Article contributed by Marta Paraschiv
Winter is the best season for staying inside and curling up with a good book. I believe winter is the time when I get most of my reading done and if you’re anything like me, then you’re in need of some recommendations! It doesn’t matter if you see it as a great time for tackling some of the most intimidating books on your shelf or for getting lost in magical fairy-tale-like worlds – this list has a bit of everything and will surely satisfy your bookish needs!
Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
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This book follows Lina who is displaced to a Siberian work camp during World War II. It’s a story that underlines the human strength – specifically, the power of hope and kindness. It focuses on what Lithuanians had to endure during the Soviet Occupation, a subject that I’ve never seen discussed until this book. Sepetys’ writing is almost haunting and you will hang on every word of hers.
The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
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If you’re looking for a winter-y book to match the cold outside, look no further! This one is inspired by Russian folk-lore and it’s set in the Russian wilderness where winter lasts most of the year. Everything is so atmospheric and magic is a big part of it which will surely remind you of reading fairy-tales and getting lost in far-away realms.
Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin
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Besides being very fitting for the season, this book tells the story of Louise le Blanc and Reid Diggory – the first being a witch and the latter being a Chasseur, a witch-hunter. Through some fateful events, they are forced into a marriage which generates some of the funniest and most tension-charged parts of the book. It’s a great take on the enemies-to-lovers trope and the witches make everything so bad-ass.
My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh
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Winter is a great time for hibernation and if you ever thought about sleeping an entire year away, you might want to check out this book! The narrator decides that all she wants to do with her life at the moment is to sleep in order to not have to think about the wreck her life is. As she goes through this experiment, we get to see more about what brought her in this position from the death of her parents to her unhealthy relationships and friendships. If you have no problem reading about unlikable heroines and you’re a fan of dark humour, then this one is for you!
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
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If you love reading books that will emotionally wreck you during this period, The Book Thief is narrated by Death itself and even the peculiar narrator ends up feeling sorry for the characters in the end – I think that’s pretty telling. A huge emphasis on books and the power of words will surely draw the readers in as well. I’ve read this book four years ago, yet there are times even now when I still think about Liesel’s story… so moving and beautiful.
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
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If classics are your cup of tea, then you might want to check out this drama-filled tale about a woman who’s unsatisfied with her marriage and the consequences of her adultery. It has the specific grandeur of Russian classics, dealing with various social and political themes – it might seem intimidating, but it’s easier to read than most Russian classics.
Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young
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Vikings are always relevant, but I think this book would be great to cosy with in the colder nights of February. Eelyn is caught by a rival clan and all she wants is to go back home up until she understands that the Riki aren’t all that different from her people. This leads her to a journey to unite the clans in order to face a mutual enemy. This book has very beautiful family dynamics and a slow-burn romance that you will root for.
Blood Water Paint by Joy McCullough
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If you’re interested in the forgotten women of history and art, then this tale that’s focused on the life of Artemisia Gentileschi will be great for you! It deals with sexual assault and shows how Artemisia fought back after being raped by her mentor. I liked the way other powerful women were integrated in this book as well, how the author chose to bind Gentileschi’s trauma to theirs and show why they might have appeared in Artemisia’s paintings. It’s an emotional and empowering novel-in-verse that I’ll never stop recommending.
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
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The Secret History tells the story of a group of pretentious students and it’s a classic for the dark academia genre. The characters are so flawed yet fascinating to read about and the plot-lines will keep you on the edge trying to figure out what will happen to the protagonists. Donna Tartt’s writing is mysterious and the book’s atmosphere is almost eerie. If you like books that deal with messed up kids and murder, then this one will definitely be your next favourite!
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
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I wish I could read this book again for the very first time because that’s how glorious it is. Evelyn Hugo is definitely someone I look up to because of how strong and resilient she is. How she never lets men tell her what to do, how focused she is on her career and on protecting her loved ones. She’s fierce and manages to shine so brightly through this book. Besides how amazing the protagonist is, I loved the cinematic aspects and how well crafted the story is, all the secondary characters are fleshed out and this book is absolutely brilliant!
