Recommendations for books to read in Wintertime

[ChienneDesFromages]

It’s the first properly autumnal morning of the year here. So naturally bookwormish thoughts are turning to cuddling up with cosy, spooky, funny or thought provoking winter books. Plus perhaps all the cosy cliches that make some MNers tut, like fairy lights, candies and woolly socks.

Last year I enjoyed The Snow Song by Sally Gardner, as well as Wintering by Katherine May and The Christmas Chronicles by Nigel Slater (both rereading)

I can’t wait to get stuck into Jeanette Winterson’s new book of ghost stories.

Any recommendations for books perfect for winter reading?

Lulu Taylor writes cosy, family saga books, with a winter theme, such as The Snow Angel, The Winter Children, and several more.

Thank you! I’ve not heard of her but will check her out. Sounds like a good option for reading on the train, with dark and rain outside.

Winter solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher

I always reread Rebecca at this time of year. M.R. James is always good for spooky stories.

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey.
The Winter Ghosts by Kate Mosse.
Pine by Francine Toon.
A Christmas Carol by Dickens

Midnight is a lonely place Barbara Erskine

Also during December I read How far to Bethlehem

@LongLizStridesAgain
Thanks for that recommendation - I just looked it up and it looks right up my street!
My mum always wants to get me a book for Xmas, so this is on the "possibles" list.👍

'Wintering by Katherine May'

Came on to say this! Such a lovely, peaceful, thoughtful book

One of the best things about Autumn and Winter is getting into bed nice and early with a good book ☺️

Lovely thread OP and thank you @LongLizStridesAgain that's going on my Christmas list!

I recommend The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters for autumnal spookiness and The French Lieutenant's woman for a really absorbing read.

Ooh, there are so many ideas here to keep me going. I'm off to the big bookshops in Cambridge this weekend and shall go armed with my list of winter reads (trying to avoid Amazon and support more local shops this year)

That sounds amazing. Just the sort of thing for making the most of a crackling fire and glass of red.

For the atmosphere you want, my favourite ever book, Wuthering Heights. I read it ever year.

Lovely idea for a thread. I read The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield during the heatwave and kind of wished I'd saved it for winter, so happy to recommend it here.
Like many I love a ghost story at this time of year. Two great ghost books I've read recently are The Whistling by Rebecca Netley and Dark Matter by Michelle Paver.

"The Luminaries" is a thick, rich tale that lends itself to long nights reading by the fire.

"My Dark Vanessa" is a disturbing and quite grim, but has a really autumnal feel to it.

"Eileen" is another quite grim novel that feels dark and wintry but definitely not in an up-lifting, snuggly way. 😂

"The Little Stranger" is a really good spooky story for winter nights.

If there's snow, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.

Placemarking for the commencement of winter hybernation!

The dark is rising for Christmas reading. If you time it right you can read along as events happen in the book for extra atmosphere.

Brilliant idea for a thread.

The Siege by Helen Dunmore would be good at the moment, if not too near the bone. It's about the WWII siege of Leningrad.

Northern Lights for something snowy but lighter (well, comparatively)- we're reading that to DD at the moment.

Longbourn by Jo Baker is not really seasonal but starts in autumn. Anyone who loves Pride and Prejudice should read this.

More great ideas. Thank you.

Our local independent book shop does a Jolobokaflod offer. A mystery (always wintery) book beautifully wrapped for Christmas Eve. DH buys me one every year. I've had some absolute gems and always really look forward to it! I get one for the kids too (can't beat cocoa and a Dr Who annual)

What is Jolabokaflod? - Iceland's "Christmas Book Flood" (countryliving.com)

Just the thread I needed ☺️

Every December I re-read Winter Solstice, by Rosamund Pilcher.

I second The Snow Child, one of my favourites
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, reminds me of bonfire night, very atmospheric, the descriptions of the circus are amazing