Chels

Even though I’m not as prolific a reader as I used to be, I still like to set myself ambitious monthly and annual reading lists – I’d much rather feel like I still have more to read in an effort to push myself than to set a low goal just for the sake of saying I’ve achieved it. I find that I often read more in the Autumn, partially because it’s often the point I realise I’m falling behind on my annual reading challenge, and partially because I find myself more in the mood to curl up under some blankets and lose myself in a good book.

My Autumn reading tends to fall into two categories. The first is horrors, thrillers, and mysteries. There was a time when they were reserved for the summer, when the sun set much later and I was less likely to be out at night in the dark. These days I’ve managed to get over that fear, and now I prefer to save the scarier stories for Spooky Season. 

The second category is a palate cleanser from the more intense novels. I like to indulge in some cosier stories; happily ever afters and domestic family stories. While I don’t often find myself drawn to fantasy, this is the time of year when I’m drawn to magical realism and stories that draw from folklore and mythology.

I’m almost certain that I won’t read all of the books on my October TBR (have I ever?), but here are my hopefuls:

Horrors, Thrillers, and Mysteries

Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fou

At the top of my list is Carmilla. Not only does the novella predate Dracula as a work of vampire literature, it has also been a significant influence on the tropes that have tied queerness to villainy throughout literary and film history – specifically, that of the predatory lesbian.

Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix

I’ve talked a lot about how I struggle to read and watch contemporary horror media – the classics are far removed enough that they don’t frighten me as much, and the visual effects of the past have become outdated enough to no longer be truly scary. Grady Hendrix is the contemporary horror author I can trust. That’s not to say his stories don’t scare me (I had to read Horrorstör in one sitting), but for some reason, I can handle his horror. I think I’m helped by the fact that most Hendrix horrors are multi-genre; Horrorstör was a horror-comedy, and Witchcraft for Wayward Girls is a folk horror that critiques the treatment of unwed mothers in 20th century maternity homes.

Stay Home by Ava Pierce

Stay Home is a classic thriller set in 2020, during lockdown. This novel still being on my TBR is a testament to just how untamed my reading list is. While I’m often guilty of seeking out spoilers, I tried to avoid them for thrillers, so all that I can say about Stay Home is it features a mysterious death, an affair, and secrets.

Several People are Typing by Calvin Kasulke

Again, this is a novel inspired by lockdown that’s been on my reading list for half a decade now. Admittedly, though, I’ve been saving it for the right time. I’m applying for new jobs these days, so I’ve been eager to pick up this workplace horror-comedy at the right time to quell any new job fears – because surely nothing could go as wrong as in the novel, where the main character finds his consciousness has been somehow uploaded onto the company Slack channel.

Cosy Stories

The Pumpkin Spice Cafe by Laurie Gilmore

My biggest reading sin is judging these books by their covers. I bought them presuming that they were cosy small town mysteries, and while I wasn’t far off, I also wasn’t expecting them to actually be a romance series. I’m yet to delve into contemporary romance stories, but from what I’ve seen online, the Dream Harbour series seems to be a good place to start. I have the first two books in the series, so I’d like to read at least one of them this Autumn.

The Well of Saint Nobody by Neil Jordan

There’s something so compelling about contemporary Irish fiction. I’m wary of falling into the trap of mythologising Ireland, but in a lot of contemporary Irish novels, Irish folklore is weaved in with strong characters and stories that manage to be cosy and gripping at the same time. I really love novels that are strongly tied to their setting – The Offing, for example, is set in Robin Hood’s Bay, and the village is almost a character in itself. I’ve heard great things about The Well of Saint Nobody, and I’m eager to read it for myself.

I’d like to get back into writing extended book reviews, so perhaps you’ll see deep dives into a few of these novels over the coming months.