Best 13 Cold-weather Reads
Okay, so during the cold months of the year, I tend to read certain kinds of books. Books with snow/ice, books with dark settings and mysterious elements, or books that make me laugh. I’m a fantasy/sci-fi/classics reader, so that’s what my top 13 books consist of.
1. Jonathon Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke. Best book for cold-weather. It’s so dark and moody, filled with mystery and magic. I love this book. Despite the 800+ pages, I’ve read it four times and listened to the audiobook. Who can compete with the man with the thistle-down hair? Or the Raven King? Just thinking about the Raven King gives me chills.
2. Persuasion by Jane Austen. Really, any Jane Austen is good cold-weather reading. My friend, Jessica, re-reads Pride and Prejudice every year over Christmas.
3. The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper. Another moody, magical piece. This was written in the 70s for young adults, and I love the terrifying power of the Dark. The book is based on Celtic and Norse mythology.
4. Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie. Actually, any Agatha Christie is perfect cold-weather reading–especially Hercule Poirot’s mysteries. Nothing like a Belgie solving a murder to keep out the chills.
5. Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin. “Winter is coming.” That’s the story behind this book, and I love it. It’s filled with walking dead, bastard sons, direwolves, treacherous queens, and lots of blood. Jon Snow is my favorite bad-ass character of all time.
6. Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. Something about the cold-reaches of space mesh well with the cold outside. This book is so high-tension that you’ll be turning the pages long into the night.
7. House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski. Do not read this book long into the night. It is the most terrifying, disturbing, blood-chilling book that I have ever read. Don’t read it if you’re alone, either. When I was reading it, I would only do so in public places with lots of people around. You will never look at closets the same way again.
8. The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman. Ice bears, witches, steampunk elements, and Mrs. Coulter. Great book that’s for adults even more than it’s for young adults.
9. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J. K. Rowling. Any Harry Potter is good for fall/winter reading. This one just happens to be my favorite HP.
10. The Egyptologist by Arthur Phillips. This is a mind-trip book. Told by three unreliable narrators, you really have no idea what’s going on until the very end. It’s a crazy mystery that shows just how messed-up the human mind can become.
11. To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis. This is one of the funniest books I’ve ever read. She’s amazing. Time-travel, Victorian England, seances, a missing Bishop’s Bird Stump, and to say nothing of the dog.
12. Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin. The list wouldn’t be complete without my favorite writer on here. It’s set in a land of ice and snow in a society that’s barren and bleak as well–at least for the two main characters.
13. Cat’s Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. What will happen when ice-nine gets released? And how does the end of the world affect a post-modern religion? This book will make you think.
Happy Thursday!
-S.
P.S. I’m just going to start posting the new Asian pop I discover. They literally put out a new single per day, so it’s not hard to keep adding new stuff. Today’s:
Sorry, Sorry by Super Junior. Thirteen boys in this group–that makes it the largest in the world! And notice that they have a token-overweight guy; I thought it was cool. He’s probably not even overweight, but when he’s standing next to all those wiry dudes, he looks big. Alas.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6QA3m58DQw]
sandy
November 5, 2009 @ 4:07 pm
thanks
brenna
November 5, 2009 @ 5:02 pm
So many good memories! I need to re-read The Dark is Rising again!
Journeywoman
November 5, 2009 @ 6:14 pm
You’re missing Mercedes Lackey’s Valdemar books. I also love Ender’s Game, Harry Potter, etc.
I’d also like to suggest The Hunger Games—AMAZING book.
Romina
November 5, 2009 @ 6:57 pm
Omigod, it took me 1.5 minutes to find the token fat guy. Geez…
sdennard
November 5, 2009 @ 7:24 pm
🙂 Sorry to have wasted your 1.5 minutes…but you saw him! He stands out.
happilyretired
November 6, 2009 @ 5:36 pm
Kewl list of good reads. Thanks for sharing 😉
I’m playing belatedly on Friday 😉
Hugs and blessings,