3 Fiction Books to Read This Autumn
Escape rainy days with these atmospheric reads
Welcome to the October edition! đ There wonât be any spooky surprises, just book reviews and the latest buzz from the world of books.
As itâs the time of the year to cozy up with a blanket, I have prepared the three books appropriate to the season. They are so atmospheric (sometimes even a bit dark?), so when is a better time to read them?
I hope they will keep you in good company on rainy days!
#1 My Year of Rest and Relaxation
by Ottessa Moshfegh
Although this book is no easy beach read, it is equally captivating. It was my first book by Ottessa and Iâm happy I discovered it through a recommendation of a friend. Letâs start with the authorâs background.
About the author
Ottessa Moshfegh is a 42-year-old American author and novelist, whose mother was born in Croatia and her father (Jewish) was born in Iran. After college, Ottessa moved to China, where she taught English and worked in a punk bar. In her mid-twenties, she moved to New York and worked for a publishing house, and then as an assistant for Jean Stein, the American author and editor. After contracting cat-scratch fever, she left the city and earned an MFA from Brown University. During those years, she supported herself by selling vintage clothing. (How cool is that?)
This is all to say that I find her background and career path pretty diverse and inspiring. She has received critical acclaim for her writing and has been nominated for and received several prestigious literary awards. She is also the author of Eileen (2015), Death in Her Hands (2020), and Lapvona (2022).
What is the book about?
My Year of Rest and Relaxation (2018) is set in 2000s New York. The story follows a young art history graduate who is also mourning the death of her parents. Leaving her job as a gallerist, she decided to sleep for a year to reset her life. With the help of the sleeping medications prescribed by her shady psychiatrist, she starts her year of rest and relaxation. She makes a deal with another artist to bring her food and other necessities in exchange for being allowed to make an art project while she is unconscious.
Throughout her journey, she occasionally wakes up to go to a local bodega and see a few people she still has in her life, including her college roommate Reva (who mostly shows up announced) and her older (ex)-boyfriend Trevor (who regularly dump her to date other women). Both relationships are toxic, but she keeps them.
Whatâs my take on it?
Through these characters, the book explores themes of alienation, identity, mental illness, privilege, toxic relationships, and the darker aspects of the human experience.
The plot sounds dark at first, but Ottessa manages to onboard the reader on this adventure. Although not my typical read, I was positively surprised by how much I liked the book. Ottessa's writing and storytelling turn what I'd describe as a dark book into an addictive read that makes you turn page after page.
It is a weirdly unique novel with an intriguing plot, raising important issues and inviting readers to reflect on them. I liked the dark humor that Ottessa so seamlessly used while navigating through difficult topics and I really appreciated her writing (and will definitely read more from her!). Only because it was a bit too dark for my taste, itâs 4/5 stars for me.
You can buy this book on Amazon.de or Amazon.com or grab a copy at your local bookstore.
#2 Cleopatra and Frankenstein
by Coco Mellors
Hereâs another gloomy read from me to you this autumn.
About the author
Coco Mellors is a writer from London who moved to New York in her teens, where she received an MFA in Fiction from New York University. She is currently based in LA. Cleopatra and Frankenstein is her debut novel which was published in February 2022.
What is the book about?
A twenty-four-year-old British painter Cleo is finding her place in New York after escaping from England. Just before her student visa ends, she meets Frank, a self-made businessman who is 20 years older than her. At a chance to be happy and apply for a green card, she gets married to Frank, but their impulsive marriage changes everything, far beyond their own lives.
The story follows their journey as well as the lives of their loved ones as they navigate love, the complexities of marriage, and mental well-being. The book covers the topics of gender identity struggles, substance abuse, searching for meaning, mental health battles, self-discovery, and ambition.
Whatâs my take on it?
While I didnât expect sunshine and rainbows, I underestimated the emotional weight this book carries. I didn't foresee how much it would affect me emotionally, and I found it hard to read. It made me put the book down on two occasions, and it took me more than three months to finish.
Cleopatra and Frankenstein is a slow burner and an honest exploration of life's tough choices. The topics raised in the book definitely leave a lasting impression, staying with you well beyond the final page. If you appreciate a thought-provoking and meaningful read, this book is for you. My rating stands at 3.5 stars, reflective not only of the book itself but of its emotional burden.
For the fans of the book: Coco Mellors is collaborating with Warner Bros to develop a "Cleopatra and Frankenstein" TV show.
You can buy this book on Amazon.de or Amazon.com or grab a copy at your local bookstore.
#3 Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow
by Gabrielle Zevin
About the author
Gabrielle Zevin is a 46-year-old American author and screenwriter, who was born in New York and has Ashkenazi Jewish, Russian, Lithuanian, Polish, and Korean roots. She is the author of novels for adults and young readers and published her debut novel in 2005. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is her fifth novel for adults and was released in 2022.
What is the book about?
The novel follows three friends, game developers Sadie Green and Sam Masur and their producer Marx Watanabe. United by their passion for video games, they release their first blockbuster Ichigo, which makes them successful overnight. Over the course of their shared careers, they have turned what has started as joint work in their dorm room into a successful video game studio. Spanning thirty years, the book follows the story of this trio as they navigate their friendship, expectations, and creative ambitions.
According to Gabrielle, several games and characters in the book were inspired by real-life games, events, and actual game designers. This is probably why in March 2023, a game designer Brenda Romero claimed that Solution, one of the games in the book, represents a substantial and uncredited appropriation of her own game Train. Gabrielle and her publishing house brushed off the claims, arguing that the book is a work of fiction.
Whatâs my take on it?
Itâs been two months since I finished this book and I still have mixed feelings about it. I liked it and enjoyed reading it, but I also hated it occasionally.
As much as I am disinterested in the world of video games, I was drawn to the story and I learned a lot about the industry. The characters, however, were questionable to me. I couldnât relate to them and their relationship (which felt pretentious for the most part) and it often made me question their decisions and life choices.
The other thing that stood out to me was the number of topics Gabrielle tried to address in her book. This includes gun violence, death, grief, toxic relationships, chronic illness, racism, sexism, just to name a few. This book touches on a wide range of topics in a somewhat superficial way.
I was bored through some sections, while couldnât turn pages fast enough through others. That said, I couldnât put the book down and I kept thinking about it when I wasnât reading. With this bitter-sweet feeling, itâs a 4-star read for me.
In 2021 prior to its publication, Paramount Pictures and Temple Hill Entertainment purchased the film rights for Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Zevin is writing the script.
You can buy this book on Amazon.de or Amazon.com or grab a copy at your local bookstore.
Whatâs new?
Serena Williams announced a two-book deal with the Random House Publishing Group. Her first book will focus on her childhood and tennis career, being more of a memoir, while the second one will offer ârules for livingâ.
Since we talked about Ottessa Moshfegh, her debut novel Eileen will be on the screens this December. At the very least, tune in to see Anne Hathaway in action <3
Remember the good old The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho? The film adaptation is in the works by Legendary Entertainment and Sonyâs TriStar Pictures. This is, however, is not the first attempt at this adaptation, so letâs see whatâs going to turn out!
This Thursday, November 2, Netflix is going to drop its four-part limited series based on All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. All episodes will be available upon debut.
If youâre curious which other adaptations are coming soon, check this out.
Before you go
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Happy reading!
Liza
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