Fall 2020 Book Recommendations

In a previous post, I mentioned that I wanted to read more this fall. Reading a good book is the perfect way to pass a cozy autumn afternoon, but sometimes it can be hard to find books that are exactly what we’re craving. I love getting book recommendations from others, so I want to share some books that I’ve read and loved in the past that are perfectly suited to fall. Without further ado, here are my picks for this year’s list!

1. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Dorian Gray is the outward image of perfection: a sensitive and beautiful aesthete, beloved by all who lay eyes on him. But he has a dark secret: he has sold his soul so that his portrait will age instead of him. As his life becomes more and more debauched, the picture bears the record of every sin, and becomes a thing of increasing horror… This book is gorgeously written, convincingly drives home the idea that beauty is more than skin deep, and will keep you glued to the page until the very end.

2. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
This novel is about a magical circus that appears and disappears at random around the turn of the century. The storyline is nonlinear and skips all over the place, much like the circus, but it’s anchored by a romance between a pair of magicians who are forced to compete against each other by their magical mentors. If you like your books to be tightly plotted, this might not be your cup of tea. What makes people love The Night Circus so much is the beautiful descriptions and the way it transports you to another world. The circus is fantastically imaginative and will sweep you off your feet.

3. The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux
Many of us are familiar with the premise of this one from the very popular Broadway musical, but for those new to the story: a Parisian opera house is being haunted by a mysterious being known only as the Phantom of the Opera. A young viscount is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery and rescue his childhood love, who has formed a strange connection with the Phantom. The book takes its time building the suspense, but once it does get started, it takes off like a shot. You’ll never be able to forget this novel once you read it.

4. Laura by Vera Caspary
There’s nothing like a good murder mystery to keep you turning pages late into the night. This book is a little-known gem and the inspiration for the classic film noir of the same name. It has a lot of shocking twists and turns, so I don’t want to give away too much, but it starts with a police detective being called in to investigate the murder of a New York socialite shot in her own apartment. Although Laura gets dark in parts, it’s also hilarious, especially if you have a slightly morbid sense of humor like I do. Read it after you’ve run out of Agatha Christies.

5. Macbeth by William Shakespeare
It’s always a good time to read Shakespeare, and his famous play Macbeth would be perfect to read around Halloween. The story revolves around a dastardly plot to steal the throne of Scotland. It has murder, witches, madness, ghosts, and is even, according to stage lore, cursed. What more could you ask for?

If you enjoyed this post, please leave a comment with your own fall book recommendations! I wish you a season full of happy reading.