Autumnal Reading | Books For Reading on a Rainy Day

 

 

With cooler, grey days scattered with storms, drizzles and autumn leaves, most of us find ourselves retreating to the warm comfort of our homes. Along with a knitted sweater and hot drink, a good book is perfect for escaping the rain. Here's our selection books, perfect for autumnal reading.

 

 

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

 

Set in the early 1950s, Sylvia Plath's 'The Bell Jar' is a semi-autobiographical novel which explores the life of protagonist, Ester Greenwood who moves to New York to pursue her dreams of becoming a writer, but finds herself descending into a state of depression as she faces a series of adversities. Plath's only novel, it presents a raw portrayal of coming-of-age and mental health, while perhaps providing a peak into the psyche of the tragic writer. 

 

 

 

The Goldfinch by Donna Tart

 

Donna Tart's Pulitzer Prize Winner 'The Goldfinch' begins with protagonist, 13-year-old Theodore Decker surviving a terrorist bombing at an art museum and stealing the Dutch Golden Age painting, The Goldfinch in the disarray. A riveting tale filled with suspense and told beautifully from the first-person perspective, 'The Goldfinch' will have you hooked from the first to last pages. 

 

 

 

The Body Keeps the Score: Mind, Brain and Body in the Transformation of Trauma by Bessel van Der Kolk

 

Delving in to the effects of trauma on the mind, brain and body, Bessel van Der Kolk's bestselling book is a holistic guide to recognising and overcoming negative past experiences with modest and attainable methods. A great read for anyone wanting to understand the connections between their physical and mental states. 

 

 

 

On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong

 

The debut novel of Vietnamese-American author Ocean Vuong, 'On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous' is a beautiful novel penned in the guise of a series of letters from a son to his illiterate mother. Semi-autobiographical, the protagonists life mirrors that of the Vuong and explores the joys, trails and tribulations of a first generation American and the generation before him. 

 

 

 

Gilgi, One of Us by Irmgard Keun

 

A modern classic written by German novelist, Irmgard Keun, 'Gilgi, One of Us' follows the life of Gilgi, a young woman with ambition and determination, but finds her life turned upside down when her parents give her devastating news and she becomes enthralled with a charming, yet indolent young man. A frank and captivating tale, it's the perfect book to escape into.