Autumn Reading

Ah, autumn. Season of mists and . . . wonderful books! As the nights draw in and the air gets chillier, we take a look at why the autumn months are the perfect time for some serious book indulgence . . .  

The moment I notice the leaves on the Acer tree outside my window are turning a brilliant red, I feel a tinge of excitement for the months ahead. OK, so the days are shorter and there’s a definite chill in the air, but there are also books - lots of them - and a perfect excuse for some marathon reading sessions by the fire.

In the publishing world, Autumn is famous for new releases, and with publishing schedules delayed earlier in the year due to COVID-19, this season has brought with it a series of Super Thursdays – a time when huge numbers of books are released on the same day.

There are a number of eagerly anticipated new titles to hit Inspire library collections this season, including Victoria Hislop’s One August Night - the long-awaited sequel to The Island, Roddy’s Doyle’s Love - hailed by some as his finest to date, and William Boyd’s Trio - described by the Guardian as “…his funniest book in years”. And to lift your spirits, Matt Haig’s The Midnight Library delivers a celebration of life’s possibilities.

As ever, crime fiction features strongly in the list of new releases – with offerings from Ann Cleeves (The Darkest Evening) and Ian Rankin (the rather aptly titled A Song for Dark Times).  Fans of Nordic Noir will welcome the new standalone thriller from Jo Nesbo The Kingdom, while Kate Ellis keeps us closer to home with the third and final historical thriller in the Albert Lincoln series The House of the Hanged Woman, set in Derbyshire.

As well as indulging in the many new releases available, for me, autumn brings an opportunity to delve into books that seem atmospherically appropriate for the season. Silvia Moreo-Garci’s Mexican Gothic takes us to 1950s Mexico for a ‘pitch-perfect’ gothic tale, and if you’re brave enough, Kirsty Logan’s The Things We Say in the Dark is a collection of sometimes graphic short horror stories. And of course, it’s also a perfect time to revisit classics such as Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein or Bram Stoker’s Dracula.

But if those choices sound a little too dark for you, the increasingly popular cosy crime genre has some page-turning treats to offer which are perfect for fireside reading (browse our new Cosy Crime Recommendations for inspiration). And lovers of non-fiction are certainly not left out this season – you can discover some great titles in our latest Your Next Good Read: Non-fiction recommendations.

The truth is, with the seasons changing, and restrictions due to COVID-19 continuing, we’re all going to be spending more time indoors, so why not take the chance to devour a good book (or ten . . . )? And with 41% of Britons already reading more since March, according to a survey by Nielsen Books, we certainly won’t be alone.

So as the light fades and the air gets colder, do what makes sense - pull up a blanket, pour a hot chocolate and cosy up with a good read – you’ll be in good company . . .