By Laura McCarthy.
Throughout the cold nights by the fire, you need a little something to accompany that hot chocolate in hand and nothing could be better than a book which captures the essence of the season.
Personally, I’ll be looking forward to kicking things off with The Dead of Winter: The Demons, Witches, and Ghosts of Christmas by Sarah Clegg – the perfect transitional choice between the terrors of October and the festivities December brings. This non fiction covers an array of history and folklore, from Krampus to wassailing, and was a BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week so I hope it is as good as it promises. Whether you want misery and murder or cosy comfort, I’ve got some suggestions for your reading list.
Eeny Meeny by M.J. Arlidge
Arlidge’s well renowned DI Helen Grace series is fittingly set in Southampton and kicks off with this disturbing crime thriller set during the Christmas period. In a sickening twist on eeny meeny miny mo, two people are abducted at a time and given the terrible choice over who will live and who will die. If you’re looking for a dark read, this is the one.
Carol by Patricia Highsmith
It’s the 1950s and Therese is working in a department store over Christmas when the banality of her life suddenly dissipates with the entrance of the beautiful, worldly Carol. This gorgeous romance sensitively portrays the blossoming lesbian relationship of two women in a difficult time when this was not viewed as the norm. I am a sucker for anything Highsmith does and this is absolutely no exception to that rule.
Talking Turkeys by Benjamin Zephaniah
Hilarious and heart-warming, this book of poetry is just what you need to lighten your step. The late, great Zephaniah’s unique voice, which is both compassionate and comedic, is like no other. No one will have you sympathising with turkeys like him.
Silas Marner by George Eliot
We all know that A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is the obvious choice of classic literature for this time of year. In many ways, Silas Marner is a very similar story in that it sees a world-weary, money-obsessed older man learn to love again and a good portion of the book is set during the winter and Christmas period too. It’s a lovely little novella with well established characters and is certainly worth a read if you’ve grown tired of Dickens.
Blankets by Craig Thompson
This autobiographical graphic novel tells the coming-of-age story of a young man and his first love. Everything about this positively sings winter: romanticised drawings of snowy settings; the comfort of a loved one on a cold night; the bittersweet feeling the season brings. A truly outstanding book.
The Honjin Murders by Seishi Yokomizo
This is a famous variation on the locked-room murder mystery formula, set in a rural Japanese village blanketed in snow. Yokomizo’s brilliant amateur detective Kesuke Kindaichi is tasked with figuring out who is behind the mystery of a double murder during the winter of 1937. With only a bloodied samurai sword discarded in the snow to go off, how will Kindaichi solve the case?
Hogfather by Terry Pratchett
In Pratchett’s Discworld, the ancient, mythical being of the Hogfather travels in a sleigh pulled by pigs every Hogswatch Night to bring presents to children. However, things start to go wrong when he is absent and Death has to take over the role. It will likely remind you of The Nightmare Before Christmas but with lashings of Pratchett’s characteristic humour and fantastical ideas.
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
With the literal first word of the novel being “Christmas”, I had to include this classic, even though it covers many seasons over the course of many years. If you don’t know this beautiful story of the March sisters by now, this is your sign to give it a go, and if you do, to read it again! It follows four charming sister from childhood into womanhood, through all the joyous ups and devastating downs.
The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco
This is my high brow pick if you’re feeling particularly intellectual. Set in 1327, this historical mystery novel takes place in an Italian monastery during a niveous winter. Brother William must act as detective when multiple murders occur. Without modern technology such as DNA analysis, he must rely on his skills of observation and his ability to decipher coded manuscripts. Filled with biblical analysis and historical references, this is not an easy read but certainly a valuable one if you’re up for the challenge.
Touching the Void by Joe Simpson
This non-fiction novel is an account of the events which occurred when Joe Simpson and Simon Yates made their descent from the icy peak of the Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes. It is a truly terrifying read in which we see the real, near fatal horrors of frost bite, falls, horrible injuries, and isolation in their climb down the mountain.
The Joy of a Peanuts Christmas: 50 Years of Holiday Comics by Charles M. Schulz
Any collection of festive Snoopy comics (and there have been several) will put you in the mood for the season. Schulz’s work never fails to make me laugh and bring me joy. Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, and friends just feel like home and seeing Snoopy ice skate or call a Christmas truce with the Red Baron is my definition of comfort.
Half a King by Joe Abercrombie
Reminiscent of Robert Eggers’ The Northman, this young adult adventure follows Prince Yarvi – one of many well fleshed out characters in the narrative – as he fights to win back the throne. His rightful throne… though it is not a responsibility he wanted. Whilst cliched in parts, the wintery essence of the Viking-esque landscape is undeniable.
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
For science fiction, I chose this classic due to the setting. The planet is literally called Winter and it is constantly cold. A human ventures to this alien planet and must adapt to their unfamiliar, genderless ways so as to complete his mission to include the planet within an intergalactic civilisation.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
This novel handles a lot of difficult topics so please be sure to look up trigger warnings if you need to. That said, it discusses an array of important issues with sensitivity, told from the perspective of 15-year-old Charlie, a nervous and observant teenager struggling with his trauma. There are some particularly memorable and exquisitely written scenes which take place at Christmas and New Year.
The Murder Game by Tom Hindle
It might not be high literature but it is good fun and I guarantee you’ll easily blast through this whodunnit in a day – why not read it on NYE? Taking place during a 1920s-themed murder mystery party on New Years’ Eve, guests soon realise that the fictional murder in the game is not the only one to worry about.