lou's library

As the weather gets colder in the Northern hemisphere and Christmas is fast approaching, I thought it might be time for some wintery recommendations!

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

There’s something about this heartfelt story that screams winter to me. Reading it feels like bundling up into a cosy blanket with a cup of tea, ready to dive into the many different emotions this classic is likely going to make you feel. Little Women revolves around the four March sisters and their journey from childhood to adolescence. Parts of it are set in winter, and as their father is serving in the American Civil War, they’re facing the first Christmas without him. There are so many reflections on family dynamics and what it means to look after one another that make Little Women a perfect pre-Christmas read for me! I’m planning on rewatching the 2019 Greta Gerwig adaptation this Christmas and then have endless discussions about who is the best March sister (it’s Jo, for your information).

The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis

That’s a bit of an obvious one, but absolutely necessary on a list like this! The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe is the second volume of the Narnia series (although it was the first to be published, but let’s not get into that) and you’ve likely seen the (absolutely marvellous, might I add) movie adaptation. I do think the books are criminally underrated these days, though. I know they’re classics, but I feel like they’ve not been getting the love they deserve. I’d recommend reading the entire series during winter, because there’s just something about fantasy that screams cosy and tea and blankets to me. But The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe is especially perfect for the cold season, what with the eternal winter part of the plot. All the books in the series are super short (especially for fantasy!), so you can fly through them over the Christmas period!

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

I mean, come on! A Christmas Carol is an absolute classic and I spent one Christmas Eve Day a few years ago rereading it, and it felt so special and christmassy! It’s also super short, which is unlikely for a book by Charles Dickens, so if he’s one of the classic authors you have yet to conquer, may I suggest choosing A Christmas Carol and achieving the feat in a single day? I feel like everyone and their mother knows the plot already, as we’ve all seen one of the adaptations at some point. It’s the one where a grumpy old man is hunted by the ghosts of Christmas. It’s definitely the most fun book by Dickens I’ve read, although that isn’t saying much, I admit. If you’re still looking for a Christmas present for a book lover, there are some stunning editions of A Christmas Carol out there that I’m sure anyone would adore!

The Snow Sister by Maja Lunde

This is an absolutely stunning children’s book by Maja Lunde, a Norwegian author who is much better known for her climate fiction quartet A History Of Bees. Please don’t hesitate to pick up The Snow Sister simply because it’s a children’s book, though! I promise you it holds so much value and beauty for people of any age! It’s a story told in 24 chapters (so would also make for the perfect advent calendar) and is set in the lead up to Christmas. It’s a story about siblings, grief, love and family and is equal parts sad and heartwarming. It’s also illustrated absolutely beautifully by Lisa Aisato, and it’s one of the books on my shelves I treasure most! Apparently, there’s also a Netflix adaptation out now, but I haven’t seen that yet. I think it would be so wholesome to cuddle up together at Christmas to watch it after having spent December slowly reading the book! Side note: I’ve read it in German and have just tried to look up the English version, but can’t find it? I struggle to believe it hasn’t been translated into English as I could even find a Chinese translation, so I sincerely hope that my shitty researching skills are to blame and that this book exists in English. If not, I shall have to start a petition!!

Persuasion by Jane Austen

To me, Jane Austen’s books all have different vibes relating to the seasons. For example, Northanger Abbey with its many Gothic allusions is clearly autumn-coded. Persuasion, meanwhile, is Austen’s winter book, in my opinion. There’s something about Anne Elliot’s heartbreak and yearning for much of the book that screams eternal winter to me. It’s less about the seasons the book is set in and more about the feeling, for me. The novel is full of tiny little details that help you decode how the protagonists feel and Anne’s hesitant journey to admitting her feelings to herself (and others) reminds me of the painfully slow journey from endless winter to the first signs of spring. Now that I’m starting to think about this more, I’m dying to know if I’m the only one dividing Austen’s books into seasons, so please let me know if you do, too (and if you agree with my putting Persuasion in the winter category!).

So, there you go! I hope you’ll have a great cosy season full of reading time and moments with loved ones! For me, winter is still fun right now. But I know that by January I’ll be yearning for spring, so fingers crossed these books will help us get through the dark and cold months ❤