Ally Mendez

The fall season quickly approaches and with that riveting new stories!

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. – While the heat has gone up, excitement for fall has not. With fall quickly approaching and students getting settled into school, why not settle in with a good read to start the season and unwind? Here are five books that would be a perfect pick for calm, cozy nights in. 

“The Picture of Dorian Grey”: Oscar Wilde

If you enjoy reading literary classics that make you think critically, this riveting and spooky psychological fiction novel is for you. Set in 1900s London, Dorian Grey, a beautifully young and wealthy man quickly becomes the muse of Basil, an artist who paints a portrait of Dorian. When this portrait begins distorting his own physical features, Dorian must come to face that his beauty won’t last forever and nor will he. 

Besides, what can be better than to pick up the book while the new Netflix series begins production? Grab your favorite gingham blanket and get ready to spiral into the mindfully horrifying novel, “The Picture of Dorian Grey.”

“Coraline”: Neil Gaiman 

The inspiration behind the beloved stop motion movie of the same title, “Coraline,” takes you on the thrilling journey of a young girl who, upon moving into her new home, comes across a door to an alternate reality. Here, she finds that everything within her life is seemingly better; however, all is not as it seems in this reality.

The variety and personality within each character, the thrilling suspense of the plot and Gaiman’s own illustrations make this book a great reading experience. 

“Murder On the Orient Express”: Agatha Christie 

An intriguing murder mystery filled with twists, logic, and challenges, this novel will leave readers puzzling over the case even after the answer has been revealed. Private detective Hercule Poirot boards the Taurus express train and gets snowed in with 12 other passengers, where he must investigate the mysterious murder of passenger Mr. Ratchet, all while the killer still lurks on the train. As Poirot dives deeper into the case he witnesses even more suspicious activity between passengers who are not all who they’ve alluded to.

Hop aboard the Taurus Express and get ready to embark on this mind-twisting tale through perilous conflict, questionable turns and mysterious occurrences that will certainly leave you thinking for days.

“Dracula”: Bram Stoker

A cult classic amongst many, this horror thriller follows lawyer Johnathan Harker as he takes a trip to Transylvania where he must close a real estate deal with a client who he believes to be a well-rounded nobleman. As Harker enters town, he is warned about his client, this “vampire,” and is given various items to protect him on his journey. Determined to make this deal, he pushes through staying at the man’s home. However, the longer Harker visits, the more he realizes the man’s own sinister motives behind his stay.

Grab your nearest clove of garlic, and get ready to stake into this horrific vampire classic, a perfect to start off the upcoming Halloween season. 

“The Midnight Library”: Matt Haig 

In this fantasy novel, we journey through the perspective of Nora Seed, an unhappy, down-on-life woman who, after committing suicide, finds herself trapped in a land between life and death. Here, in the so-called midnight library, every book shows an alternate reality of every decision she has made, leaving her with a second chance to confront past regrets. She learns she may finally find happiness once she learns to accept her decisions and finds a reality she can truly appreciate. 

As you prepare your fall reading list, hopefully one of these highly recommended novels will sink its way into your heart, amp up your spirit for the season and even provide you with a new perspective on life. Happy reading, Griffins!