Cozy Winter Reads
The first storm of the year hit the shores of Ireland recently and as usual, the UK, Irish and Dutch meteorological societies have drawn up a list of names that proceeds alphabetically for when weather conditions meet a certain criteria. We started with Storm Arwen, which means 'good' or 'fair' in Welsh; I can confirm that the storm was neither, with driving rain and blasts of icy wind lashing us out of it. Storm Barra followed a few weeks later, and caused severe flooding damage. Lets hope we don’t get as far as Storm Willemien.
The good thing of course is that this is perfect reading weather. As the window frames rattled and rain struck the panes like handfuls of gravel, I got to thinking about books that I have read that are suitable for this weather. So curl up on the sofa, pour yourself your favourite hot drink, stick a few 50p’s in the leccy meter and lose yourself amongst the pages, as I ask the question: ‘What is a good winter book?’
The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey
'There once was an old man and woman who loved each other very much and were content with their lot in life except for one great sadness- they had no children of their own.''
I love wintry books that brings you right into the story of the characters lives – quite like a fairy tale, which in many ways is what this book is. Grieving over the death of a stillborn child ten years earlier, Mabel and Jack make a new start, building a homestead in the wilds of Alaska. But it doesn’t bring them the peace they hoped for – instead, they retreat into themselves, becoming like strangers to each other. In starting a new life, they have actually retreated from living, hiding from society and each other. Mabel in particular falls into a deep depression.
What happens next will depend on your relationship with fantasy and fairy tales. My advice would be to just relax into it, like you would a hot bath, (also recommended at this time of year). And you can always just enjoy the crisp, snowy setting of Alaska and the story of an elderly couple as they try to scratch out a living in a beautiful but unforgiving landscape. I accepted this book for what it was and really enjoyed it.
423 pages
February 1, 2012 by Reagan Arthur Books
Dark Matter by Michelle Paver
Twenty eight year old Jack is ready for change in his life, so jumps at the chance to leave foggy 1937 London and join an Arctic expedition. Spirits are high as he starts on what seems like an adventure, but soon finds himself on a remote and uninhabited Island, where he will stay for a year. The Arctic summer is beautiful but it soon gives way to the eternal darkness of winter. In a desolate, bleak landscape, Jack’s colleagues leave and he soon finds himself alone. Or is he?
The claustrophobia and tension are unbearable in this book at times. I think malevolence works best when it is just glimpsed, and the Arctic gives the story such a wonderful sense of place - dark, silent, cold and eerie. You might find yourself reading this one at some points by peeking through your fingers or from behind the sofa. But just be glad you’re at home, reading this cozy winter read.
246 pages,
October 21, 2010 by Orion
The Shining by Stephen King
This book has become so embedded in popular culture that it feels redundant to give the synopsis of the story. But books are evergreen and being discovered by new generations of readers all the time, so, from the blurb:
Jack Torrance's new job at the Overlook Hotel is the perfect chance for a fresh start. As the off-season caretaker at the atmospheric old hotel, he'll have plenty of time to spend reconnecting with his family and working on his writing. But as the harsh winter weather sets in, the idyllic location feels ever more remote...and more sinister. And the only one to notice the strange and terrible forces gathering around the Overlook is Danny Torrance, a uniquely gifted five-year-old.
It is difficult to separate the Kubrick movie and King’s book, so entwined have they become. I discovered the book first, became entranced by the movie, and now, after re-reading this book a few years ago, along with follow up ‘Dr Sleep’, I can now see the two separately. They both stand alone and to me are different things.
King famously did not like Kubrick’s version, and re-reading it you see one of the reasons why - Sam Torrence is a much more sympathetic guy in the book. Rather than the descent into madness of the Jack Nicholson character, Torrance here is a recovering alcoholic, battling away with his demons - something the author was also dealing with at the time of writing the book.
There are parts of the story that are genuinely unnerving and plain creepy (I’m looking at you, topiary animals) and King remains for me, the master of horror writing. He taps perfectly into that all consuming dread of storms - the idea of being completely cut off from the world, locked up with God knows what.
(For anyone who’s a King fan, I highly recommend his recent ‘Billy Summers’, where there’s also a mention of the overlook hotel.)
659 pages, Paperback
July 1, 1980 by New English Library (Hodder & Stoughton)
Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton
I only read this in the past week and immediately thought it worthy of inclusion here. This is set in a bleak midwinter landscape in New England, where our unnamed narrator finds himself having to take refuge during a blizzard in the home of Ethan Frome. He then learns the story of Ethan, his wife Zeena and the help, Mattie Silver. It’s a novella and is perfectly paced and not a word wasted in the telling of the story. Prose and setting are sparse, but there’s a great depth to this novella. You could read and finish this one with a nice hot drink - a perfect cozy winter read.
126 pages
The Dark Iceland Series - Ragnar Jonasson
‘Snow Blind’ is the first in an excellent six park detective series by Ragnar Jonasson. The books have all the ingredients of classic scandi crime noir - it’s set in Siglufjordur, an idyllic fishing village in Northern Iceland, where people don’t bother to lock their doors. But it is extremely isolated - it’s only accessible by a tunnel, which can be closed by sudden avalanches. The Detective is Ari Thor Aroson, ex theology student, new to policing and the parish. He has a past that he’d rather forget, and a girlfriend who lives in Southern Iceland. As an outsider, there are things going on in the town that he doesn’t know about.
What I like about this series is that some of the books are slow burners, then they ignite with twists and turns that keep you guessing right to the end. The author has apparently translated many of Agatha Christies novels into Icelandic - and you can tell this by how tightly plotted the books are.
The other books are (in order) ‘Nightblind’ ‘Blackout’ ‘Rupture’ ‘Whiteout’ and the last one I’m about to embark upon, ‘Winterkill.’ As I type this, the wind is howling and the rain is battering the windows - perfect weather for this. And I’ve got a funny feel they lock their doors now in Siglufjordur.
We have always lived in the castle - Shirley Jackson
As I write this, Storm Barra, the second storm of the year, is cutting a swathe through Ireland. Earlier it was like the tornado scene from ‘The wizard of Oz’ - I had thought of popping down to the shops for a couple of essentials, but thought it best not to risk getting thumped in the head by a flying wheelie bin.
So, locked in by the weather (makes a change from that other thing) what could be better than this bizarre, sinister, claustrophobic, suffocating, gothic masterpiece? It wouldn’t be accurate to describe this as a horror story or things-that-go-bump-in-the-night tale - it is more psychological, about the unstable mind, but it is an incredibly creepy cozy winter read.
I can’t say anything more about this short classic, as it’s best to go into it ‘cold’, but what an opening paragraph:
My name is Mary Katherine Blackwood. I am eighteen years old, and I live with my sister Constance. I have often thought that with any luck at all I could have been born a werewolf, because the two middle fingers on both my hands are the same length, but I have had to be content with what I had. I dislike washing myself, and dogs, and noise. I like my sister Constance, and Richard Plantagenet, and Amanita phalloides, the death cap mushroom. Everyone else in my family is dead.
146 Pages
First published September 21, 1962
The Black Ice - Harry Bosch #1 - Michael Connelly
Sometimes Winter storms can go on for days and if you’re really unlucky, you could find yourself completely trapped at home, unable to escape. What better to get you through your cabin fever than a really long crime series, with say, 38 titles? You won’t want the stormy weather to stop with books this addictive.
I’m talking about Michael Connnelly’s masterful creation - Harry Bosch. What’s incredible about these books is how the quality of the writing and the storytelling is sustained throughout - I’ve never grown tired of the detective. The sense of place is so strong that I actually feel I know the layout of Los Angeles, despite never having been there. He ages as well, but thankfully Connelly has found a way to keep things going, without the quality of the storytelling suffering. I hope it goes on for a while yet.
Although each book works as a stand alone story, I think because there are a number of recurring storylines and characters that it’s better to begin from the start. And ‘The Black Echo’ is an thrilling helter skelter of an opener, starting with a body being found in the Storm Tunnels who turns out to be an old buddy of Harrys who he served with in Vietnam. And he’s off and before long you’re hooked.
(I actually braved the weather and dashed out for a few minutes - no flying wheelie bins thankfully - but what took me out? The latest instalment ‘ The dark hours’ had just landed in my local library. A trip worth making - review to follow).
385 Pages, 19 July 2012 - Published by Orion.
As Far As My Feet Will Carry me - Josef M. Bauer
You can get a bit miserable being cooped up in at home for long periods. Maybe you’ve exhausted all the shows you wanted to watch. You couldn’t get to the shop, so you’ve run out of your favourite snacks. Annoying, but things could be worse - you’re safe, warm and have a roof over your head.
Unlike Clemens Forell, a German soldier, who was sentenced to 25 years of forced labour in a Siberian lead mine after the Second World War. Deciding he couldn’t deal with the brutality of the place anymore, he decided to escape - across one of the inhospitable and dangerous terrains on the planet. He headed for Persia - 8000 miles away.
This is a harrowing but incredible read - it’s such a feat of human endurance and courage, and an amazing adventure story.
289 pages Published by Constable 2011
Small Things Like these - Claire Keegan
It’s coming up to Christmas in Ireland, 1985, and the weather is bitterly cold. Bill Furlong, a local coal merchant, is making a delivery to the local convent when he makes a discovery. I reviewed this book just last week.
This is short, beautifully written novella that packs an emotional punch and is perfect for curling up with on a cold evening. Throw another log on the fire and enjoy this cozy winter read.
Wintering - Katherine May
So far in this list there’s been crime thrillers, tales of endurance, literary fiction, Gothic chillers and a modern fairy tale. This book is a little bit different in that it isn’t fiction but rather an exploration of winter as a season.
Winter is a time for rest and retreat, to take stock of the year just gone. In this book the author explores different aspects of the season as well as how other people deal with the endless darkness and the cold.
It becomes a meditation, about how we need to repair and look after ourselves, to hibernate and reflect. It might be cold outside but this book is full of comfort and warmth. A great wintry book to read every year.
‘Winter people’ by Gráinne Murphy is about three strangers living on Irelands wild Atlantic coast. This is a book that asks the question - who are we without the people we love?
This is a wonderfully reflective read, encouraging us to to think about our connections with other people, and if you are alone whilst the rain is battering the windows, you might find comfort on these pages.
This is a beautifully written book, with rounded believable characters. A tender story about emotional resilience.
Madhouse at the End of the Earth by Julian Sancton
The Belgica set off in 1897 on a three year mission to explore the Antartica. Almost immediately the ship ran into engine trouble and mutiny, but persevered. When it did reach Antartica, disaster - the ship got stuck in the ice and the crew found themselves having to winter in one of the most inhospitable places on the planet.
This is a perfect cozy wintery reads because you become completely immersed in the lives of the crew, who battle against madness and illness. But it’s also about dogged survival skills, about innovation in the most difficult of circumstances. You’ll be glad you’re tucked up at home when reading this riveting work.
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So there they are, my answers to the question ‘What is a good winter read?’ Have you a favourite winter book? Please let me know in the comments below, and a social media share is appreciated if you enjoyed the list. Stay safe and warm and happy reading.
Other Book Lists
Books about Healing through Nature
Books about Bravery and Courage