Autumn, the perfect time to curl up on the sofa with a hot cup of tea and a really good book. We love falling head first into another world whilst the leaves change colour outside our windows. If like us you cannot decide which novel to delve into next, then look no further than our ultimate cosy reading list. We've hand-picked some of our favourite books to read this season, from gently-paced prose to thrilling mysteries, there's sure to be something for everyone. So, sit back, relax and meet your new favourite book...
The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro. Set in the summer of 1956, this novel follows Stevens, a long-serving butler at Darlington Hall, as he decides to take a motoring trip through the West Country. The six-day excursion becomes a journey into the past of Stevens and England, a past that takes in a complicated history both personal and National. Written by Sir Kazuo Ishiguro, OBE, and Nobel Laureate in Literature (2017) who's command of prose is ever breath-taking in this gently-paced book.
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. This atmospheric, beautiful fantasy tells the tale of a black and white dream circus. As the darkness descends and stars fill the sky, the sign appears, reading Le Cirque des Reves. The Circus of Dreams. Now the circus is open. Laden with magic and totally perfect for the season, this is the ideal read for someone who is craving a slower paced book to cosy up with on an Autumn evening.
Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy. When Tess Durbeyfield is driven by family poverty to claim kinship with the wealthy D'Urbervilles and seek a portion of their family fortune, meeting her 'cousin' Alec proves to be her downfall. With its sensitive depiction of those mistreated by high society and powerful criticism of social convention, Tess of the D'Urbervilles is just as relevant today as the day it was written.
The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living by Meik Wiking. Denmark is often said to be the happiest country in the world. That's down to one thing: hygge. You know hygge when you feel it. It is when you are cuddled up on a sofa with a loved one, or sharing comfort food with your closest friends. This cosy book will have you feeling all those wonderful feelings as you learn more about the beauty of hygge. The author, Meik Wiking, is CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen and has spent years studying the magic of Danish life.
The October Country by Ray Bradbury. Who better to tell you about The October Country than Bradbury himself? “The October Country … that country where it is always turning late in the year. That country where the hills are fog and the rivers are mist; where noons go quickly, dusks and twilight linger, and midnights stay ... That country whose people are autumn people, thinking only autumn thoughts. Whose people passing at night on the empty walks sound like rain.”
The Cat Who Saved Books by Sôsuke Natsukawa. In this magical tale, a talking cat enlists a high school student’s help on a book-saving mission in Natsukawa’s spellbinding story featuring unwitting book torturers, greedy publishers and a whole lot of literary magic. A perfect story for those for whom books are so much more than words on paper.
I Am Ill With Hope by Gommie. If poems are your thing, or even if they usually aren’t, we can guarantee that you will enjoy this beautiful book. It’s a thoughtful poetry and illustration collection that makes you feel so cosy, just like a warm hug.