With the coming of the autumn months, reading has become a popular pastime on campus. I have seen many people with a book between classes and on the oval during weekends.There are even multiple popular campus book clubs to join. These are some of the books I’ve seen students reading around campus, and what they have to say about them.
‘the love hypothesis’ by ali Hazelwood
The first book I saw pop up around campus was The Love Hypothesis. The Love Hypothesis is the BookTok club’s September read. Now is a perfect time to get into this book, as the movie just released this week on Prime Video. The Love Hypothesis is a romance book, if you couldn’t guess from the title. It is about a Ph.D. student named Olive who abruptly kisses a professor, and what happens in the fallout. This book is a perfectly-paced, fun read – great for when you need a break from challenging coursework. I don’t know about you, but I am definitely adding it to my fall TBR.
‘the secret history’ by donna tartt
The Secret History is a book I always see surface in the fall. I have never read it, but I have heard that it is an absolute must-read. The aesthetics of the book fit right in with autumn, as it is set in a New England boarding school. The novel follows a group of six elite students after the death of their friend. The Secret History is a book of intrigue and elitism that will draw you in from the start.
‘Project hail mary’ by andy weir
Project Hail Mary is another popular book that recently got a movie adaptation. Most people saw Ryan Gosling’s Project Hail Mary, although the book has amassed popularity as well. Project Hail Mary is a science fiction novel with themes of friendship, self-sacrifice, and identity. The main character is on a mission to save humanity, though he has contracted amnesia and cannot remember how to follow through on his assignment. The book follows his unlikely journey in saving the planet.
‘sunrise on the reaping’ by suzanne collins
The most common book I saw on campus these past few weeks was Suzanne Collins’ Sunrise on the Reaping. The Hunger Games series has had a cult following since it was released, and for good reason. Collins writes easy-to-discern political commentary wrapped up in a fast-paced, attention grabbing dystopian plotline. Sunrise on the Reaping is the newest Hunger Games book telling the story of Haymitch, Katniss and Peeta’s mentor in the first games. Haymitch was a tribute in the 50th Hunger Games, and the novel is told from his perspective. I would recommend The Hunger Games and Sunrise on the Reaping to anyone who enjoys reading, especially since Haymitch’s movie releases in late November of this year.
‘normal people’ by sally rooney
The last trending book I noticed being read around campus was Normal People by Sally Rooney. Normal People gained popularity on TikTok a few years ago, though it has stayed a bookshelf staple despite the passage of time. This book follows the complex relationship between two Irish teenagers as they go from high school to college. It explores themes of intimacy, social standing, and sense of self. This book is easy to read, but contains depth and real life lessons. I have heard multiple good reviews, though some people find it to be a bit boring.