The Daily Show (The Book): An Oral History by Chris Smith

For almost seventeen years, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart brilliantly redefined the borders between television comedy, political satire, and opinionated news coverage. It launched the careers of some of today's most significant comedians, highlighted the hypocrisies of the powerful, and along the way managed to earn 23 Emmys. Now you can see behind the scenes on one of the most influential television shows of the modern era. Correspondents, guests, and staff all tell the story of The Daily Show from its humble beginnings, through incisive election coverage, Jon Stewart's emotional monologue in the wake of 9/11, his infamous confrontation on Crossfire, passionate debates with President Obama, feuds with Bill O'Reilly, Indecisions and more. Highly recommended for fans of the show.

The Ruins by Scott Smith

The Ruins follows a group of young, carefree students vacationing on the beaches of Mexico. On a lark, they embark on an day’s adventure into the jungle to find a friend’s brother and see some ancient ruins. However, the journey is much longer than expected, their supplies are inadequate, the villagers are not friendly, and the abandoned ruins harbor a danger they never could have imagined. Far too late, they realize their folly. A mysterious enemy inhabiting the ruins taunts them, pitting them against each other and making them question their sanity, before its ultimate attempt to consume them.

This novel is fast-paced and gripping. While reading it, I was eager to continue for just a few more pages, hoping to discover a bit more about the enigmatic threat and watch aghast at what befalls the group as they struggle to escape the ruins. If you don’t mind some grisly details, are entertained by unexpected “monsters” and relish escalating tension in your horror, then The Ruins is worth checking out.

A movie adaptation of The Ruins was made in 2008.

The House Next Door by Anne Rivers Siddons

Colquitt and Walter Kennedy are horrified when construction starts on the wooded vacant lot next door to their suburban Atlanta home. They worry that their routine of dinner parties and drinks on the patio will be disturbed, and that the ultra-modern home going up will ruin the character of their sleepy, traditional Southern neighborhood. However, when they meet the charming young couple who are moving in and their charismatic architect, they warm to the idea and even the new house.

Then a series of disturbing tragedies begin to visit the couple in the house next door until they move away, their relationship broken. The house goes up for sale, and troubled Anita and her husband move in. Anita begins to report bizarre incidents when she is home alone, but surely they are merely the product of her fragile emotional state? Colquitt and Walter watch again as their neighbor’s lives are ruined, and it begins to seem to them that something in the house is changing its inhabitants, bringing out the worst in them. Then a third couple moves in and terrible things happen to them, too. Rational Colquitt struggles to explain what is happening next door as madness and murder plague her once-peaceful neighborhood. What lengths will she and Walter go to to protect themselves and their home? Is there even a way to stop what’s happening?

This is the perfect haunted house story, and nothing like anything else you’ll read this Halloween.

I Am Legend by Richard Matheson

I Am Legend is the story of Robert Neville, a man living among the vampires that took over the world. In this apocalyptic classic, Neville is the only man to endure the virus that has transformed everyone, including his own family, into night-dwelling, blood-sucking vampires. He has foraged for and stockpiled food and other necessities for survival, has rigged his home to withstand the army of vampires trying to get in after him, and has even had to burn his wife and daughter after they succumbed to the virus. When he sees human-looking Ruth, he forces her to come home with him, mostly out of loneliness, but also out of fear. Is she one of them, a vampire mutated to withstand the sunlight and water? Or is she someone that Neville can befriend?

This was a wonderful character-driven story that was creepy and enthralling. I hated to put the book down, but loved to pick it back up. It is a quick read that is sure to put you in the mood for Fall and Halloween! Highly recommended for the season.

Her Royal Spyness By Rhys Bowen

In 1932, when Her Royal Spyness begins, Lady Georgiana is living in Scotland. Thirty-fourth in line to the throne, she is the younger half-sister of the current duke of Rannoch. Unfortunately, title and wealth do not go hand in hand. In fact, she and her immediate family are quite poor, due largely to their late father’s debts and the great crash of '29. However, she decides to head to London and start fresh, but finding work is nearly impossible. Many people are struggling during this time, and being a member of the royal family comes with its own challenges, especially when looking for a job. She is fortunate that her family has a home in London where she can stay. One day, a Frenchman comes to her door stating that Lady Georgiana’s late father lost her family’s estate in a card game to him. Her brother comes down to London, and while the two see their solicitors, the only news they get is bad. Later, Georgiana comes home and finds the Frenchman dead. Suspicion immediately falls on her and her brother. Georgiana must investigate and discover the real killer before she or her brother are accused of his murder.

Her Royal Spyness is an enjoyable series launch with wonderful characters and appearances by real historical figures, like Queen Mary. Great for fans of historical fiction and cozy mysteries.

Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke

“Live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer.”

Rainer Maria Rilke, a German poet now revered for his beautiful and moving works, was relatively unknown in his own time. Despite that, a young military cadet and budding poet named Kappus stumbled upon one of his books and was so taken with it that he sent Rilke a fan letter praising him and asking for advice. Happily, Rilke wrote back, kicking off years of correspondence on a huge breadth of topics, from the futility of literary criticism to the nature of solitude. They include passionate calls to write, somber ruminations on depression, and comforting advice about love and marriage. After Rilke's death, Kappus published a collection of his letters under the title Letters to a Young Poet.

I'm not often a fan of old classics or poetry, but this was an absolutely breathtaking work. It is endlessly quotable, and some of Rilke's observations are truly heart-rending. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Dan Stevens, and was unable to multitask while listening, because I kept pausing to contemplate Rilke's words. It's a very short work, but definitely worth reading if you have any interest in poetry, philosophy, writing, or Rilke.

From Twinkle, With Love by Sandhya Menon

Aspiring filmmaker Twinkle Mehra has stories she wants to tell and universes she wants to explore, if only the world would listen. When fellow film geek Sahil Roy approaches her to direct a movie for the upcoming Summer Festival, it's a dream come true for Twinkle. Then a mysterious "N" starts to email her, and Twinkle is sure it's her longtime crush, Neil Roy (a.k.a. Sahil's twin brother). The only problem is, that in the course of movie making, she's falling for Sahil.

Told through the letters Twinkle writes to her favorite female filmmakers, From Twinkle, With Love navigates big truths about friendship, family, and the unexpected places love can find you. A must-read for fans of When Dimple Met Rishi.