Cold Weather Reads

I like to read all year round but there's nothing like cold weather to make you want to curl up with a cup of hot chocolate and a good book! I thought it might be fun to share a few of my favorite books, from a few (random) categories. :)

1. Foodie Non Fiction. You can usually find me reading novels but every now and again I try to spice in a little non fiction. I've noticed over the years that when I do it's usually food related. Go figure. I loved Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. She is one of my favorite novelist. Her family embarked on a year long experiment of eating only locally grown/raised foods. I also loved 52 Loaves by William Alexander. He bakes a loaf of bread every week for a year in pursuit of the perfect bread. He some how manages to make the science and history behind bread baking super exciting.

2. Quiet, Beautiful Novels. To me, these are the kinds of books that come to mind when someone uses the term literature. Also, interestingly enough, both of these books have been made into films. So you know they are good. (Winky face.) Never Let Me Go is truly one of my all time favorite books. I adore Kazuo Ishiguro's story telling skillz. Love this haunting portrait of growing up. So fascinating. I also loved Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden. This was one of those books that I just couldn't put down.

3. Science Fiction Awesomeness. I love me some science fiction. One of my favorites from the past few years was Lucy by Laurence Gonzales. It is rare when the "monster" from a science fiction story is also the narrator. It's always fun as a reader to find yourself rooting for the other team, as it were. :) For a more haunting bit of sci fi I highly recommend The Passage by Justin Cronin. It's a long read (and the first book in a series) but totally worth it. It's kind of like a more epic version of The Walking Dead. Kind of.

4. Reads to Share with Young Friends. Or not. I first got into reading because of Harry Potter (who didn't?) and I have never stopped enjoying young adult fiction since. A great book to breeze through on your own or share with a young reader kiddo is The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart. Kids who save the world. Yes, please! And this story is so fun and imaginative. As it should be.

5. On my Radar. I keep hearing about Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple. So, it must be destined. I love love hearing a good book recommendation. And I'd love to hear yours. Do you have any cold weather reads to add to the "On my Radar" category? Don't be shy now. xo. Emma

Comments

[Bethany]

I ADORED The Witch of Blackbird pond... for once, a story ends as it should without switching things around. It really had that feel-good kind of ending. I also like the Anne of Green Gables series... those are good winter reads in my opinion. Nancy Drew (original, OF COURSE!) is always great, any time of year! Ahhhhh... it makes me want to go read... :)

[Allison]

I loved Never Let Me Go. Such a beautiful story. I can't wait to curl up with some hot cocoa and a good book :)

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[Sally]

"A Great and Terrible Beauty" by Libba Bray (The first book in a trilogy). It's a curl up on the cover/fantasy/adventure book. It is absolutely fantastic!

[Aubrey]

Thanks! I will definitely be checking some of these out!:)

[sofia]

you should read The Elegance of the Hedgehog... it is my favorite cold weather book of all time <3

[Morgan]

I'm obsessed with memoirs of a geisha! I even just did a book report on it for one of my classes. I would suggest it to anyone! I'm also a huge fan of Jane Austin... I know we all studied pride and prejudice in school and some might have been turned off by it, but there's a reason why it's a classic piece of literature- and my favorite piece by her! Others- Water for elephants and the Wind up bird chronicle... Happy reading!

[stephanie cervantes]

One of my favorite reads ever, White Oleander by Janet Fitch. The storyline is riveting but what I love most is the theme of art throughout the book. Reading this novel is like strolling through a late night cocktail party at a museum. Sophisticated and emotional..self reflective.

[Dee]

"The sense of an ending" by Julian Barnes, now this being a book I would have NEVER picked up normally, I was turned on to it by a review Tobi Vail did on her Bumpidee Reader blog and decided to give it a try, It is BEAUTIFUL!!!!

[Anna]

@Bethany woah, I read The Witch of Blackbird Pond years ago and had forgotten all about it! Great book!

Emma, I second @Morgan's recommendation of the Wind Up Bird by Haruki Murakami. Haunting and beautiful.

Another recent fave: Cutting for Stone.

[Jamie Rose]

I loved Never Let Me Go and Memoirs of a Geisha, so I'm definitely checking out your recommendations in the science fiction awesomeness category! They both sound really interesting and I'm adding them to my Goodreads to-read list right now! Thanks!

[Mary Beougher]

Two that I can't get enough of are Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel series and Anne Bishop's Black Jewels series. (Her Ephemera books are equally wonderful) Both have complex plots, strong female characters, and beautiful world building. I can read them over and over... and do more often than I should... wait, what am I saying. You can never read a book too much. :)

[Mrs Amber Apple]

I always pick up The Hobbit and then The Lord of the Rings this time of year! There's nothing more cozy than stories about Hobbits and a cup of tea!

[dawn]

i just finished reading 'where'd you go bernadette'. i definitely recommend it; it's a quirky, clever read + i found myself laughing out loud a couple of times. also, anything from truman capote + i'm eyeing up linda mccartney's 'life in photographs'.

[Kate]

Sadly the only one of these I've read is Memoirs of a Geisha - but it is great. And I agree with the commenter above, White Oleander is a beautiful book. I can re-read this one over and over.

I've been meaning to check out the Benedict Society book, they talked about it one day on NPR and it sounded like a fun one!

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[Ashley]

Another made-to-a-movie book that I love enough to read over and over again is Time Traveler's Wife. (DON'T watch the movie, it doesn't do it justice at ALL.)

Thanks for the recommendations!

[manu]

As a literature student, I can't really relate to your secod category, since to me, sometime the best books and the ones closer to that term are more complex and unsettling (; but regardless, I totally recomend that you read Jane Austen's books if you haven't (since I don't live in the USA, I'm guessing maybe you have to read that at school), they are the perfect cold weather, classic and easy beautiful reading!

[ChelseaJo]

I feel like The Thief Lord or Sundays at Tiffany's may interest you. They're pretty quick reads considering, but I still love the death out of them!

[Kate Jones]

Do you have a goodreads account? Cuz you should totally make one so we can all share our book lists! Right now, I'd recommend The Fault in Our Stars by John Green! :) Happy Reading!!

[Michelle]

The Xenogenisis series by Octavia Butler is considered some of the greatest science fiction of all time.

[Elis]

I've been obsessed with Joan Didion's books of essays (The White Album & Slouching Towards Bethlehem).
Emma, I think you would enjoy the Sweet Life in Paris by David Lebovitz (if you haven't already read it already. He discusses how different life is as he transitions from San Francisco to Paris. Each chapter ends with a recipe. I tried a few and they're pretty amazing. He's also really funny.
Oh OH, and An Object of Beauty by Steve Martin. A wonderful read. Steve Martin is a very talented man, not only a hilarious comedian, talented actor, but a good writer as well!

I'm clearly book obsessed. Good thing I work in a bookstore.