Fall has come to Victoria, and with it, the rain. It’s the time of year when your hoodie pockets are the perfect size for one or two books, and the chill in the air makes actively doing something unappealing. I look forward to spending time curled on the couch with a mug of tea and a good book, as I’m sure many of you do. Before I do that, however, I wish to share some books that I adore in the hopes that someone else might also read and adore them.
- Midnight for Charlie Bone by Jenny Nimmo
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When I was eight and had newly arrived in BC, I became very close with my school librarian. Of all the books she recommended to me the Charlie Bone books stand out the most, possibly because they were numbered with Roman numerals and talked about a boy with a superpower. The eight-book series is written for children, but that doesn’t make them any less interesting or captivating. Charlie Bone lives in a small town full of secrets and coverups, surrounded by family members both vicious and caring, all centered around Bloor’s Academy and the castle ruins that lay on the Academy grounds. Read these books with a big mug of hot chocolate, plenty of marshmallows, and perhaps a thunderstorm for ambience.
- Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos by R. L. LaFevers
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A show of hands, how many of you went through an Egyptology phase as a child? How many of you never grew out of it? I know I didn’t, and Theodosia is just the protagonist to scratch that itch. Theodosia lives the life I often dreamt of as a child: an archaeologist mother, a museum curator father, a black cat for her closest companion, and a large dusty museum to call home. Of course, what museum would be complete without a host of ancient Egyptian curses leaking from the artifacts sent from Theodosia’s mother excavated in Egypt, or a combination of dotty and suspicious museum workers? Certainly not this one. Pair this book with a light herbal tea, possibly sweetened with a spoonful of honey, and a cat that hopefully has Bastet’s blessing.
- The Night Circus by Eren Morgenstern
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One of my high school drama teachers, Mr. Penty, told me that I reminded him of the Illusionist in The Night Circus, and I had to know what he meant by that. After the first few chapters, I was flattered that I reminded my teacher of such a mysterious and entrancing character. How can I explain The Night Circus without giving everything away? There is a circus, a female illusionist, a male magician, and a feud that spans generations between two adults who fight through their students. Imagine Cirque du Soleil but with more magic and less colour, imagine a circus that comes without warning, imagine a series of tents containing impossibilities. I could write a hundred poems about The Night Circus and still feel that I haven’t done it justice. With its whimsy and darkness, this is a book for devouring at night with a cup of strong black tea, perhaps some currant jam, and maybe a playlist of circus music to really complete the immersion.
- Great Goddesses: Life Lessons from Myths and Monsters by Nikita Gill
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My current reading book, and inspiration, is this amazing combination of poetry and short stories retelling Greek Myths from a more feminist perspective. Nikita’s words are compelling and thought-provoking, and her poetry repeatedly leaves me bursting with ideas and poetry that I can’t possibly swallow back down. I have not yet finished this book as I am trying to savour it for as long as I can, but I don’t hesitate to recommend it to everyone I talk to — and I do mean that. I have recommended it to several people that I barely know in the short week or so since I bought it. My suggestion for this book is a creamy chai, a notebook close at hand to jot down ideas, and at least one person to discuss the book with.
I have so many books I like to read during the rainy season, but I’m always trying to find new things to read. What books do you like to read during the rainy season? Share your recommendations in the comments!