In today’s post, we present 10 books to read for fall. Books that are perfect for crunchy leaves, tasty cider. We all know literature and fall go hand in hand when it comes to late night and blustery winds.
1. House of Leaves by Mark Danielewski
A book within a book within a book. If you love the oddness of Lovecraftian horror and complicated reads, then this book is for you. It can be a through-line narrative (sort of), but it can also be a deep exploration into the art of referencing and sourcing material. Enjoy it for its evilness and for its intelligence.
2. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
A truly unsettling book. Jackson does an immense job of setting up mood and playing with the psychological exasperations of the tenants of the house itself. What is the haunting? Are there really ghosts? What does this mean of our own frail sanity? A truly class book and a short read. It will give you all the autumn feels and chills in the night.
3. Salem’s Lot by Stephen King
An autumn book through and through. It reads like leaves on the pavement, as the main character Benjamin Mears ventures into the quaint town of Salem’s Lot. He meets the locals and begins a desperate battle against an ancient evil. One of King’s best books (in my opinion). It delivers on literally every level of story and horror. There are moments in this novel you will never forget either through King’s descriptions or the pure terror of the moment, from vampiric interlopers to traps involving all sorts of kitchen knives.
4. Turn of the Screw by Henry James
A slow burn novel. Henry James delves into the psychology of the character through a meta-narrative of truth, lies, and everything in between. Ghosts haunt the manor and faces appear in the window. But what of the governess and her own wellbeing? You have to read to find out in this book, and finding some additional analysis after you read it is always beneficial.
5. The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury
There are some truly dastardly short stories in this collection. From “The Veldt” to “Kaleidoscope,” the reader finds themselves confronted with mortality and the plight of humanity. Bradbury does not hold back in this collection and readers are treated to the best and worst of people everywhere. So many classic tales in such a small book. This is one of the most perfect books to read during fall because it gives many different perspectives on violence and humility.
7. The Road by Cormac McCarthy
Read this book before you have children. If it’s too late–you have to read it anyway. The Road is transformative in its prose, as it comes across difficult and jarring at first (as only McCarthy can), but it builds upon itself through simple–robust–lines of doubt, fear, and the desperation of a father trying to protect his son. Be wary before you travel through the wasteland. There is no comfort hear, but the journey is worth it.
8. Harvest Home by Thomas Tryon
A classic in my eyes, Harvest Home is truly an autumnal novel. Tryon does an extraordinary thing with the slow-burn story and gives the reader no choice but to engage in each description. When the finally comes around the corner, you are more than prepared for what waits–but that doesn’t make it any less unsettling. A great stranger in a small town story, Harvest Home is imaginative and delightful in its plotting.
9. Tales of Mystery & Imagination by Edgar Allan Poe
Many classic tales hide between the covers, and that’s simply the best when you are curled up on a cold fall night. “The Fall of the House of Usher,”
“The Masque of the Red Death,” and “The Cask of Amontillado” all stand tall in this collection–but there are many more. You can’t go wrong with Poe, as he was the progenitor of so many forms and genres. Another one of those perfect books to read during fall. Enjoy this collection if only to own a copy for yourself.
10. The Complete Short Stories of Bram Stoker
A secret a lot of sources don’t seem to share is that Bram Stoker was more than just the author of Dracula. He was also an excellent short-story writer and happened to pen two of my favorites. The first is “Dracula’s Guest,” which tells the tale of a terrifying venture into unknown lands, and “The Judge’s House,” which is a horror tale that conveys themes of folk lore, logic, and the sins of our forbearers. If you are looking for a grand collection–this is the one.
