Favourite Books to Read in Winter
There are so many books on the planet but much like anyone, sometimes I prefer to reread a much-loved book rather than start something new. Whether it’s the ease of being familiar with the storyline, or perhaps that I know I will enjoy it, I often find myself reaching for an old favourite over something new, especially at this time of year.
Here are some of my favourite books to read during Winter:
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
A childhood favourite and one I reread every winter (or listen to on audiobook now I have small children). The magic of Narnia never fades, no matter how old you get.
As you will see from the list, with a few exceptions, I love to read about epic adventures in the winter months and this is such a beautiful and magical book for that.
The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett
This is a Discworld novel, but one set for young adults.
It follows Tiffany Aching on her journey as she literally sees the world around her differently from everyone else.
It’s a fun, sometimes creepy, and very funny adventure. I particularly love the Nac Mac Feegle and the toad that lives in Miss Tick’s hat.
If you have older children then this one would make a great family read-aloud story.
The Book Theif by Markus Zusak
I first read this book nearly 12 years ago. I had a terrible job in retail at the time and we were struggling to make ends meet and I read it during my lunch break at work. I finished it in the space of a week and immediately reread it. It’s beautifully written and yet so sad. It reminded me to find the beauty where it is (not where I think it should be) and that hope is a constant companion. This book will always remind me of ginger biscuits, damp flats and winter, especially the winter when I first read it. It is currently on loan to a friend who is enjoying the magic for the first time.
Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martain
As I mentioned above, there really is something about reading an epic adventure when you are all tucked up during winter.
Fire on, hot cup of tea in hand, rain pouring down the window pains and adventure in your heart.
I love these books, they are gruesome, hard to read in parts and the good guys definitely don’t always win, but the characters are compelling and the plot fast-paced.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
I first read this when I was very ill, I had been in bed for over a week and was so fed up with life. It was January, cold and wet, and I was miserable. When I picked this book up it literally took me to a completely different place; it’s like entering a different world. The characters are strange and headstrong, the plot is fast-paced and the ending is rewarding. I certainly didn’t see it coming. I will warn you though, some scenes are horrifically detailed and involve very unpleasant events. If this sort of thing affects you then I would avoid this one.
I used to have a paperback version of this book but now have the kindle version.
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
I mean, this is one of my favourite books to read all the time, but particularly in the winter.
The story follows the lives of the four March sisters – Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy – and details their passage from childhood to womanhood.
It’s semi-autobiographical as it is based loosely on the lives of the author and her three sisters.
Still Life By Louise Penny
You can’t beat a ‘who dun it?’ in my opinion. I work my way through all of my Agatha Cristie books in the autumn so when the nights are long in deep winter I move on to Louise Penny. This is the first novel in the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series and a great place to start if you are new to her work. It’s a cosy mystery, not the gruesome detail you’d get in a noir. It’s set in a small town in Quebec with little to no violence detailed, and most of the plot centring on the puzzle of whodunnit.
The entire Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series is available through the library so you can indulge in this wonderful series without having to spend a penny – local libraries really are a gold mine!
You can see that I have shown many different versions of the ‘books’ from traditional paper ones, to kindle copies and audiobooks; there are so many ways to read these days. What books do you love to read in the winter months? Please do share, we are always looking for more!
Tea and toasty toes,
Livvy and Summer
