As we’re launched into the school year and transition into the fall season, homework has started to pile up, and our sleep schedules have drastically shifted. The days are growing shorter, and the fog is beginning to descend upon us in the mornings. These five books are essential for the season, perfect for both a cozy weekend studying and reading time before bed after a long, arduous school day.
#1 The Secret History by Donna Tartt (1992)
Donna Tartt’s debut novel transports readers to a small liberal arts college in Vermont, where a group of students studying Classics become responsible for the murder of a classmate. The strange cast of characters paired with murder at the story’s core create an unforgettable reading experience. Combining psychological thriller elements and subtle social commentary with a compelling academic setting, The Secret History is a book you can come back to every fall. Just wrap yourself up in a blanket and immerse yourself in the mysterious New England atmosphere.
#2 The Idiot by Elif Batuman (2017)
In her semi-autobiographical novel The Idiot, Batuman explores the academic world in a way that will prepare you to dive into your studies this semester. The book follows a Harvard student named Selin in the 1990s and her correspondence with a math student named Ivan as she explores her identity and her place in this world. Selin learns more about herself as she later travels to Hungary to teach English to children. The Idiot will entrance you with its well-crafted prose and a scholarly aspect that will inspire you to do your best work in your classes this fall.
#3 Babel by R.F. Kuang (2022)
With a focus on an alternate reality of 1830s Oxford University, Babel packs a whole world into 545 pages. In the book, the protagonist enters the fictional Royal Institute of Translation at Oxford, Great Britain’s most major source of power. The book focuses on magic from translation, using magical silver bars to illustrate the power of language. The aim of scholars in the Royal Institute of Translation is to find pairs of silver bars that match up to boost the economy and power of the nation. Any reader can pick up the book and be drawn in by its allure and complex, researched-based worldbuilding and history. Kuang’s brilliance shines through as she weaves magic into a startling study of the ethics of academia. Babel opens you up to new understandings of respected educational institutions and the colonialism woven into their history.
#4 M Train by Patti Smith (2015)
This captivating memoir takes readers on a journey through cafes around the world as Patti Smith, also known for her contributions to music, confronts the difficulties of grief and the challenge of creating art. Featuring polaroids that capture Smith’s rich experiences, M Train takes readers through her reflections. The book creates a snapshot of beauty and a peek into the mind of an artist, the perfect companion as you settle into the colder weather.
#5 Normal People by Sally Rooney (2018)
Normal People is the perfect story to pull at your heartstrings while you cozy up with a pumpkin spice latte in bed this fall. The book depicts a complex relationship over the years, tackling the challenges that come with friendship and love entangled. The two protagonists, Marianne and Connell, contrast each other and portray emotion in a relatable way on both sides. It takes place in Ireland, first in coastal County Sligo and then Trinity College in Dublin. Normal People is a novel to pick up and lose yourself in until the very last page.
