Bored of required uni reading? Here’s seven books I’m reading instead

Uni requires a lot of reading. Mostly for extra content for understanding lectures, or reading over notes from seminars. But not all reading has to be dull, boring or forced upon you. Here are seven things I’m reading this autumn where cosy and comfort is the main genre. 

1. Youthjuice

Devil Wears Prada meets The Substance.

In Youthjuice, E.K Sathue introduces the modern day wellness-culture to the body horror genre. Today’s wellness companies, influencers, and social media it-girls make so many promises to their followers. Balance, youth, and perfection, get wrapped up in a neat little package (a new moisturiser that costs £100). For our protagonist Sophie Bannion, that promise curdles into something far more disturbing. As a new recruit at an influencer-led wellness company, she learns that the company’s picture-perfect image, is hiding more than just a few skeletons in it’s closet. Sathue’s satirical lens transports the reader from the darkest of alleyways, to the most elaborate of influencer homes, where invitations are exclusive and status is performed.

2. East of Eden

With the new Netflix series gracing our screens, John Steinbeck’s East of Eden is a lengthy but rewarding read, featuring everything from sibling rivalry, buried secrets and the dangers that come with the freedom of choice. The story follows the Trask family across generations, whose lives echo that of those before them, as well as the biblical story of Cain and Abel. What Steinbeck asks of the reader, is to consider whether we are trapped by our pasts, or whether we have control of our destiny? Often dramatic, greatly philosophical and sometimes dark, the novel explores love, selfhood and morality. If you enjoy complex characters, complicated family dynamics, and philosophical debate, this book is the perfect read.

3. Coraline

Although a much beloved film, the book is equally nostalgic and eerie. Neil Gaiman presents bright-eyed Coraline Jones, a young girl determined for adventure. When her family move into a new home, Coraline discovers a secret tiny door that transports her alone to a parallel world, one far more intriguing than her own. But as she learns more about this other world – including meeting an alternative version of her mother- it becomes clear that all is not as perfect as it seems. The book, though short, teaches the important lesson of appreciating the imperfectness of real life, over the seductive illusions of another.

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Gaiman’s careful storytelling and unsettling imagery creates a rich colourful atmosphere, despite its eerie plot. Encapsulating so much about what resonates with childhood, Coraline offers a nostalgic yet creepy tale that is perfect for a late night read under the covers.

4. Rivals

Jilly Cooper’s scandalous yet heartwarming tales have earned a solid place in the nation’s heart, particularly after being turned into a hit TV series. Luckily for you, dear reader, her books are even better than the show, and what better place to start than with Rivals – especially with the second half of season two coming out on November 11th. Overflowing with gossip, Rivals has everything from forbidden affairs and outrageous parties, to brutal business deals and unbridled ambition. Indulge in the lives of the wealthy elites, and watch as drama unfurls, debt rolls it, marriages get ruined, and somehow, watch as love prevails. The Cotswolds setting makes for a deliciously escapist world that is perfect for readers who want an all-consuming story to settle into this season.

5. Parsnips, Buttered

If you enjoyed Joe Lycett on this year’s Traitors, why not revisit his fabulously hilarious autobiographical book. Offering pure comedic gold, his 2017 book Parsnips, Buttered, aims to address all of life’s biggest issues; from dealing with people like Donald Trump to getting out of pesky parking fines, this book has it all. Whether you loved Lycett on traitors, or want a funny read, this book is well worth picking up.

6. Jane Eyre

Jane Eyre is a quintessential autumnal/winter read; with it’s windswept moors and candlelit rooms, it is the perfect novel for a moody winters evening. The novel follows the protagonist Jane and her battle to find independence and escape her childhood troubles. Touching on social inequality, morality, and Victorian gender ideals, the Gothic and Romantic elements of the novel make it an unforgettable and poignant read- particularly for those interested in classical literature.

7. We have always lived in the castle

This psychological gothic horror is an unsettling yet captivating novel by Shirley Jackson, who is also known for her novel The Haunting of Hill House (now a Netflix classic). Often unsettling, this novel follows Merricat, and her life living with her uncle and agoraphobic sister. Deeply troubled by a past “tragedy”, she lives completely isolated from the world and knows nothing but the walls of her room, and the obsessive thoughts in her head. Far from sane, the novel follows her questionable actions right to the bitter end, leaving the reader feeling deeply troubled and strangely claustrophobic. This incredible piece of literature is perfect for those that love psychological horror and morally imperfect characters.