In my opinion, fall is the best time of the year; the leaves change, the air gets cooler and the wardrobe is super comfortable and cozy. Fall is also the time when everyone just wants to bundle up next to a fire with a cup of coffee and read a good book. Here are some classic works of literature to rediscover or read for the very first time this fall!
Anne of Green Gables – L. M. Montgomery
Anne of Green Gables is a classic fall book about a young orphan named Anne Shirley who goes to live on the farm of Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert to help with the farmwork. Although the Cuthbert’s originally wanted a young boy to help out, they decide to keep Anne and the book follows her struggle to make real friendships and retain her infectious optimism even when faced with adversity.
Quote: “I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.”
The Great Gatsby – F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Great Gatsby follows a young man named Nick Carraway, who has just moved into a house in the West Egg, and how his life changes when he reconnects with his cousin, Daisy Buchanan, and meets his next-door neighbor Jay Gatsby. This book really has it all: love, loss, drama, glamour and enough symbolism that you can discover something brand new each time you open it up.
Quote: “Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.”
Dracula – Bram Stoker
October is a wonderful time for a classic scary story, and Dracula is one of the very best. Although some versions contain Old English which can be tricky to get through, the intriguing questions of good versus evil and epistolary style of the novel, including letters and diary entries, keep suspense-lovers totally captivated.
Quote: “But we are strong, each in our purpose, and we are all more strong together.”
The Catcher in the Rye – J. D. Salinger
The Catcher in the Rye is a classic coming-of-age novel with a narrative by the main character, Holden Caulfield, who displays the pain of growing up and realizing how false the “real world” can actually be. This is a great book to read while in college, as many readers often identify with Holden and relate to his difficulty dealing with trauma, the loss of innocence and getting a grasp on some of the bigger aspects of an adult lifestyle.
Quote: “I’m always saying ‘Glad to’ve met you’ to somebody I’m not at all glad I met. If you want to stay alive, you have to say that stuff, though.”
Walden – Henry David Thoreau
Walden is a personal account from Henry David Thoreau, detailing a two-year period of his life in which he built a cabin out in the Massachusetts woods and lived a sustainable, isolated life to learn more about the nature of humanity. This book pushes the reader to look into their own life, question which things are non-essential and learn what distractions are getting in the way of life and discovering one’s true identity.
Quote: “Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth.”
Take time during fall break to relax and recharge, and consider settling down with a cozy blanket, cup of hot chocolate and a good book. This brief period of self-reflection and rest can help you rediscover or maintain the motivation you need to help you make it through the rest of the semester.