Autumn by Ali Smith 

“Smith’s latest novel, Autumn, is the first of a quartet planned to span the four seasons. Set this past summer and fall in a bitterly divided England during the unsettled, disheartening months following the Brexit vote, its heroine is a plucky 32-year-old art lecturer named Elisabeth Demand who is facing the loss of two things she holds dear: basic human decency, and the elderly neighbor who was her unofficial babysitter and unconventional soulmate in her childhood.” –  NPR 

From the opening line of “It was the worst of times, it was the worst of times,” it is evident that this isn’t going to be a comedic romp of a read. The book deals with death and is often blunt in delving into some dour topics. Like the season it’s named after, Autumn is about things ending. But, also like the season, it’s about death being a way to make room for what’s next. As Daniel recounts his life through dreams on his deathbed, Elisabeth recounts her own life and what her relationship with Daniel has given her to take forward in the rest of her life. 

Autumn is a bit of a collage of scenes and thoughts. Sometimes it feels disjointed, but there is a balance between “big picture” ideas and “little picture” slice-of-life moments that hold the story together. Maybe collage isn’t quite as accurate as a mosaic. 

This book isn’t a particularly easy read, but I do think it’s a perfect novel for this fall. The weather is getting chillier, and the daylight is getting shorter. But sometimes, facing a little bit of the darkness, both literally and metaphorically, can be good. Even a little comforting. So, grab a pumpkin spice latte or make yourself a hot cup of tea, and settle in with Autumn. 

Review by Adam

When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon

After high school graduation, Dimple Shah is itching for a break from her family. She’s ready to put her parents’ search for her “Ideal Indian Husband” behind her and attend a summer program for aspiring web developers. Rishi Patel, on the other hand, is a hopeless romantic, and when his parents tell him he’ll be attending the same summer camp as his future wife, he’s completely on board. The Shahs and Patels didn’t mean to start the arrangement so early, but with both teens attending the same summer camp, they figure, why not?  

If you’re looking for a cute, contemporary romantic comedy, this is the book for you. The novel follows two Indian-American protagonists whose parents have set up an arranged engagement between the two. With Rishi on board and Dimple totally against it, the book is full of humor, romance, and fun! While not necessarily breaking any new ground with the plot, Memon creates a story with two characters that are full of life. Dimple is a strong young woman, 100% sure of who she is and what she wants. Rishi is a lovable goof, dedicated to his beliefs but still figuring himself out. The chemistry between the two characters really drives the book forward.  

While I cannot speak about the representation in the book, I feel like I took away a lot of information about Indian culture. There are many phrases and words in Hindi; they speak about different types of Indian fashion and overall display a lot of customs I previously did not know much about. While the book was a learning experience for me, it was also a lot of fun to read. Told from two different perspectives, the voices of Dimple and Rishi are well-written and distinct. The humor of the book is present on every page, and the overall story is a blast to read. I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for a light read and enjoys romantic comedies.