“He found himself wondering at times, especially in the autumn, about the wild lands, and strange visions of mountains that he had never seen came into his dreams.”

-J RR Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

As the nights turn cooler and the day’s light fades quicker than before, we turn inward to the worlds that lie between the covers of our books.

There is something wonderfully atmospheric at this time of year, as the leaves yellow and fall away from their branches and the skeletal arms of the tree become stark.

As nature changes we often search for books that compliment transformation of season, and while there are many to choose from, today we are going to share a few of our favourite cosy reads with you.

Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

Set in provincial Russia before the revolution, this is the story of a mysterious girl, Lila, born in the depths of winter to a wealthy farmer and his wife, who dies soon after childbirth. We soon discover that Lila has the gift of ‘the sight’, like her mother before her and it isn’t long until Lila’s gift begins to cause unrest with the newly arrived clergyman. Brimming with inspiration from folk tales, Katherine captures your imagination with the warm tone of the story, wrapping you snugly into a tale worthy of a fireside gathering.

 

Fifth Avenue Artists Society by Joy Callaway

It is tale of a budding young writer, a lost love, a new love and the mysterious Fifth Avenue Artist’s Society. Virginia is one of four siblings growing up in genteel poverty amongst families in the Bronx, New York in 1891. Determined to be a famous writer and together with her best friend Charlie, the boy next door, she sees a brighter future riddled with possibility. Soon her world is toppled by an unexpected proposal and the sudden absence of the best friend she once had, leaving her even more determined to pursue her dream of writing. For lovers of Louise May Alcott’s Little Women, this story echoes the same heartfelt desires of characters, bound by class and gender, who refuse to leave their aspirations to wither in the face of adversity.

 

 

 

Nakano Thrift Shop by Hiromi Kawakami

The Nakano thrift shop is a jumble of curiosity and bric-a-brac and what goes better with such an unconventional place than the mysterious Mr Nakano and the steady stream of oddballs who frequent the shop.  Hitomi, a restless young woman finds her way into this world of the wonderful strangeness and slowly finds herself fixating on the unusual Mr Nakano. A charming holiday read, ripe for the picking on our shelves.

 

 

With these captivating reads, you’ll never want to leave the warmth of the house. Enjoy the rest of winter!

This is what we’ll be doing.