winter reading: books to read in february
stories set under a blanket of snow.
Well, here we are in February. Depending on where you live, tiny hints of spring might be popping up. The daylight hours are starting to get noticeably longer and we’re actually closer now to the spring equinox now than the winter solstice. Still, I’m not rushing on to the next season quite yet. In our typical style, Minnesota is on track for eight inches of snow this weekend. At the moment, I’m feeling just fine with a few more weeks of cozy meals and evenings curled up with a book. Spring will be here soon enough! If you’re looking to hunker down with some seasonal reads yourself this month, I have a few recommendations that are just right for reading in February.
Migrations by Charlotte McConaughey
Truly a favorite winter read! Just in time for her new novel, Wild Dark Shore, I recommend giving Charlotte McConaughey’s Migrations a turn. This book centers around Franny as she attempts to follow the final migration of arctic terns all the way from the Arctic Circle to Antarctica. It’s a fairly short but really beautiful read. Charlotte McConaghy is a master of weaving the unimaginable grief of climate devastation with the human side of loss and connection. If you enjoyed Where There Be Wolves, prepare to be captivated by Migrations.
We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman
Oof! If you are not in the headspace for a real tearjerker at the moment, you may need to skip this one. BUT if you want to fall into Catherine Newman’s touching world, full of characters that feel so real and lots of humor amidst heartbreak, this novel is a good one. It is set over the last few weeks of February, as the main character Ash spends her days with her best friend Edo in hospice. Both main characters are in their early 40s and the narrative painfully, and poignantly, grapples with grief. As a reader, I think it’s a story that makes you feel a little less alone and a little more a part of humanity.
In the Midst of Winter by Isabel Allende
I have loved Isabel Allende ever since reading Memories of an Invented Country 15+ years ago. Like every Allende, this book bundles you up in a charming cast of characters. There are so many elements of this story, from reflections on migration in the US, to a murder and a cover-up, to alcoholism, to the joy of finding love at all stages of life. This one is a trip, perfect if you’d like to get swept away by a narrative!
The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo
The Fox Wife feels like reading a fable. Part historical fiction, part detective novel and part magical realism, this intriguing story of foxes who can appear as humans will absolutely charm you. The winter setting is key - the novel opens with a detective investigating the death of a woman found frozen to death on a restaurant doorstep. Reading this last winter set me on a Yangsze Choo kick, perhaps it will do the same for you!
What reads feel perfect for this time of year to you? All wintery fiction recommendations welcome! Wishing you a final winter month of cozy reading.
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Totally agree on Migrations and The Fox Wife! I’m hoping to read Black Woods Blue Sky while it’s still winter.