Top 5 reads for cold weather

Art by Jessica Calaguas

With most of the winter holidays over and plenty of cold weather left in the year, I often find myself without a comforting book to read that not only helps me counteract how I feel about the lack of pretty lights and cookies but also conveys the crisp weather outside and the rest of winter because it's not over yet people! So, in an attempt to save my future self and all those reading this from the sad, mournful feeling of missing the holidays, I have compiled a list of must-reads for the winter season. You don’t have to like every book on this list, but I suggest that you give them a try before swearing them off. Every book that I have chosen is very different. For example, you might be surprised to see Little Women and Twilight on the same list, but I don’t care because they are both very close to my heart and cheer me up when the after-holiday hopelessness hits. And with that, here are my top picks for winter.

Warning: This article might contain mild spoilers. I won't reveal anything that is an important twist or event, but I will discuss the themes and setting.

1. Anne of Green Gables

Anne of Green Gables is one of my favorite books of all time. It follows a little girl who has to find her way through a new environment after basically living in an orphanage her whole life (apart from a few temporary homes.) Anne of Green Gables takes place on a beautiful island in Canada. Anne is always surrounded by wildlife and greenery, and the book paints a wondrous picture of life in the countryside. Anne’s whimsy, imagination, and genuineness are so inspiring. After reading it, all I wanted to do was dance around, read books, and recite poetry. Anne is a very fun person to read about, and the story really draws you in. You feel as if you live with her in Prince Edward Island. Anne of Green Gables is a heartwarming book about friendship and growing up, and it is oh-so comforting to read on a winter day.

2. Call of the Wild

Call of the Wild was a tough read for me. It wasn’t a book I would normally reach for, and it was hard for me to immerse myself in the story. However, it was also a very meaningful read. Call of the Wild is about a dog named Buck. He undergoes many hardships and painful adventures that make him into the character he is at the end of the book. I was a diehard cat person until I read this book. Don’t get me wrong, I am definitely still a cat person but am more open-minded to dogs after I finished the book. You really feel for Buck, and I think the writing style definitely adds to that. It is written from the narrator's perspective and is very descriptive about all of the events that take place. The story is so heart-wrenching because the writer does not shy away from gory details. There are lots of blood and dark themes throughout the book. I will say, the ending is happy which is one of the reasons why it still makes the list, but it is also such a great book to take you out of your own head. Buck has such an impactful character development, from a dainty, refined house dog to a tough, experienced wolf. 

3. Heidi

Heidi was a more mellow book for me. By that I don’t mean that there was no suspense, trust me there was, but that there are probably two chapters dedicated to milk and bread. That sounds really weird, but it is just so comforting. If you didn't already know, milk and bread were luxurious way back then. All they did was eat milk and bread. Much of the story is about life in the Swiss Alps, farming, caring for animals, hay beds, and milk and bread for dinner. Her whole lifestyle is such a wintery feeling, and I love to vicariously experience her life during this time of year. 

4. Twilight

In my opinion, Twilight gets way too much hate. I get it, the movie is “cringy” and the acting is subpar, but you can’t judge the brand in its entirety without reading the book first. That being said, the book is more of a mood than good literature. It is very cringe-worthy at parts, but I still love it and think it's worth a read. If you didn’t already know, it is a romance book about the hardships and relationship of Edward Cullen and Bella Swan. Stephanie Meyer, the author of Twilight has a writing style that draws the reader into the story. The books are literally addictive, I must have finished the series in a month or even a couple of weeks. In summary, give Twilight a shot before you trash-talk it because even though you might not want to admit it, it is a mood and you are missing out if you don’t.

5. My Life In France

You may have heard of Julia Child, a quirky American chef, but did you know that she wrote a memoir? I bet you didn’t. Julia Child is definitely one of my favorite stars out there. She has a fun, bubbly personality and she can make really good French food. Most people wouldn’t think to read her memoir, but they would be thinking wrong. My Life in France, as you can tell by the name, is about Julia Child’s life in France. It is full of all her crazy adventures and her experience in learning how to cook. Not many may know this, but Julia Child didn’t know anything about cooking until she was about 30. Even when she began to really pursue cooking, the process was full of trial and error. The book takes place over the span of many years, and there is a large chunk of the book about her dealing with winter in France. She comes from Los Angeles so she had to adapt to a different climate as well as a different place to call home. Julia is especially fun to read about because you never get bored. She always has a little funny story or experience to write about.