Tis the season for cozy nights spent inside reading while it softly snows outside, with Christmas carols playing in the background, and a fuzzy animal curled up at your feet. I’m not a huge “season” reader, but I do think there are some novels better suited to the colder seasons that I love to reread this time of year. So, if you’re looking for some winter reads, look no further!
- The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. In case you didn’t know, The Night Circus is one of my favorite novels, and my favorite time to reread it is in the late autumn/winter season. It’s cozy and atmospheric and wonderful.
- The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova. My second favorite novel (or, possibly, tied with The Night Circus) is another greatly atmospheric novel. It doesn’t necessarily take place during this season, but the hunt for Dracula seems like the perfect excuse to curl up on your favorite armchair.
- The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker. This novel expands through all seasons, but the parts of the book that take place in NYC during the winter make this read exceptional during this season. It’s another great atmosphere novel (do you see a pattern emerging?), and the characters are fantastic.
- Burial Rites by Hannah Kent. This novel is set in Iceland, so it’s perfect to curl up with on a cold winter night. And it’s, you guessed it, atmospheric and so well written.
- Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. Mystery novels are perfect to read in the winter season, and this is one of my favorites. It’s deliciously gothic and well written, and makes for a great night in.
- The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. This is another gothic/suspense novel–it’s perfect for long train rides or nights spent in cafes.
- The Wonder by Emma Donoghue. The Wonder takes place in Ireland around the 1850s, and its claustrophobic and isolated nature makes it suited for the colder months, even though it doesn’t necessarily take place in this season.
- The Nutcracker by E.T.A Hoffmann. This one is a pretty obvious choice.
- NOS4A2 by Joe Hill. I read this last Christmas and it was perfect. If you’re a horror fan, this is one to check out over your holiday break.
- Christmas Days: 12 Stories and 12 Feasts for 12 Days by Jeanette Winterson. This is a new release, and it looks like it will be wonderful to read in the days counting down Christmas. It’s one I’ll be bringing with me back home.
What books do you think are suited to the season, or are just your favorite to reread in the colder months? Let me know!
Until next time, happy reading!
–E. Adeline
E. Adeline Reads 