As summer comes to a close, you might find yourself stuck inside with a lack of things to do. In that case, check out my list below of six books to read as the weather gets colder.
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Despite being first published more than a century ago, Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray remains a classic novel – and an important life lesson – today. The book follows the young and adored Dorian Gray as he lives his life, unable to age because of a pledge he made to place his soul inside of a portrait. Alongside a dreary Victorian-Era England setting, Wilde expertly explores themes of crime, desire, and manipulation, showing how easy it is to become someone you aren’t when influenced by others.
The Secret History + The Little Friend + The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
Crafting dreamlike but painfully real atmospheres is one of Donna Tartt’s strongest skills as a writer—one that is prevalent in each of her novels. Although they are each distinct, they share a likeness in the way Tartt builds the setting from the ground up, leaving readers stunned long after finishing the last page. The Secret History is told from the perspective of Richard Papen, who is pulled into the world of a pretentious group of college students, just as their relationships with each other begin to tragically shatter. The Little Friend shares a similar morbidity, but instead tells the story of a young girl, Harriet, as she attempts to solve the mystery of her brother’s death. The Goldfinch spans over several decades, following the aftermath of 13-year-old Theo Decker stealing a painting from the museum his mother died in.
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness and Siobahn Dowd
The 2011 novel A Monster Calls is a beautiful representation of the effects of loss, and a beautiful result of two authors coming together. Although Patrick Ness wrote the bulk of the novel, it would not exist without late author Siobahn Dowd’s idea, which was passed on to Ness after she died in 2007. Dowd’s imagination and Ness’s words work admirably together to tell the story of a young boy, Conor, coping with his mother’s illness. Through heartbreakingly realistic themes, there is still an air of fantasy present to show how Conor found hope in the darkest of times.
Dead Poets Society by Nancy H. KleinbaumIn 1989, Peter Weir’s coming-of-age drama Dead Poets Society, hit screens, instantly capturing the hearts of many. The movie is still celebrated today for its discussion of the importance of passion. In 2006, a book adaptation was written by Nancy H. Kleinbaum, author and journalist. Both book and movie follow a group of private-school students in Vermont as their perception of life and language changes with the help of their eccentrically outspoken English teacher. Please take into account that this story contains themes of suicide; though the message of Dead Poets Society is important, it is also heavy.
By Abby Ketchum
The Axe 