I’ll jump in too. I read this during Christmas 2019 when I was sick in bed w/ bad bronchitis. Like 80% of the book is characters coming into the warm after being out in the cold. It was exactly what I needed.
The slow gentle current of the setting, depicting the winter slowdown as really likeable characters move toward healing in the bleak landscape. Pilcher doesn't make it feel bleak. Sure, "no plot," but "strong sense of winter place" - that's my jam. Winter baby here and the winter is a character I identify with.
I read and enjoyed The Hunting Party as well. Also, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Even though the White Witch was baaaaad, I loved Narnia in winter!
A Castle in the Clouds by Gier is a YA novel set in the Swiss mountains over the Christmas and New Year's holidays. I did enjoy reading it during the holiday season, but it could be read anytime. The heroine is a hotel intern and there's a good combo of mystery and romance. The grand old hotel is practically a character too!
Also just read Two Old Women: An Alaska Legend of Betrayal, Courage and Survival by Wallis. A short, folk-tale type book that was just the thing to get me ready for my upcoming trip to Alaska.
My favorite is Smilla's Sense of Snow by Peter Høeg. If you want to keep cool between readings, listen to Kate Bush's beautiful 50 Words for Snow album.
I agree, the movie's good too. In fact I discovered the book after reading a review of the movie, and the story sounded so intriguing I read the book first. Plus, the title!
Winter horror stories! The Shining by Stephen King, Snow by Ron Malfi & Snowblind by Christopher Golden. But the best winter story ever (not horror) is The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats 😀
Louise Penny´s novel „A Fatal Grace“ came to my mind. Accompanying Inspector Gamache is always great, and this novel is set in a wintry and snowy Three Pines, which forms a cool contrast to June´s heat. A definite yes to "The Hunting Party“!
Oh, it's so good! It gets into the conflict between English- and French-speaking Canadians. And if I'm remembering correctly, there's an archive or library involved somehow.
Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson. It is the only book that popped in my head that was set in the middle of winter in Colorado. I know once I post this that 10 more will pop in my head. I just recently read A Woman Is No Man by Etaf Rum which was duo timeline and the present day time mine was in winter. Excellent book.
I resisted reading this for a long time; I thought it would be too cutesy/twee. It was NOT! Truly delightful, sharp and full of twists that feel earned. Loved the pair.
I liked this book but I think people need to know that it is what I call a quiet book. Not a lot of action. I found Emily to be a very hard character to like but once I realized that she is an insular and reserved person I understood her better. The whole island is frosty and the ice palace really make you want to curl with a hot drink, blanket, furry companions, and a good book.
1) Nightwatching (Tracy Sierra) - This is one of the tensest thrillers I’ve ever read, perhaps bordering on horror. A woman wakes up in the middle of the night in her old, creaky house in a remote New England area during a blizzard; her toddler son has woken up and needs to be put back to sleep. While she’s in his room, she hears something and realizes there is someone else in the house - an intruder. This book is heart-pounding, nail-biting glory, and the wintry vibes not only provide great atmosphere but add to the sense of peril. Highly recommend.
2) Time and Again (Jack Finney) - This 1970 book is about a man who is enlisted to take part in a secretive government time travel project that sends him back to 1882 New York City to solve a mystery connected to someone in his life. The plot is pretty secondary to the incredible descriptions of NYC during the winter of 1882; there are horse-drawn sleigh rides through Central Park, drafty streetcar rides, and ice skating right next to The Dakota. I’ve never felt more like I was living inside the pages of a book than with this one.
The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden. A beautiful, wintery tale of Russian folklore and history. Bonus! There are two additional books in the series!
Willa Cather's Oh Pioneers has a section (part 3) called Winter Memories that portrays a long harsh winter on the Great Plains. Her books are all so good, and though I read them quite a long time ago, I remember that several portrayed long winters in a sod house. Of course, the summers were just as hard...
There's only one and I re-read it every year - Dr. Zhivago. Russia, snow, romance, revolution, black and white opinions, what's not to love and chill and bones. Zhivago's characters are among the best written ever.
The Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher.
I keep meaning to read that every December. Can you tell me what you like about it?
I’ll jump in too. I read this during Christmas 2019 when I was sick in bed w/ bad bronchitis. Like 80% of the book is characters coming into the warm after being out in the cold. It was exactly what I needed.
I'll jump in with an answer. It's festive and cozy and Christmasy. Not a lot of plot but just a great cozy feel.
The slow gentle current of the setting, depicting the winter slowdown as really likeable characters move toward healing in the bleak landscape. Pilcher doesn't make it feel bleak. Sure, "no plot," but "strong sense of winter place" - that's my jam. Winter baby here and the winter is a character I identify with.
I just read The Shell Seekers, my first Rosamunde Pilcher book. I look forward to reading this one as well.
This has been on my TBR for soooo long. Thank you everyone for the insights.
I read and enjoyed The Hunting Party as well. Also, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Even though the White Witch was baaaaad, I loved Narnia in winter!
The Snow Child!
This was my first thought, too! Loved it, so much.
Snow Child was my first thought also. I'm going to get that one out when we go on an Alaskan Cruise in August. It's time for a re-read.
Came here to say this.
A Castle in the Clouds by Gier is a YA novel set in the Swiss mountains over the Christmas and New Year's holidays. I did enjoy reading it during the holiday season, but it could be read anytime. The heroine is a hotel intern and there's a good combo of mystery and romance. The grand old hotel is practically a character too!
Also just read Two Old Women: An Alaska Legend of Betrayal, Courage and Survival by Wallis. A short, folk-tale type book that was just the thing to get me ready for my upcoming trip to Alaska.
A Castle in the Clouds sounds like just the kind of thing I love in December. Thanks for that!
I loved Two Old Women.
I’m reading and loving The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon
I came here to recommend this book! It really conveys the feeling of cold and winter.
Excellent choice. I read this past year and loved everything about it but particularly the setting, both time and place.
One of my favorite books of recent years.
My favorite is Smilla's Sense of Snow by Peter Høeg. If you want to keep cool between readings, listen to Kate Bush's beautiful 50 Words for Snow album.
Such a great book! I'd forgotten how weird and mathy it is until I re-read it recently. LOVE an oddball story.
I love this recommendation. Just added it to my vintage book list (anything before 2000).
Haven't real the book, but I once saw a movie of Smilla's Sense of Snow. One of the first Nordic movies I remember watching some years back.
I agree, the movie's good too. In fact I discovered the book after reading a review of the movie, and the story sounded so intriguing I read the book first. Plus, the title!
I also love this book!
Winter horror stories! The Shining by Stephen King, Snow by Ron Malfi & Snowblind by Christopher Golden. But the best winter story ever (not horror) is The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats 😀
I will have to pass on the horror stories, but The Snowy Day is a classic!
Louise Penny´s novel „A Fatal Grace“ came to my mind. Accompanying Inspector Gamache is always great, and this novel is set in a wintry and snowy Three Pines, which forms a cool contrast to June´s heat. A definite yes to "The Hunting Party“!
I love the Gamache set in Quebec City, too... Bury Your Dead.
I´m not sure I´ve read that one ...
Oh, it's so good! It gets into the conflict between English- and French-speaking Canadians. And if I'm remembering correctly, there's an archive or library involved somehow.
Sounds great -I´ll put it on my TBR :-)
That's my favorite of the series!
Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson. It is the only book that popped in my head that was set in the middle of winter in Colorado. I know once I post this that 10 more will pop in my head. I just recently read A Woman Is No Man by Etaf Rum which was duo timeline and the present day time mine was in winter. Excellent book.
Such a fun book!!! I loved it.
I loved Bellwether Rhapsody! The first book I thought of while reading this post was The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey.
Dave LOVED The Snow Child. Good rec!
Dr. Zhivago.
Brrrr... Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries had me feeling COLD especially at the ice palace.
I still have that on my TBR. Looks so fun!
I resisted reading this for a long time; I thought it would be too cutesy/twee. It was NOT! Truly delightful, sharp and full of twists that feel earned. Loved the pair.
I loved it, too.
I liked this book but I think people need to know that it is what I call a quiet book. Not a lot of action. I found Emily to be a very hard character to like but once I realized that she is an insular and reserved person I understood her better. The whole island is frosty and the ice palace really make you want to curl with a hot drink, blanket, furry companions, and a good book.
Two books immediately come to mind:
1) Nightwatching (Tracy Sierra) - This is one of the tensest thrillers I’ve ever read, perhaps bordering on horror. A woman wakes up in the middle of the night in her old, creaky house in a remote New England area during a blizzard; her toddler son has woken up and needs to be put back to sleep. While she’s in his room, she hears something and realizes there is someone else in the house - an intruder. This book is heart-pounding, nail-biting glory, and the wintry vibes not only provide great atmosphere but add to the sense of peril. Highly recommend.
2) Time and Again (Jack Finney) - This 1970 book is about a man who is enlisted to take part in a secretive government time travel project that sends him back to 1882 New York City to solve a mystery connected to someone in his life. The plot is pretty secondary to the incredible descriptions of NYC during the winter of 1882; there are horse-drawn sleigh rides through Central Park, drafty streetcar rides, and ice skating right next to The Dakota. I’ve never felt more like I was living inside the pages of a book than with this one.
Thank you for two strong recommendations!
I love Time and Again! I also enjoyed the sequel, From Time to Time (though I can’t remember if it also have winter themes…)
The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden. A beautiful, wintery tale of Russian folklore and history. Bonus! There are two additional books in the series!
I have been meaning to read that!
Willa Cather's Oh Pioneers has a section (part 3) called Winter Memories that portrays a long harsh winter on the Great Plains. Her books are all so good, and though I read them quite a long time ago, I remember that several portrayed long winters in a sod house. Of course, the summers were just as hard...
There's only one and I re-read it every year - Dr. Zhivago. Russia, snow, romance, revolution, black and white opinions, what's not to love and chill and bones. Zhivago's characters are among the best written ever.
Swoon!