It is Autumn! The air is crisp and full of golden leaves, and it is time to snuggle up with a book and a hot drink. To get more into the cozy mood, I thought I would do the Cozy Fall Book Tag that all my favorite Booktubers are doingg, originally created by The Book Belle on Youtube. So, without further ado, let’s get cozy!
1. What book always reminds you of fall/autumn?
Oh man, I have wayyyy too many. I would say any book that has ghosts or haunted houses. But to be more specific, I would pick Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury. It is so autumnal not only because it takes place during Halloween, but it has one of my favorite Autumn quotes:
“For some, autumn comes early, stays late through life where October follows September and November touches October and then instead of December and Christ’s birth, there is no Bethlehem Star, no rejoicing, but September comes again and old October and so on down the years, with no winter, spring, or revivifying summer. For these beings, fall is the ever normal season, the only weather, there be no choice beyond. Where do they come from? The dust. Where do they go? The grave. Does blood stir their veins? No: the night wind. What ticks in their head? The worm. What speaks from their mouth? The toad. What sees from their eye? The snake. What hears with their ear? The abyss between the stars. They sift the human storm for souls, eat flesh of reason, fill tombs with sinners. They frenzy forth. In gusts they beetle-scurry, creep, thread, filter, motion, make all moons sullen, and surely cloud all clear-run waters. The spider-web hears them, trembles–breaks. Such are the autumn people. Beware of them.”
2. What is your favourite autumnal book cover?
Definitely the one on the awesome edition of The Haunting of Hill House!
3. What is your favourite autumnal drink to read with?
Either a hot cup of Earl Grey tea with honey, or a hot chocolate!
4. Do you prefer to read late at night or early in the morning?
Actually neither! I like reading in late afternoon or evening because that is when I get done with work for the day, and my mind is ready to settle down, get cozy, and just escape the world a little bit.
5. Halloween is coming! What is your favourite spooky read?
Anything Shirley Jackson! I’m probably going to reread her Dark Tales this year as that is my favorite of her collections. Though I would recommend anything she has written, she is brilliant and spooky, but at the same time kinda cozy!
6. What is the ultimate comfort read for you?
This is a tough one, but I’d probably pick The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman and The Fellowship of the Ring by Tolkien. Both of these books have elements of folklore and fairytale that always make me feel happy and cozy. Also, who wouldn’t feel cozy reading about the Shire and all the food they get to eat?
7. What is your favourite autumnal reading snack?
This changes ALL the time, but right now I am enjoying this amazing beef jerky made by my local meat market. Yes I know it’s not the most autumnal snack, but it is delicious.
8. What is your favourite autumnal candle to burn whilst reading?
Anything vanilla! It’s the coziest scent.
9. When you’re not reading, what is your favourite autumnal activity?
Art! Lately I’ve been painting Autumn trees with my watercolors. I want to capture all of the beautiful colors before it snows!
10. What is on your autumn/fall reading list?
So I actually made a blog post about it here! Got lots of ghost stories of course, but I also have a couple cozy mysteries!
And that’s the tag! I tag all of you to share your cozy autumnal routines and joys.
Happy Autumn! And, if you’d like to support me and my work, consider buying me a coffee!
Book Reviews by A. Siegel 