Brrrr! There’s been a lot of chilly days since the latter half of August, which I’m taking as a forewarning that colder days are creeping up on us. Summer is quickly melting away, and honestly, I’m loving it. Autumn is the best season to enjoy the outdoors since it’s neither too hot nor too cold. And let’s be real — all the best things come in orange: sunsets and sunrises, fall foliage, and, of course, oranges themselves (the fruit)! Since autumn is only a few weeks away, I think now is a good time to celebrate the colour orange! This post will showcase a few items in our collection, such as books and movies, that have an orange/orangish cover. If you have a bookshelf, perhaps you can temporarily coat it in orange with these titles!
Cats become humans, and humans become cats. In Manfried the Man by Caitlin Major and Kelly Bastow, we switch roles with our feline friends — and yes, it’s as humorous and captivating as it sounds! While cats speak English, Manfried meows out an occasional “Hey!” And, imagine if this were true, instead of us humans working, it’s the cats who have adult responsibilities.
Steve, who’s Manfried’s owner, is a cat who faces judgment from others, such as his colleagues at the call centre where he works. He doesn’t have any kittens (children) and is afraid of the “man cat” label. Still, he clearly loves his man more than anything, so when Manfried leaps out a window to chase a bird and gets lost, Steve must do all he can to find his human friend. Both Manfried and Steve learn a few lessons during Manfried’s disappearance, and maybe us readers can learn something from their story too!
Also, take a look at the Sketchbook section at the end of the book to see the real-life cat breeds that the characters are based on — because who wouldn’t want to see cat pics? Mix that with some fun puns (e.g. an area called “Catlanta”) and silly references (e.g. Meowstagram) throughout the book for a quick and light read!
Alrighty, I admit that I’m unsure whether the cover of this book counts as orange or if it’s more peachy, but How to Be Fine by Jolenta Greenberg and Kristen Meinzer is great if you want to read about the authors’ experiences with the lessons from numerous self-help books. They try to, as they succinctly put in the title, teach us how to be fine. Each chapter, including one about acts of kindness (p. 21) and another on waking up early (p. 101), contains bite-sized wisdom that the authors have gleaned after digesting the rules of 50 self-help books. The anecdotes are interesting and the experiences are equally insightful, so consider borrowing this book to potentially learn a few new life tips!
Get some fun facts with Weird-O-Pedia by Alex Palmer! This book is jampacked with random yet interesting facts about all sorts of things; for example, did you know that some penguins can stay underwater for up to 20 minutes (p. 170)? I think I’d start panicking after 20 seconds! If you’re into trivia (any fans of The Chase here?), then perhaps you’ll also pick up some facts that you can call upon in case a relevant trivia question ever comes up. There are lots of surveys involved as well! The book spans 12 chapters in total, each about a different category such as insects and nature.
If you haven’t seen Oppenheimer (2023) yet, then this is your sign to go watch it! Sure, this movie is about J. Robert Oppenheimer’s life and his work on the Manhattan Project, but at a deeper, almost more visceral level, there’s something bigger: The development of the atomic bomb will inevitably change how humans exist. Cillian Murphy does a fantastic job, and his performance (in addition to the film’s presentation and style) will have many of us thinking — thinking deeply — by the end. Maybe this is a bleak watch that contrasts with the more positive perceptions of autumn and orangeness, if that’s what you’re here for, but this is a film that warrants multiple viewings despite its three-hour runtime if you’re up to experience the deliberate unease that the film brings.
The Batman (2022) showcases the titular protagonist’s detective skills in this gritty and noir-styled film. There seems to have been many takes on Batman (some of the games are fun, by the way!), although I think that this grittier style suits his character best. In popular culture, you can’t escape Batman. There are movies and shows for younger audiences and other spin-off and standalone films for adults like Joker (2019), a movie that was at times hard to watch but powerfully engrossing. (The iconic caped vigilante isn’t in 2019’s Joker, although his younger Bruce Wayne self does make an appearance!) All in all, if you grew up with superheroes, then this isn’t a film to miss!
This is quite on the nose, but Enhypen’s Orange Blood has a very orange cover! This boy group’s fifth EP is roughly 20 minutes long and includes tracks like “Sweet Venom” that will hypnotize listeners with its catchy tunes. There’s also an English version of “Sweet Venom” in case you want to belt out the song during a karaoke session but can’t speak Korean. Also try watching a live performance of Enhypen’s to experience some phenomenal choreography and showmanship — you won’t be able to help but sway along to the upbeat energy!
It’s nearly impossible to not get sucked into the ebullience of K-pop. While I’ve been enjoying this popular form of music for a few years now, 2025 in particular has hoisted the excitement up to new heights, elevating the genre with indelible historical moments. For example, four songs that are part of Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters (2025) soundtrack have simultaneously charted in the top 10 in the Billboard Hot 100, which is the first for any movie soundtrack according to a CBC article published on August 26, 2025. Oh, and let’s not forget that Stray Kids were the first to perform at the new Rogers Stadium a few months ago near the end of June.
If you’d prefer a genre that’s heavier and faster, Metallica’s Master of Puppets, a metal classic, will have you headbanging to the solos and riffs of one of the most legendary metal bands of all time. Even if you’re not a metalhead, you may recognize “Master of Puppets” (the song) if you’ve watched the fourth season of Stranger Things, where the iconic scene of Eddie Munson’s guitar-shredding awesomeness quickly became a viral sensation. This album was also the last for Cliff Burton, the renowned bassist who tragically passed away the same year of Master of Puppets’ release.
If you’re in a Halloween-ish mood, Doom might scratch that itch. You as a player will be the one causing mayhem, so imagine yourself as an unstoppable force who’s blasting and slashing your way through enemies. It’s fast-paced and violent, but that isn’t unexpected when you’re fighting demons. Crank up the heavy metal (maybe put on the aforementioned Metallica album?) and experience the rage and chaos of Doom!
Orange you glad that you read this post? After that horrible pun, maybe you have second thoughts. But wait, don’t go just yet! If you’re a fan of autumn (aka the best season), then consider checking out some books about hiking for some ideas on which trails to go to. In my opinion, this weather is best for going out for walks, so maybe you’ll also want to soak in the fall foliage before they (too quickly!) fall away. Until next time, folks!