As the trees on the mountains yellow and redden, most mornings feel chilly enough to pull on an indie bookstore sweatshirt before pitter-pattering to the kitchen to fix a latte. With autumn’s arrival, my reading habits—like the foliage—shift in notable ways. I reevaluate reading goals. I consider what subjects or genres or vibes I hope to focus on. How many books can I finish before that big disco ball drops from the sky?

Something about the shortening days, lamps that click on earlier, and candlelit dinners urges me to slow down, turn inward. Whenever I find myself struggling to choose my next read or trying to meet lofty bookish goals, I often seek graphic novels and memoirs. With their refreshing combination of art, speech bubbles, and breath between panels, they can be a comfort to a speed-reader.…