn’t new to 2017, being published in 2015, the film only gained momentum last year. Thus, with its scenes still lingering in your mind, you may as well get some denouement by finding out what happened next. A propensity to shock, enrage, and sadden whilst also making your heart swell; the sequel to this popular book discusses what happens afterwards, and boy is it worth the read. Ps, buy tissues alongside this book. Buy it here: https://www.amazon.ca/After-You-Novel-Jojo-Moyes/dp/0525426590
The Refugees: Viet Thanh Nguyen This collection of short stories is incredibly relevant in the current societal climate that we reside in, with Nguyen focusing on the harsh realities that refugees face in their plight to find a alternate place to call home; or at least somewhere to feel safe. This read can be harrowing, given its embedding in truth, however it is vital to understand the realities that face so many people in the world right now. An incredibly insightful read from a writer with wonderfully crafted words. Buy it here: https://www.amazon.com/Refugees-Viet-Thanh-Nguyen/dp/0802126391
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: Mark Manson The fact that this delightfully named book made it to No.1 International Bestseller and No.1 Bestseller in the NY Times, you’re assured that it will be worth the read. A self-help book of sorts, but not in the cheesy ‘enlightened’ way that most of these droves of wellness books tend to do. Instead, this book has grit, wit, and a poignancy that many wellness books do not possess. Manson turns his focus away from the negative and discusses how to move away from dwelling on the crap, instead gearing our minds towards what it is to be truly happy; and no, it’s really not as hard as it sounds. If that’s not enough to convince you, the sheer audacity of the name itself should persuade you. Buy it here: https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/the-subtle-art-of-not/9780062641540-item.html?ref=shop%3abooks%3abooks-main%3abuzzworthy-books%3a6%3a
Depression & Other Magic Tricks: Sabrina Benaim: If a big novel isn’t your style, then Benaim’s beautiful collection of poetry could be more up your street. Touching upon incredibly relevant and personal topics she highlights mental health, love, and what it is to be alive in today’s world. A written word sometimes tells you what no spoken ones can: how to be stronger, how to face the day, and why, even if you feel it, you are never truly alone. This poetry compilation is truly a marvel in our current narrative of mental health and stigma. Buy it here: https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/depression-other-magic-tricks/9781943735204-item.html
So, with that in mind, and the books in your amazon cart; embrace the colder weather, snuggle up on the couch and let your imagination wander.
Images Obtained From: https://buttonpoetry.com/product/depression-other-magic-tricks/
https://www.amazon.com/Refugees-Viet-Thanh-Nguyen/dp/0802126391
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