Sure, skiing and snowshoeing are fun, but shovelling snow and scraping windshields? Not so much. Sometimes the best way to enjoy winter weather is to curl up with a great book – away from the pesky sub-zero temperatures. Here are our picks for 6 great winter reads, best enjoyed with a roaring fire and a cup of tea.
Photo via Flickr user Michael Pardo
1. The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith
Written by J.K. Rowling under a pseudonym, The Cuckoo’s Calling is the first novel in a new seven-book mystery series. Harry Potter fans will love Detective Cormoran Strike’s keen investigative skills and Hagrid-like gruffness, but shouldn’t expect further similarities to the magical teen series. Though Rowling’s signature engaging characterization and intricate plots remain, The Cuckoo’s Calling offers a much darker reading experience. Fair warning: be careful when you choose to start this book. With sequels The Silkworm and Career of Evil already published, you may be in for a binge-reading experience that will last weeks or months, depending on your reading speed.
2. The Martian by Andy Weir
Adapted as an award-nominated feature film starring Matt Damon, The Martian is a gripping tale of determination, resourcefulness, and independence. Astronaut Mark Watney is accidentally left deserted on Mars and is forced to save himself through a series of seemingly unsurmountable tasks. A survival story laced with wit and humour, readers will be engrossed in this unpredictable tale – we dare you to put it down.
3. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo
If you’re dreaming of spring (and spring-cleaning!), or made a New Year’s resolution to de-clutter your closets, then this is the winter read for you. Reknowned organizer Marie Kondo takes the reader through her acclaimed de-cluttering process that creates lasting change and big impact. Enjoy the reading time, because once you’ve finished, you’ll feel an instant urge to start tidying up your home and your life.
4. The Lake House by Kate Morton
Alice Edevane’s baby brother Theo disappeared when she was only sixteen years old. Decades later, a clue emerges that might have the solution to her family’s tragedy. A cozy mystery that will keep you flipping pages, The Lake House is sad, beautiful, and absolutely gripping.
5. The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey
Set in 1920’s rural Alaska, this fantasy novel tells the story of an aging couple that aches for a child. When cabin fever hits, the two build a snowchild when playing in the snow. The next day, the snowchild is gone, but they soon discover Faina, a child of the woods that they eventually come to love as their own. An emotionally complex fairy tale, The Snow Child will make you reconsider what you think you know about love and life.
6. If I Stay by Gayle Forman
Winter is an appropriate time to indulge in some guilty pleasures, right? With young adult fiction popular for all age groups, it’s hard to resist a heart-wrenching page-turner like this one. Recently adapted in a film starring Chloe Moretz, If I Stay tells the story of Mia Hall, a teenager with dreams of becoming a professional cellist. When tragedy strikes in the form of a winter car accident, Mia finds herself caught between life and death – and has to choose which way to go. A story of love and heartbreak, If I Stay will have you considering what makes your life worth living. (If you love it, the sequel Where She Went is equally addicting.)
