Anne’s most comforting reads for November
It’s mid-November, which means autumn is well and truly here. Season of crunching leaves, golden light and… curling up inside with a comfort read. Here are some of my favourites!
The Crystal Cave, Mary Stewart
Stewart’s take on the Arthur legend foregrounds Merlin, beginning with his childhood and the discovery of the crystal cave that would become the source of his powers – and the mentor who teaches him magic. The series is five books long, but the first is a classic – sadly not as well known as it should be – for a reason. Stewart’s uncanny ability to evoke a sense of place is unmatched, and her Merlin is sweet, wry and wonderfully naïve.
Dragonsong, Anne McCaffrey
The first in a three-book series of short novels set in McCaffrey’s Pern, a distant planet boasting some very alien threats… and a native animal, called a “fire lizard”, which is very much like a tiny dragon. You don’t need to know the background to be pulled straight into Menolly’s story; she’s the daughter of the leader of her town, who has regressive ideas about women and their place in the world – despite the fact that she’s a talented musician who desperately wants to leave home and find her place in the world. One thing leads to another and she winds up the adoptive mother of nine fire lizards…
The Valley of the Horses, Jean M. Auel
Sequel to The Clan of the Cave Bear, Horses focuses on cro-magnon Ayla as she leaves behind the tribe of Neanderthals who raised her and sets out on her own. Yes, she invents everything from sewing to horse-back riding, but it’s really, really fun. As far as wish-fulfilment goes, living in a cave with a pet cave-lion and a hot boyfriend ain’t bad.
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet; Becky Chambers
The ultimate comfort-read. A warm hug of a book.
Uprooted, Naomi Novik
An evil forest, and not-so-evil wizard, a girl in a tower, a duplicitous (or is he??) prince. There’s a love story, sure, but the main plot revolves around main character Agnieszka’s quest for a way to save her best friend.
A Night in Lonesome October, Roger Zelazny
I have written about this being the perfect autumn read about 77 times over the years. This is number 78. A game between unnamed (but hinted at) fictional characters, undertaken by their familiars. It is a delight and worth going into without knowing much about it.
Silver Nitrate, Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Film-editor Montserrat gets pulled into a creepy, twisting narrative when her best friend, Tristán, introduces her to a once-famous, now obscure film director. The old man tells them the story of a cursed film… and it’s not long before they’re being chased down back alleys by gigantic, demonic shapes. A love-letter to horror films, 90s alt culture and long-gestating love stories, this is the perfect November read.
Stay warm!
Anne
Editorial Director, Arcadia Books
