Books to Check Out This Winter

Whether revisiting an old favorite or checking out new titles, winter is a great season to get read. Between the colder temperatures, early sunsets and temptation to spend money at every turn, cracking open a book can be a great winter hobby. Introduce the kids to a few classics, or get in some you time with a book while the kids play outside.

Get into the holiday spirit with an obvious, but unavoidable choice: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. We all know the story, but may not have actually read the novella. Originally published in 1843, this classic is an oldie, but a goodie to add to your family tradition.

Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women inspires childhood nostalgia in a coming-of-age story set in the 1800s. Check in with Jo and her sisters as they go through the hardships and light times from young women into adulthood. Read with the kids and brighten their holiday with a bit of history and literature.

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Lighten up your winter and laugh with Simple Times: Crafts for Poor People by Amy Sedaris for a cheeky, sarcastic comedic book. Learn all about the dangers of crafting and what to avoid while taking in some serious wit and humor. It will help to have a light read to break away from the stressful aspects of the holiday season.

For something a bit deeper, check out A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole. The book’s dark comedy and misfit mentality is one you will be glad you finally made time for.

Warm up and laugh with David Foster Wallace’s A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again. His depiction of a man giving into paranoia and panic during an all-expenses-paid Caribbean cruise will make you think, laugh and wonder — all while brightening up your winter.

Get your partner or family in on it and start an impromptu book club. It will give you all a good excuse to slow down and take some time out of the hectic holiday season and winter weather.