Movie and Book Recommendations for Fall

Artwork: Lee Olson

As the leaves change and the weather cools, many of us like to cozy up with a fall watch or read that leaves us feeling the autumn spirit. These movies and books will help you get that fall feeling, so grab a blanket and a cup of your favorite fall drink and indulge in one of these fall favorite recommendations.

Movie Recommendations:

Dead Poets Society

This movie follows English teacher John Keating as he works at a prestigious New England boys’ boarding school. Through his class, he teaches the boys how to go against traditions and standards that they are up-held to. He helps them learn to achieve their full potential and individuality through unconventional approaches, leading to a secret club, the Dead Poets Society. Set in the fall of New England, this movie is full of stunning landscapes and allows viewers to feel the fall vibes.

Hocus Pocus

Hocus Pocus follows two teenagers who recently moved to Salem and meet a mysterious new friend, Allison. After dismissing her spooky stories as superstitious, the teens release a coven of evil witches and must find a way to stop them from becoming immortal. This movie is perfect for getting in the Halloween spirit and brings a wave of nostalgia.

Remember the Titans

Remember the Titans follows a 1971 Virginia high school football team as they bring together players with different racial backgrounds. The team uses football to learn how to overcome differences and work together to face challenges on and off the field. If when you think of fall, you think of football, this movie is perfect for you.

Good Will Hunting

This movie follows the main character, Will Hunting, who has a genius-level IQ but has a hard time reaching his full potential. As a janitor at MIT, he secretly solves difficult math problems, which has attracted the attention of the university staff. However, after a string of bad decisions, Will is forced to meet with a therapist whose goal is to help him reach his goals both academically and personally. Good Will Hunting reminds us of the importance of conquering fears and facing our failures to move forward.

Book Recommendations:

The Secret History

The Secret History follows a group of misfits at an elite New England college. As they take a course focused on classics, they meet a charismatic professor who helps them discover a new way of thinking outside the norm. However, this new thinking leads the students down a path of obsession, corruption, and betrayal. This dark academia book is told in a unique style that will leave you on the edge of your seat.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

This magical children's classic focuses on 11-year-old orphan Harry Potter and his life-altering discovery that he is a wizard. Because of these newfound powers, he is sent to Hogwarts, a school for magic and wizardry. Along the way, he meets several friends who help him navigate this new mystical world and the secrets behind his parent's mysterious death. This book is the perfect cozy fantasy for this fall season.

The Shining

Jack Torrance lands a new job as a caretaker at the Overlook Hotel. However, because he arrives in the hotel’s off-season, he sees it as a perfect opportunity to reconnect with his family and work on his novel writing. But as a harsh winter sets in, the hotel no longer feels idyllic but turns sinister. Although The Shining is not set in the fall, the horror book has the perfect spooky vibes for the Halloween season.

Pride and Prejudice

Pride and Prejudice is a classic novel set in Regency England and follows the main character, Elizabeth Bennet. Because of familial and societal pressures, Elizabeth is forced to find a suitor who can help her family reach prosperity. She and her potential suitor, Mr. Darcy, face a romantic clash as they battle their stubbornness in finding love. This historical classic encapsulates the autumn season through a comforting story of romance.