Five Atmospheric Books for October
October is the perfect time for an atmospheric story especially if that atmosphere includes a little mystery, a little magic, and a little, dare I say it, murder? Here are five books I’ve read in recent years that feel steeped in the perfect atmosphere for fall reading.
MusÉE Rodin
The Musée Rodin in Paris is home to one of the most recognized sculptures in the world, Le Penseur, or The Thinker as I grew up calling it. It was one of the most thrilling pieces of art for me to see in person while living in Paris; I returned to the garden on multiple occasions. With its long tree-lined walks, outdoor sculptures, and roses in the spring, it’s a pleasant place to spend an hour strolling or meeting a friend for coffee in the café.
A Novel Pairing: Agatha Christie & An Homage to Golden-Age Mystery Writers
These books are a lot of fun and have me wanting to do a deep-dive into so many writers, which to me is the best thing books with an homage to a classic can do! I’ve read most of Christie’s catalog at some point in my life, but I’ve only dipped my toes into Dorothy Sayers, Josephine Tey, and Daphne du Maurier (who Wingate includes for her suspense even though she’s not technically a writer of detective fiction). I think if you enjoy Agatha Christie and her ilk, you’ll enjoy The First Edition Library Mystery series.
Sutton Bank on a Summer’s Night
James Herriot once said that the view from Sutton Bank is the finest in England, and it is hard to disagree with his assessment. Summer days are long in North Yorkshire, and when the sun is shining carpe diem is the order of the day, so one night after dinner my family and I decided to seize the golden hour and drive up to the top of Sutton Bank for a walk and to enjoy the view.
Goathland Station
Goathland Train Station is on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway line and is featured in the film Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s (Sorcerer’s) Stone as Hogsmeade Station, the end of the line for the Hogwarts Express. It is as charming as its sister station, Grosmont, though it is smaller.
Alexandre Dumas On Mosquitoes
You hold your breath, and wait. Not for long. A sudden pain stabs you. This time it is on your eyelid. Your thoughts, in their lust for vengeance, do not allow calculation. You give yourself a blow that would fell an ox, you see a million stars. Never mind; it is worth it if your vampire is dead.
Grosmont Station
If you are visiting Whitby on the North Yorkshire coast, the nearby village of Grosmont is also worth a visit. You can easily drive or take the North Yorkshire Moors Railway steam train April through October.
A Robin in Lockdown
No one could describe the European robin better than the woman who gave the world the personable robin within the pages of The Secret Garden. I recently discovered this little booklet Burnett wrote in answer to a letter asking if the robin in her novel was real. The short answer was yes! And during the uncertain days of April 2020, I had a robin, too.
Five Books For Spring that Celebrate Nature
I love reading books set in the current season and especially those that evoke that season well. Last year I put together a list of five books that felt like springtime either because they were set in that season or they evoked a sense of new life and new beginnings. This list is a little different, because with the exception of The Wind in the Willows, these are mostly pure nature writing and memoir, and they all take place in England and Scotland.
Driving From Paris To Normandy and Brittany
There are many fun weekend trips worth making into Normandy or Brittany when you’re in Paris, and a trip to see the medieval wonder of Le Mont Saint-Michel is the foundation of a March road trip I took in 2019. In three days, my family and a friend saw three unique places: Saint Céneri-le-Gérei, Mont Saint-Michel, and Saint-Malo.
Walking Around Haworth, Home of the Brontë Sisters
The village of Haworth in West Yorkshire is famous the world over for being home to Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Brontë, also known as Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell when writing under pseudonym. Visitors flock to the parsonage every year to see the ordinary yet special place that fostered the imaginations and writing of these extraordinary women.
Richard the Lionheart, Castles, and Limoges
Last January I went to stay at a friend’s house in the Dordogne, and on the drive down noticed a sign for the Route de Richard Coeur de Lion. I was immediately intrigued, and this bit of history—along with a desire to check out Limoges porcelain—became the basis for my birthday outing a few days later.
A Novel Pairing: Dickens’ Classic Carol and The Imagined Story Behind It
If you enjoy re-reading A Christmas Carol every year, you might enjoy pairing it with Samantha Silva’s Mr. Dickens and His Carol. I’m sure much of it is imagined and fictionalized, but it makes for a charming read in the month of December.
Five Favorite Books Set at Christmas
Christmas scenes in any book always feel cozy, and it’s especially enjoyable to read them during the season when I’m craving that cozy feeling.
North Yorkshire Coast
I’ve been reading The Moonstone* by Wilkie Collins with my book club the past couple of weeks, and I wasn’t aware until I started reading that it begins in Yorkshire at a house on the coast. Collins doesn’t give a specific location to the house, but I went digging through my digital trove of pictures from around the North Yorkshire coast for pictures that conjured up the atmosphere of The Moonstone to me.
Books To Read Before Visiting Rome
Before visiting Rome in October 2019, I picked out three books to read before my trip. I like choosing books from different genres and time periods with different points of view.
Ripley Castle Deer Park
Ripley Castle in North Yorkshire has been home to the Ingilby family for over 700 years, and according to a sign on the property, the fallow deer have been grazing here for perhaps even longer!
Château de Chambord
Construction began on the château in the early 1500s at the order of King François I who chose the salamander as his symbol, and we see this slithering amphibian represented all throughout the castle. My favorite features are the gorgeous windows that let in so much light, and I’m looking forward to seeing the “double helix” staircase inspired by the designs of Leonardo da Vinci.
Resurrection Bay Cruise
Even with the rainy weather and the change of plans, we see a lot of wildlife. The full glory of the stunning scenery surrounding Resurrection Bay is hidden from us by the cloud cover, but the glimpses we do get are unforgettable.
Seacombe Sands in Devonshire
In September 2019 my family and I camped at a yurt in South Devon, which put us a short distance from a secluded beach called Seacombe Sands or Gara Rock Beach. I was blown away by the view of bright blue water and rocky beach when we parked the car and walked to the path beside Gara Rock Hotel. It was completely stunning.