The Five Summer Books post in this series proved very popular; I suspect this one won’t attract quite so much attention. Most of us prefer basking in a bit of summer sun if we get the chance but the five books below might make you feel glad to be cosy and inside on a bleak winter day. All have links to review on this blog.
Three German soldiers, stride out into the frigid Polish landscape, in Hubert Mingarelli’s A Meal in Winter. They’ve missed breakfast, determined to avoid the daily round of executions by volunteering to hunt down Jews and bring them back to the camp. The three flush out a young man before one of them reveals he’s stolen enough food to make soup. Spotting an abandoned cottage they set about lighting a fire, interrupted by the arrival of a hunter and his dog. What ensues frays the bonds between the soldiers, opening divisions and forcing them to face the moral dilemma of what to do with their captive. The first in a loosely linked trilogy that also comprises The Invisible Land and Four Soldiers, Mingarelli’s stark yet compassionate novel shows ordinary German soldiers, horrified by what they have seen and done, trying to find ways of coping while managing to retain their humanity.
The Second World War still looms large in Andrew Miller’s The Land in Winter which follows two couples, incomers to the
Somerset village where they’re neighbours, through the brutally cold snap of 1962/63, the worst winter Britain endured since 1947. Eric enjoys the status of country doctor, oblivious to the unhappiness of his wife Irene, a fish out of water in this rural setting. Their nearest neighbours are Bill, defying his father’s wishes, taking up farming instead of becoming a lawyer, and Rita who remembers her days dancing at Bristol’s Pow Wow club while trying to fend off the voices in her head. Neither couple has much in common with the other but Irene and Rita are pregnant and lonely opening them to an unlikely friendship. Shortly after Christmas, a blizzard cuts off swathes of the country, resulting in a series of tumultuous events for both couples. An engrossing, atmospheric novel, full of period detail and strong characterisation.
Luis Carrasco’s Ghosts of Spring is also set in the West Country, this time in a city where a young homeless woman battles a harsh winter, grateful for small kindnesses but used to being ignored. She hates the local shelters, only resorting to using one in the worst of weather and then not feeling safe. One day, she takes a round trip on a bus just to warm up, stopping at a small tourist town where she’s careful in her choice of café, returning to the city with the beginnings of a plan. Carrasco writes in plain yet evocative prose binging the grinding cold of a British winter to life along with the misery of homelessness. Not an easy subject to tackle but he does it well and with a good deal of compassion, neatly avoiding the sentimental while offering hope.
Hanne Ørstavik’s Love tells the story of a mother and her son on the eve of his ninth birthday, a milestone she’s forgotten and he’s convinced she’s secretly planning to celebrate. Over the course of a freezing Norwegian night – each of them outdoors, unbeknownst to the other – their paths will almost cross several times, both returning home to a day which will be far from the one either of them might have anticipated. Written in clean, bright prose, beautifully translated by Martin Aitken, Ørstavik’s novella is heart-wrenchingly powerful.
Despite feeling somewhat disappointed by Mary Beth Keane’s Ask Again, Yes I decided to try again with The Half Moon. Set in a small New York town, it follows the recently separated Malcolm and Jess over a blizzard-hit weekend, slipping smoothly between the two of them as their story unfolds. The storm hits during the bar’s busiest month leaving Malcolm desperate for the weather to clear while Jess has arrived for her first weekend in Gillam since leaving their home, taking tentative steps towards what might become a new relationship. Meanwhile, a regular has gone missing in desperate weather conditions after picking an uncharacteristic fight. No literary fireworks here but an absorbing story well told.
Any novels wintery novels you’d particularly recommend?
If you’d like to explore more posts like this, I’ve listed them here.
This time I’ve read three of your choices – numbers 1, 2 and 4. And no time was wasted by reading any of them- all excellent. I ought to read more of MIngarelli’s trilogy, because that book has stayed with me, though I read it ages ago. Numbers 3 and 5 look worth a punt too.
I’d forgotten Ghosts of Spring is set in winter – the title perhaps? Thanks for including it because it will give me the final book I need for an upcoming Top Ten Tuesday topic
I loved Andrew Miller and I’ve put the others on the list. I’d recommend Flight by Lynne Steger Strong. Lovely wintery (and set at Christmas) dysfunctional family novel.
The sadness and futility of war in ‘A Meal in Winter’ stayed with me for a long time.
I admire Miller’s writing and story-telling. ‘A Land in Winter’ up next, once I finish Claire-Louise Bennett’s ‘Big Kiss, Bye-Bye’
Here’s a few that come to mind:
A Midnight Clear – William Wharton
Ice – Anna Kavan
A Fatal Grace – Louise Penny
Snow falling on Cedars – David Guterson
Then there’s always all the classic crime stories set in snowbound houses. One example: The Case of the Abominable Snowman – Nicolas Blake.
And of course – Murder on the Orient Express – Agatha Christie.
Love the idea of a winter book round up, I haven’t read any on your list but meant to read The Land in Winter in November so I’ll need to get around to that!
I loved The Land in Winter. Miller at his best. Rachel Seiffert’s A Boy in Winter is a powerful story. Winter appears in her new book, a great read…Once The Deed is Done.
Good choices. Seasonal reading is something I discovered through bloggers. I enjoy it. The first two titles interest me most, but all sound like some I would read. I think both the fiction and the nonfiction books The Children’s Blizzard come to mind. This post also brings the Five Books blog/website to mind! You’ve sparked a lot today!
in a small New York town, it follows the recently separated Malcolm and Jess over a blizzard-hit weekend, slipping smoothly between the two of them as their story unfolds. The storm hits during the bar’s busiest month leaving Malcolm desperate for the weather to clear while Jess has arrived for her first weekend in Gillam since leaving their home, taking tentative steps towards what might become a new relationship. Meanwhile, a regular has gone missing in desperate weather conditions after picking an uncharacteristic fight. No literary fireworks here but an absorbing story well told.
This time I’ve read three of your choices – numbers 1, 2 and 4. And no time was wasted by reading any of them- all excellent. I ought to read more of MIngarelli’s trilogy, because that book has stayed with me, though I read it ages ago. Numbers 3 and 5 look worth a punt too.
Number 3 is from a tiny press who also published Carrasco’s debut, El Hacho, set in Spain, which I’d also recommend.
Noted. Thanks.
I’ve just read the Andrew Miller. Wonderful writing and as you say, great characterisation.
It’s so evocative, isn’t it. Glad to hear you enjoyed it.
I’d forgotten Ghosts of Spring is set in winter – the title perhaps? Thanks for including it because it will give me the final book I need for an upcoming Top Ten Tuesday topic
My pleasure! Always pleased to give Epoque a little exposure.
I loved Andrew Miller and I’ve put the others on the list. I’d recommend Flight by Lynne Steger Strong. Lovely wintery (and set at Christmas) dysfunctional family novel.
That’s great to hear! I read Flight a few years back and loved it but have failed to track anything else down by her here in the UK.
The sadness and futility of war in ‘A Meal in Winter’ stayed with me for a long time.
I admire Miller’s writing and story-telling. ‘A Land in Winter’ up next, once I finish Claire-Louise Bennett’s ‘Big Kiss, Bye-Bye’
I was impressed by all three Mingarellis. He’s a sad loss. The Bennett sounds good.
Mingarelli was what immediately sprang to mind when I saw your post title!
I really want to get back to Miller – thank you for the nudge!
You’re welcome. Best read somewhere cosy!
Here’s a few that come to mind:
A Midnight Clear – William Wharton
Ice – Anna Kavan
A Fatal Grace – Louise Penny
Snow falling on Cedars – David Guterson
Then there’s always all the classic crime stories set in snowbound houses. One example: The Case of the Abominable Snowman – Nicolas Blake.
And of course – Murder on the Orient Express – Agatha Christie.
Thanks, Josie. I’ve read the Guterson and Kavan but not the Wharton or Penny. Murder on the Orient Express is a Christmas favourite!
Oh, I much prefer a winter book to a summer book – anything with a snowy, isolated setting has my attention!
I’ll be looking at summer books by the time we get to February but happy to cosy up with winter ones for now.
Love the idea of a winter book round up, I haven’t read any on your list but meant to read The Land in Winter in November so I’ll need to get around to that!
Thank you! There is something about reading chilly novels in a nice warm living room.
I had hoped to read Love during November but ran out of time. Sounds like I am in for a treat!
You are! Maybe next #NovNov.
I loved The Land in Winter. Miller at his best. Rachel Seiffert’s A Boy in Winter is a powerful story. Winter appears in her new book, a great read…Once The Deed is Done.
I agree, and thanks for the Sieffert tip.
Good choices. Seasonal reading is something I discovered through bloggers. I enjoy it. The first two titles interest me most, but all sound like some I would read. I think both the fiction and the nonfiction books The Children’s Blizzard come to mind. This post also brings the Five Books blog/website to mind! You’ve sparked a lot today!
Excellent news! I’ve not come across The Children’s Blizzard before.
Loved both! https://hopewellslibraryoflife.wordpress.com/2021/03/15/review-the-childrens-blizzard-a-novel-by-melanie-benjamin/
Thanks!
This feels kind of wrong, but the one that immediately pops into my head is The Shining by Stephen King!
Ha! Well, it can be quite cosy hiding behind the sofa…