Summer was a blast, and we lived it to the fullest, but as it begins to fade and the pace slows down, we’re looking forward to quieter weekends sans plans. For us, that looks like peaceful mornings where the aroma of freshly brewed coffee fills the air as we get lost for hours in a book.
The perfect antidote to our excessive amount of screen time and the seemingly endless hustle of daily life, having a good book on the shelf is the perfect way to calm your mind and expand your world without having to leave the comfort of home. From books on sustainability to spooky carnivals, we’re sharing our favourite titles to pick up this season as the temperature dips, and the leaves begin to fall.
For a Tree Read
Finding The Mother Tree by Suzanne Simard
We couldn’t create this list without including a book on our favourite topic — the trees. Through tentree, you’re probably already familiar with some of the benefits of planting trees, but Finding The Mother Tree will leave you absolutely in awe of these ancient giants and their interconnected communities.
About the Book
Simard brings us into her world, the intimate world of the trees, in which she brilliantly illuminates the fascinating and vital truths – that trees are not simply the source of timber or pulp, but are a complex, interdependent circle of life; that forests are social, cooperative creatures connected through underground networks by which trees communicate their vitality and vulnerabilities with communal lives not that different from our own. And, at the center of it all, the Mother Trees: the mysterious, powerful forces that connect and sustain the others that surround them.
For A Climate Read
The Future We Choose: Surviving the Climate Crisis by Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac
We all have the best intentions, but sometimes it can feel overwhelming trying to dive into the topic of climate change. But especially in light of the IPCC report, it’s a topic we all need to be educated on. We suggest getting started with The Future We Chose. It illuminates the paths that lie ahead for our planet and shares what we can do to help with an optimistic tone we think you’ll appreciate.
About the Book
The Future We Choose: Surviving the Climate Crisis outlines two possible scenarios for our planet. In one, the authors describe what life on Earth will be like by 2050 if we fail to meet the Paris Agreement’s climate targets. In the other, they lay out what it will be like to live in a regenerative world that has net-zero emissions. This book argues for confronting the climate crisis head-on, with determination and optimism. It presents our options and tells us what governments, corporations, and each of us can, and must, do to fend off disaster.
For a Fall Read
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
Perfect for a chilly fall evening when you can feel winter sneaking it, The Great Alone takes you back in time to the wild terrain of Alaska in the 1970s. With beautiful descriptions of a rugged and unforgiving landscape, as you turn each page, you’ll find yourself snuggling in even further under your blanket.
About the Book
Ernt Allbright came home from the Vietnam War a changed and volatile man. When he loses yet another job, he makes the impulsive decision to move his wife and daughter north, where they will live off the grid in America’s last true frontier.
The Allbrights find a fiercely independent community of strong men and even stronger women. The long, sunlit days and the generosity of the locals make up for the newcomers’ lack of preparation and dwindling resources. But as winter approaches and darkness descends, Ernt’s fragile state deteriorates, and soon the perils outside pale in comparison to the threats from within.
For a Whimsical Read
Perestroika in Paris by Jane Smiley
In a time where we are constantly faced with difficult news and hard headlines, Perestroika in Paris offers us a little escape from reality. Filled with adventure, friendship, and talking animals, this book revives the nostalgia of childhood fiction in all the most comforting ways.
About the Book
Paras, short for Perestroika, is a spirited racehorse who lives just outside Paris. One afternoon at dusk, she finds the door of her stall open and — she’s a curious filly — wanders all the way to the city of lights.
A resourceful dog named Frida teaches her how to get by, and they keep company with a pair of irrepressible ducks and an opinionated raven. Then Paras meets a human boy, Etienne, and discovers a new part of the city: the ivy-walled house where the boy and his nearly one-hundred-year-old grandmother live in seclusion. As Christmas nears, the unlikeliest of friendships blooms. But how long can a runaway horse stay undiscovered in Paris?
For a Spooky Read
Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
Finally, no fall reading list would be complete without a spooky Halloween read. We recommend keeping the hall lights on and double-checking those dark corners after starting this one.
About the Book
The show is about to begin. Cooger & Dark’s Pandemonium Shadow Show has come to Green Town, Illinois, to destroy every life touched by its strange and sinister mystery. The carnival rolls in sometime after midnight, ushering in Halloween a week early. A calliope’s shrill siren song beckons to all with a seductive promise of dreams and youth regained. Two boys will discover the secret of its smoke, mazes, and mirrors; two friends who will soon know all too well the heavy cost of wishes…and the stuff of nightmares.
If this booklist has you looking forward to fall, we highly recommend checking out our favourite ways to shift with the seasons. It includes some delicious seasonal recipes and ways you can make the most of this fresh start.
