READING: We have gathered a few enjoyable reads for mature readers who like to curl up with a good book as the temperatures drop and the leaves begin to change.

Two choices from the world of fiction are:

The Secret History, by Donna Tarth, follows a group of misfits who attend college in New England and are influenced by their classics professor. The group begin living outside normal morality and ultimately fall into evil.

The Night Circus, by Erin Morgenstern, tells the story of a circus that appears with no warning. Called Le Circue des Rêves, the black-and-white striped canvas tents only permit entry at night.

For a work that is newly released, The Beekeeper of Aleppo, written by Christy Lefteri, is a thrilling option. The work follows a beekeeper and his wife, a couple who live in Aleppo, enjoying simple lives until war breaks out. The story follows their escape to the UK, a journey filled with danger.

Local setting: For those who enjoy fiction set in Pennsylvania, The Dutch House, written by Ann Patchett, is set for release Sept. 24. As the title would indicate, the house itself is a character in this novel. Set in the Philadelphia suburbs, the lavish estate is purchased as a surprise but ends up as a curse for the family instead.

Non-fiction: A Castle in Wartime: One Family, Their Missing Sons, and the Fight to Defeat the Nazis, written by Catherine Bailey, is slated for release Oct. 29. The non-fiction work shares the story of Fey von Hassell and family and the consequences of the decision by von Hassell’s father, Germany’s ambassador to Italy, to participate in an assassination attempt against Hitler.

Did you know?: Reading can help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s Disease. According to a recent study, those who read are two and a half times less likely to be diagnosed with the disease at an advanced age. This in no way credits reading with guaranteed prevention, but it does show a relationship between enjoying a book and possibly avoiding the diagnosis.