Welcome to my winter reading recommendations AKA check out these great books. Let’s face it, the weather outside is frightful, so let’s just stay indoors until spring. Vitamin D is overrated and in any case, books are your friends.
This is my just read/about to read/reading right now pile:
It’s got everything from tiny pamphlets to giant epics and even a magazine to keep things interesting. I’m sure you’ll find something to love in there.
From the top left, clockwise:
Romantic Outlaws: The Extraordinary Lives of Mary Wollstonecraft and Mary Shelley by Charlotte Gordon
This is a long read at around 550 pages, but well worth it. It’s a dual biography, with alternate chapters telling the life story of pioneering feminist writer Mary Wollstonecraft and her daughter Mary (Frankenstein) Shelley. An incredibly gripping and vivid page turner.
Happiful magazine (press sample) – a whole magazine devoted to mental health, what an excellent idea. Loved the tips on beating procrastination and what to do if winter gets you down. Find it for £4 from most supermarkets, or from the Happiful website. There’s also a monthly e-version you can subscribe to for free here.
Greta Thunberg – No One is Too Small To Make a Difference – these powerful and passionate speeches will keep you inspired in the dark months.
Ghoster by Jason Arnopp – You may know Jason’s previous super scary tome The Last Days of Jack Sparks, or his excellent Doctor Who-heavy YouTube channel. I know him as the fella who comes round to our house wearing a Satan t shirt to scare the kids. If you’re looking for some creepy horror to tide you over Halloween, this is the one. Features lots of Brighton locations, BN1 fans will be glad to hear. I’m about 50 pages in and it’s already giving me the fear, to the extent that I can’t read it after 9pm.
On Writing by Stephen King – this is a classic book for anyone interested in writing, storytelling and the imagination. I would say it’s a must read, but I only got round to it this year, nearly 20 years after it first came out. So yeah, don’t hang around like I did, read it now, and while you’re at it check out The Science of Storytelling by Will Storr (not shown above cos I got it on Kindle). This is all about how the brain works, and how we can respond to that as writers. Really, fascinating, useful stuff. I think this will become just as much a classic as King’s book.
And finally,
Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata – Well, what can I say about this? If, like me, you have a high tolerance for bonkers then this is right up your street. It’s the kind of book the word quirky was made for. If you need a little bit of sunshine in your mind, give it a go. It’s about a woman who works in a convenience store. That’s all I’m giving you for now.
Have you read something excellent recently? What’s on your winter reading pile? Leave a comment, I’d love to hear from you
See also: Seven short books to read this winter
*Contains Amazon affiliate links . Everything else either purchased by me, borrowed from Himself or gifted by the big teenager.