Best Books for Winter
- Briana Azar
- 6 days ago
- 6 min read
I wholeheartedly love winter. Granted, I live in a part of the world where it's sunny most days, so I'm spoiled with apricity. There's nothing like a cold, crisp, sunny winter stroll, especially if it's followed by curling up on the couch with a blanket and a thick book.
Winter gives me permission to slow down, take pauses, savor my moments in quiet and solitude. I don't feel pressure to have a lot of plans and I allow myself to rest. And rest always includes reading.
I'm a die-hard lover of big books but I especially love a 500 or more page book in the colder months. In a similar vein of slowing down, long books let me sink deeply into a story. I've noticed that the more time I spend with a book, the more I enjoy it (as long as it's not taking me long to read because it's boring me). I encourage you to pick up a thicker book and take your time with it this season, even if it intimidates you.
I rounded up a few books that I feel are great winter reads. Whether they're set in colder climates or give a sense of coziness that is difficult to describe, they're perfect companions for your dark and dreary evenings.
Into Thin Air follows Krakauer on an incredible but terrifying journey to climb Mount Everest in 1996. Krakauer takes on a reporting job for Outside magazine when they ask him to report on the commercialization of the legendary climb. He joins a well-respected expedition led by Rob Hall, and chronicles each day on the mountain.
Despite knowing the outcome of this disaster, I was still on the edge of my seat as Krakauer went into excruciating details over each and every member of not only his expedition but the others who were on the mountain that fateful day. This is exactly why I love Krakauer ---- he always keeps me gripped to the page in anticipation despite knowing what technically happens at the end of his books. Also, the fact that this book is a first-hand account of someone who climbed to the peak and survived to tell the tale when many did not is simply unparalleled storytelling. Krakauer published this book pretty soon (considering) after the disaster, but it is so clear that his attempts to process and grieve through the writing of this book was not successful. His pain is left trailing the last pages of the book as it seems even he does not know what to make of what happened that day.
This gripping story is perfect for a chilly weekend read --- you'll feel grateful you're in the warmth of your home while you anxiously turn the pages.
For a cozier, less stressful nonfiction read, I'd recommend The Bookshop by Evan Friss. I read this in December --- a chapter in the morning with my cup of coffee, and it was a lovely way to ease into the day.
Friss goes through the history of the American bookstore, from Benjamin Franklin to the famous Strand Bookstore in NYC. Each chapter gives readers a glimpse into particular bookstores around the country and how bookstores have shaped American culture throughout the years.
This would also be a great gift for anyone who loves spending hours slowly perusing bookstores (a fun and warm activity in the winter). Friss demonstrates how important these institutions are to upholding values of critical thinking, literature, art, and community --- values that are crucial in today's world.
Inti Flynn is a biologist who moves to Scotland to continue her attempt at reintroducing wolves back into different wildlife areas. Inti also has a rare neurological condition called mirror-touch synesthesia, complicating her professional and personal life. Her brain makes her believe she is physically feeling the sensory experiences of other beings and animals. If she watches a deer get gutted by a hunter, she feels the knife going through herself as well. All of this, in addition to secrets that are revealed slowly throughout the story, mold Inti into a private and overly cautious woman. But she begins to open herself up to friendship and love in this little Scottish town, until the mysterious death of a local pushes her to protect the things she loves most.
The mood and tone of this book were spectacular. I was glued to the page, both by McConaghy's beautiful descriptions of the wolves and native lands of Scotland, and the captivating storyline that weaves in and out of timelines. I felt like the characters were realistic and fleshed out. Inti is a flawed but likable character ---- I held onto the hope that she would find peace and happiness in the end. There are twists and turns, and I felt that secrets were revealed at perfect points in the story. Some readers may find certain scenes disturbing or gruesome, so a warning there, but I was able to get lost in Inti's world. It's the perfect winter thriller, and I devoured this book during a chilly January a few years ago.
The Goldfinch is a coming of age novel about Theo Decker, whose life is thrown into chaos after he survives an accident in an art museum that kills his mother. His previously comfortable life in New York City suddenly becomes difficult and confusing. His only sense of peace comes from a small and ethereal painting he ends up stealing from the art museum --- which changes his life in ways he couldn't have imagined.
I read this book in December in 2024 and it was a perfect winter read. I love a sweeping novel that spans years, that shows a flawed character grappling with the world and those around them. The details in this book are astounding. I was consistently blown away by the poignancy on almost every single page. Theo's pain, the grief of losing his mother, the person he loved the most in this world, left me in tears. And yet, there was beauty to be found in the mundane, in the people who left him feeling less alone, and despite the world throwing so many shitty things at him, Theo clung to life as best he could.
This book is truly a literary masterpiece. The only critique I have is that Tartt ends the book with Theo very explicitly talking about the meaning of life and love -- which was a bit too on the nose for me. I prefer authors to leave things up to the reader, or at least, not drone on about the moral of the story for over 10 pages.
Regardless, this book was such a joy to read. I will always remember reading this book during the cozy nights of December, rooting for Theo for all 800 pages.
To me, this is the ultimate winter read. It's set in Alaska and details the harsh landscape, specifically in winter. That atmosphere makes the story of domestic abuse even more chilling.
Trigger warning, this book is heavy with it's themes of violence and PTSD. Domestic abuse is complicated, different for all victims, and I believe that Hannah does an exceptional job in navigating that complexity in this novel.
When 13-year-old Leni's dad comes home from Vietnam in 1974, he is not a man she recognizes. His anger and grief ultimately leads him to move Leni and her mom to rural Alaska, where he hopes to find a sense of peace and grounding. The community they meet, including a boy named Matthew, help Leni's family adjust to the physically demanding life. But as Leni's dad sinks deeper into his alcohol addiction and PTSD, Leni and her mom realize their home may be more terrifying than the brutal Alaskan winter.
I reread this book recently for my book club and felt even more emotionally impacted the second time around. There was discussion of how well the difficult relationships between Leni and her parents are handled, especially when involving addiction and mental health. The bond between Leni and her mom, Cora, is remarkable, both in its genuine depiction of deep love but also how that love can make someone sacrifice their own safety, for what they believe to be safer. The characters are flawed, the imagery is vivid, and the ending made me sob.
The Great Alone does what many other stories cannot --- it grips the reader, absorbing you completely into its story, but also deals with heavy themes with care and respect. I've read many of Hannah's novels and while all have been great reads, this has always been my favorite.
If you ever want personalized seasonal recs, feel free to send me a recommendation request. Tell me what mood you're in, what your reading goals are, or the last book you loved and I will recommend options I think you'll love.
Happy reading, y'all.
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