Since the end of December, I have enjoyed reading books that take place in and celebrate winter – from the solstice to holidays to snowy mountains. These four reads all take place during wintertime and are best read cozied up with a blanket and a cup of tea.
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Time of the Child by Niall Williams
Time of the Child is such a beautiful, moving story. It takes place at Christmastime in the village of Faha in Ireland, where Doctor Jack Troy lives with his grown daughter, Ronnie. In December 1962, the two have a baby brought to their home, and in caring for it, they find their lives enter a new, unexpected chapter with many unknowns regarding their family, community, and path forward. While the book took me some time to read, it is so tender and heartwarming, and well worth the time spent reading it. I recommend sitting down by a fire with some tea and savoring the story this winter.
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Bluebird Day by Megan Tady
I enjoyed reading Bluebird Day. It’s about Wiley and her mother Claudine. While Claudine was an Olympic skiing champion, skiing professionally was not a good fit for Wylie, and their differences created distance. However, when Wylie needs her mom’s help, the two come together in Zermatt, Switzerland where an avalanche forces them to shelter-in-place and deal with a past that Claudine was hoping to leave behind. It’s a funny and cute mother-daughter story that’s also an homage to winter.
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A December to Remember by Jenny Bayliss
I loved A December to Remember. Although it’s a bit Christmasy, it’s mostly an ode to winter and embracing the coziness of the season as well as finding beauty in the natural wintry world. It’s about the three North sisters, Maggie, Simone, and Star, who have been reunited in Rowan Thorp after their father Augustus’s passing. It was Augustus’s wish that the sisters should reinstate the winter solstice festival, and the three work together to make it happen. I enjoyed each lovely detail of the snow, time of year, and celebrating. This book is like a warm winter hug.
A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote
I received A Christmas Memory as a gift and read the three short stories a couple of days after Christmas. They were interesting to read about his childhood holidays in rural Alabama. Not a must-read, but it does make for a sweet and simple gift.
Happy reading!
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