I’ll admit, I’m far from an expert when it comes to Starbucks drinks. I don’t like coffee (*gasp*) and typically only consume English Breakfast tea, Chai lattes, Matcha, and the occasional London Fog from cafes. That being said, every year I’m tempted by all the cozy sounding drinks Starbucks releases, so I thought what better way to experience them (besides drinking them) than connecting them to book recommendations!
Chai Latte: I just told you this is my favorite, so of course we’re starting off with it. While it’s not a fall exclusive, the spiced taste of Chai is definitely best consumed on a cool fall day. It’s the epitome of cozy to me, which is why for this book recommendation, I’m going to pick one of my comfort classics – Hamlet. I’m majorly due for a reread (I’m dying to get my hands on this Shakespeare collection) but that doesn’t change the fact it’s both my
favorite Shakespeare play and possibly favorite play ever, although Macbeth is a close contender. I think there’s something a little too relatable about Hamlet’s dramatic nature that draws the reader (or performer) in. If you haven’t watched Kenneth Branagh’s 1996 adaptation, you should absolutely do so while bunkered down with a nice Chai Latte. Although, you may want to do it in two parts since the run-time is 4 hours! A version of the play I’m desperate to see is the 2015 National Theatre one starring my favorite actor, Benedict Cumberbatch. Until then, I think a nice reread will suffice and if, somehow, you’ve made it this far in life without ever having picked up Hamlet, or if it’s been a while like it has for me, I highly recommend you do so immediately!
Caramel Apple Spice: I’ve never tried this drink (a common theme you’ll notice) but reading the description online, I get the feeling it's one I need to try this year. It sounds similar, but somewhat different and perhaps sweeter, than Apple Cider. For this drink, I’m
picking another play for the recommendation – The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde. It’s common for people to flock to The Picture of Dorian Gray during the fall (myself included) because of the aesthetics, but this lighthearted, comically witty play is also perfect for this time of year. It’s different, kind of like the caramel apple spice Starbucks drink, but also sweet and oddly familiar. When I say I actually laughed out loud while reading this play, I’m not exaggerating: literal snickers left me! Once you’re finished consuming this quick play, settle down to watch the hilarious 2002 film adaptation starring the likes of Colin Firth, Reese Witherspoon and Judi Dench. You’ll thank me later for the laughs!
Pumpkin Spice Latte: If there’s one thing I know, it’s that the Pumpkin Spiced Latte is hyped; I fall for the excitement every year! As I mentioned, I’m not a coffee gal, no matter how hard I try, but everytime I see this advertised, I try so desperately hard to be one. And each year that I take that first sip, I instantly regret everything that led me to that moment. Will this year be different? Who knows. What I do know though is the perfect book recommendation for this popular autumnal staple – Babel, R.F. Kuang’s recent release. While I haven’t finished it yet (so no spoilers please!) I already feel confident
recommending it. If you love languages, dark academia, and social commentary mixed with fascinatingly complex characters, all set against an 1800s Oxford backdrop, this is the book for you. Kuang, who is an instant purchase author for me, lets her beautiful writing flow here in a style much different from her critically acclaimed Poppy War trilogy (which I also highly recommend, but be warned: it’s not for the faint of heart). Babel has been hyped since its announcement, even more so in the past few weeks following its release, but just like the Pumpkin Spiced Latte, it’s worthy of such attention.
Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato: I’ll admit, this one was hard. The description makes it a little difficult to tell if it’s sweet or strong, sort of like this next recommendation. What I’m really basing this on is PureWow’s description: the ingredients “[give] the bev a comforting aroma that screams autumn.” The book sticking out in my mind for this is another classic – Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen. I don’t know that any of Austen’s novels are not
well known, but I’d make the argument Northanger is lesser known than her other works, especially by the general public. I stumbled across this book in a British Women’s Literature course I took in London, and instantly fell in love. I’ll admit, there’s probably a reason the likes of Pride & Prejudice and Emma are more popular, but that doesn’t mean Northanger isn’t endearing in its own way. Still a love story, Northanger is Austen’s satire of the Gothic novel. It has the distinction of being the first novel completed by Austen, but was actually published posthumously along with Persuasion. It’s the story of a girl too fond of Gothic novels, and how her overactive imagination manages to skew her perspective of the world around her. It’s comical and lighthearted at times while having the spooky feeling brought about Northanger Abbey itself, somewhat in the way this Starbucks drink can go either way!
Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew: People who drink cold brew scare me. Yes, I’ve never had one (hello, I can’t even drink a Pumpkin Spice Latte!), but the lack of milk? Incomprehensible to me! I suppose the vanilla syrup and sweet pumpkin foam make up for this, but I still stand by the fear of regular cold brew drinkers. This mixture, fear and awe, is why I’m picking The Secret History by Donna Tartt for my final recommendation. If you ask me, you’d be hard pressed to find a better book that exists. The birth of Dark Academia, TSH follows a group of classicists at a remote, elite college in Vermont based on Bennington, the real life college Tartt attended. From the very first sentence, the book sets itself up as a ‘whydunit’ murder rather than ‘whodunit.’ I mean, just read the opening line:
“The snow in the mountains was melting and Bunny had been dead for several weeks before we came to understand the gravity of our situation”
How incredibly chilling and captivating is that? Tartt’s writing is exquisite, and I’d go as far as to call her a genius. The book is structured in the same way a Greek Tragedy is, and the parallels are so deeply embedded in the nature of the story, it could take a hundred reads to still grasp everything she intended. I finished my reread this summer, and I’ve
been aching to return to it ever since. I think I might give the abridged version a listen this fall, as it’s narrated by Robert Sean Lenoard, aka Neil Perry from The Dead Poets Society, my absolute favorite film of all time. It’s the collision of two dark academia worlds, and I can’t wait for that experience. I’m also eager to give the unabridged version a listen as it’s narrated by Tartt herself. If there’s one book from this list you choose, I hope it's this one. Just be warned – Tartt does not shy away from the ugly and disturbing nature of these characters. Her characters are extremely unlikable but also vastly compelling, a feat that establishes Richard Papan as the best unreliable narrator I’ve ever come across. They’re disconnected from reality, having created an isolated mico-society of their own where the immoral becomes justified. It’s a rollercoaster of a book and words will never be enough to describe why it’s one of the best novels ever written.
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