For many of us, winter break might be the first time since the summer that we don’t have to worry about studying for our next test or writing our next essay. Perhaps you’re planning on catching up on your reading or ending your Goodreads challenge on a strong note. Either way, winter is prime reading time; getting cozy on a comfortable chair in front of a fireplace while the wind whips around outside the window makes for a perfect day. After reading over 50 books this year, here are my winter book recommendations to fill the festive and chilly break.
“Tom Lake”:
Around the holidays, if you crave a heartwarming, familial story, “Tom Lake” by Ann Patchett is exactly that. Set during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic (don’t worry, details of the actual pandemic are spared), all of the daughters of Lara Kenison are back at home at their orchard in beautiful, upstate Michigan. Suffering from boredom, the daughters beg for a story. Specifically, the story of their mother’s summer romance with a world famous actor. “Tom Lake” is smoothly and beautifully written, highlighting the importance of family and will have you wishing you could stay in their world forever.
“White Nights”:
It isn’t truly winter until a Russian novel ends up in your hands. However, not everyone has the time to read a 600-page Dostoevsky or Tolstoy novel, so the novella “White Nights” is a perfect addition to any reading stack. “White Nights” by Fyodor Dostoevsky follows an unnamed protagonist, often called “the dreamer,” who meets a young woman named Nastenka late at night. The novella, weakly described as a romance, is an exploration of unrequited love along with the complicated emotions and circumstances of love and friendship. It may only be around 70 pages, but the story will haunt you.
“Jazz”:
There’s no need to try to sell a Toni Morrison book. “Jazz,” like her other novels, is a stunning depiction of complex characters and an exploration of their connections to one another. In the middle of winter, a man kills his teenage lover and then, at the funeral, his wife attacks the girl’s corpse. Magically, Morrison takes a dark story and braids together the generations of this husband and wife, sharing their stories in pieces. The novel examines the lead-up and fallout of the event, with each character taking a momentary lead, just like jazz musicians.
“The Days of Abandonment”:
In literature, and perhaps real life, winter is often described as a time of spiraling and suffering. In “The Days of Abandonment,” author Elena Ferrante captures the emptiness and fear of a woman descending into a breakdown after her husband abandons her and their two young children. She is forced to confront and accept the ghosts of her past in order to keep her identity from slipping away. The novel is short, but intense, dark and impossible to put down.
“High Fidelity”:
The winter season can also be a time of reflection and solitude, especially when the weather forces one inside the walls of their home. Set in London in the mid-’90s, “High Fidelity” by Nick Hornby follows an avoidant man named Rob and his failing record shop while he grieves a recent breakup. Rob’s world revolves around music, and he uses his access to records to dive deep into the reasons why his relationships fail. The structure of the novel is based on a list of Rob’s top five breakups, making it a quick and unique read, allowing us a peek into his pain-filled mind.
