In 2024 I did 'Reading the Seasons' and for Winter I read Arthur Ransome's Winter Holiday, Winter in the Air by Sylvia Townsend Warner, The Woods in Winter by Stella Gibbons and The Winter Killer by Alex Pine.
Since then I've gained two books with Winter titles for my shelves- one is the winter word dictionary mentioned yesterday and then The Nature of Winter by Jim Crumley, found at a charity book-sale in the Autumn.
( I also bought The Nature of Autumn at the same time and the library tells me I'd borrowed The Nature of Spring at sometime too, but have no recollection of reading it).
I've not got around to reading further than the prologue of The Nature of Winter yet but can already see he is a good nature writer. I've also not had a chance to properly read the two books that I got myself for Christmas as a gift from BiL.
A Year to Slow Down has a Further Reading/ Resources list at the back which includes a book written by by Emma Mitchell - A Wild Remedy; How Nature Mends Us. In 2017 Emma Mitchell also wrote Making Winter: A Creative Guide to Surviving the Winter Months so maybe she was the first to write about coping with winter depression. Another book in the list is Wintering; The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times by Katherine May. That dates from 2020 which is when I read it, although I don't remember if it helped me survive winter!
When I was looking for the date of that book I kept coming up with information of everyone else who's written similar........How to Winter; Harness your Mindset to Thrive in Difficult Times by Kari Leibowitz. The Gifts of Winter; How to Uncover Seasonal Joy, Health and Happiness by Dr Stephanie Fitzgerald and Winter Wellbeing:Seasonal Selfcare by Cico Books(no author) and finally Self Care for Winter by Suzy Reading. All published in 2024 or 2025.
Even crime writer Val McDermid is joining in with a new book that I brought home from the library van. Although this is more about the things she enjoys about Winter rather than just surviving it.....
.............love the front cover - an illustration by Phillip Harris.
I've reserved the books by Kari Leibowitz and Stephanie Fitzgerald from the library - long waiting lists for both so it will be Spring before I get them!
Writing books about Winter survival is obviously a lucrative business! I wonder how we got through without them?!
Some interesting titles here, I must keep an eye out in charity shops.
ReplyDeleteThis year I read The Christmas Chronicles by Nigel Slater and enjoyed it very much. Much more than a recipe book and I like the way he really embraces and relishes winter. I'm still trying!
Penny
I've not read the Nigel Slater although have seen it recommended before as a reading as well as recipe book.
DeleteIs the Stephanie Fitzgerald "The Gifts of Winter". I've got that and am enjoying it.
ReplyDeleteI'm 17th out of 17 on the library list - it might even be summer before it's here!
DeleteThere is a Nicholas Blake detective novel called "The Case of the Abominable Snowman", set in winter - body found buried in a snowman, that is a good winter read.
ReplyDeleteRansome's "Winter Holiday" is one of my favourites, introducing the D's to the cast.
I've asked the library to get a copy as it's recently been reprinted
DeleteWinter does seem to be the fashionable season now. Maybe a natural follow on from hygge? If nothing else, some of those covers make pretty art work to display . . . during Winter!
ReplyDeleteApparently Val MacDermids book about winter is one of 4 different seasons by well known authors
DeleteWe’re back to freezing temperatures this morning and now it’s raining! Waiting in this morning to see is the Salvation Army Shop will take our oath and leather dining room chairs, They have to be inspected before uplift as they need to be almost perfect to be put out for sale-they have the fire tags intact on them.Fingers crossed they pass the quality test. Catriona
ReplyDeleteI hope you get your chairs off to a charity shop. You never know what charity shops will or won't take nowadays
DeleteI really liked and recommend the Katherine May "Wintering". I don't read for the season in the season. I like a change -- just reread Death on the Nile, hot weather story!
ReplyDeleteMy reading the seasons was a one off thing through2024, not sure if I'd ever do it again although it did introduce me to books I might not have read otherwise.
DeleteI guess the 'Winter' writers all realise that usually so many of us are stuck indoors and reading much more in the colder weather. I seem to have lost my reading mojo this month though, I'm still on my first book of the month!!
ReplyDeleteOh No - Reading Mojo gone is a Disaster!
DeleteI do love a nature book.
ReplyDeleteI’ve got the Nigel Slater Christmas Chronicles too - well worth reading in Winter
Alison in Devon x
These all look and sound quite lovely. I never seem to "read the season" all that much but it's a wonderful thing to do.
ReplyDeleteThey all sound so lovely. You will enjoy reading those I am sure.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
I did not realize that Winter was a popular topic for authors.
ReplyDeleteWinter weather is erratic these days. Today is 20 degrees F. Yesterday was 45 degrees F. At least all our ice/snow melted in the warmth. We are now ready for more snow, and a few inches are in the prediction.
I find Winter requires a mindset that combines keeping busy, staying warm/cozy when it is cold and feeling joy when the sun shines.
I have read two books this year. You have left me in the dust! Must try harder.
ReplyDeleteHow was the Val McDermid book? I saw that it came out and was thinking about it. Perhaps it should be one I try to get from the library. I'm failing with the book buying. I've been seeing quite a few at the charity shops. I suppose it is better than buying them new. I can't remember the last time I bought a 'new' book
ReplyDelete