Get bundled up with a good book: best reads for winter
By Deanna Smith, Staff Writer //
Winter is a time to spread holiday cheer, sing a few carols, give gifts to the less fortunate, and celebrate the new year as the previous trots on by. The best part about winter is snuggling up with a good book and losing yourself in an author’s world. Since I love reading as much as any book lover, I chose a few books that no matter how many winters go by, I just love reading over and over again.
“Sundays at Tiffany’s” by James Patterson is the ideal romance drama to read during the winter simply because the story line is so fairy tale. This story is about a woman named Jane Margaux who created an imaginary friend named Michael when she was younger and life wasn’t the most pleasant of situations. Time goes by and Jane grows up with a better present than her past. But when things get bad again, a handsome, funny, kind man comes into her life and sweeps her off of her feet. The twist is that the man is intriguingly similar to her childhood imaginary friend. It is a fairly easy read that satisfies the craving for a good, love-y read if that is the kind of story that you enjoy reading.
For those readers who enjoy a more compacted drama, “Atonement” by Ian McEwan gives more than you could ask for. This story starts in the summer of 1934 and it is told over a span of many years through the perspective of Briony Tallis. It starts off simple and innocent until the young girl witnesses her older sister Cecilia flirting with Robbie; the son of a servant. Not being able to fully understand adult motives just yet, Briony’s innocence and confusion cause her to make one mistake that sets off a ripple of effects that spans farther than her reach. The story does a fantastic job of weaving the life of Tallis through events such as World War II and the turning of the twentieth century. Though a relatively short read, this book has a lot of complex sentences that sometimes makes it tough to read, but it is worth it, just for the sake of a very good book.
Everyone loves a good book series, and I am no different. My favorite to date would have to be the “Divergent” series by Veronica Roth. I adore any type of futuristic story that depicts what the world could possibly be like, and this series delivers such a thrilling adventure. The series begins with “Divergent,” the story that introduces you to our main character, Beatrice Prior. The underlying plot for the series revolves around Beatrice, who changes her name to Tris, discovering that she is a powerful person within the few fractions that the new society has built. This makes her an automatic target for those who demand a specific order in the world and she will stop at nothing to find out why. From page one of “Divergent” to the last page of “Allegiant,” you become wrapped up in that world, the crazy adventure, the well-worded action, the budding romances, and even the straight chaos. The series has three books: “Divergent,” “Insurgent,” and “Allegiant.” It is such a great series that you forget that you are even reading, which makes it such an easy read. If you are looking for a simple, yet intriguing book to snuggle up with on those cold winter nights, these three books should be at the top of your list.
Last but not least is “The Hunger Games” series by Suzanne Collins. I didn’t want to give into the bandwagon of reading these books, but once I started with “The Hunger Games,” I had to keep reading. This series consists of three novels: “The Hunger Games”, “Catching Fire”, and “Mockingjay”; all of which are just as exciting as the last. Granted, “Catching Fire” is a little on the boring side, but it still adds a unique texture to the series. For those who do not know, “The Hunger Games” revolves around Katniss Everdeen, a young woman who chose to take her younger sister’s place in an annual game in which two representatives from each of the twelve existing districts fight to the death in an arena until only one is remaining. With a plot like that, drama, action, adventure and even romance has to be expected to the highest degree. I love finishing off my winter reading with this series specifically because through all the chaos that takes place, it has a beautiful ending that is very rare in any book.