Bookworm Cottage Style

When the temperatures hover around freezing, there’s absolutely nothing better than hunkering down with a big, fat book and a cozy blanket. For this reason, winter is my favorite time of year to embark on more ambitious (i.e. lengthy) reads. Many of the books on this list are some of my all-time favorites, and I won’t be surprised if some of these end up being your favorites too!

The Heart’s Invisible Furies, by John Boyne (2017; 592 pages) // I absolutely loved this book, and can honestly say it is one of my favorite books I’ve ever read. The story follows Irishman Cyril Avery over the span of 70-some-odd years as he navigates life as a gay man in a very Catholic country. Cyril is adopted, and although the reader knows the identity of Cyril’s birth mother from the very first pages, there is so much anticipation built as the reader wonders if their paths will cross and if/when Cyril and his mother will realize the root of their connection. Although the book navigates several instances of violence, sexual assault, prejudice, and loss, the scenes are brief and the overall tone is unfailingly optimistic. Cyril has a witty, dry sense of humor and I found a wide grin breaking out across my face numerous times. If you like sweeping family dramas or books that trace a character’s life across several decades, do not pass this one up!

The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers (2021; 816 pages) // This book is a masterpiece! In the tradition of Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi, this novel traces the origins of a family from enslavement through present day. At roughly 800 pages, this book is a commitment, though one you will not regret. It is powerful, absorbing, and intellectual. This is a book that is best read savored slowly, rather than sped through — in order to keep the dozens of characters straight and fully reflect on the questions and themes (generational trauma, addiction, history, humanities, home, family) that bubble up. If you are a fan of epic novels than span multiple generations (such as Pachinko or Homegoing), you must pick up this book.

The Covenant of Water by Abraham Vergese (2023; 716 pages) // This is a sweeping story that I did not want to put down! The book follows generations of a family who are afflicted by a strange tragedy: at least one person in each generation drowns. I loved seeing how the choices of one generation ripple out and impact the next generation. There are also beautiful stories of medicine, redemption, love, and hope. So so good!

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver (2022; 560 pages) // Demon Copperhead is a modern retelling of Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield, set in poor, rural Appalachia. I’m not keen on the classics so any references to the original work definitely went over my head. And yet I loved this book so much! I love a voicey narrator, and Damon (“Demon”) might be my favorite yet. Damon has a comically candid voice with some of the most vivid yet deadpan descriptions I’ve ever come across. Many parts of this book are very difficult to read. Addiction, trauma, and child endangerment run rampant. This book left me gutted but as one of the most beautiful stories of resilience, it also left me hopeful.

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros (2023; 528 pages) // I came of age at the height of the Harry Potter book releases, but aside from that and The Hunger Games I haven’t really dabbled in fantasy since. Staying up late reading Fourth Wing reminded me of the feeling of getting lost in a good book as a kid. (Although this book was quite a bit spicier than what I read growing up!) I really enjoyed this one, and am on the library waitlist for the sequel! 

Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr (2021; 640 pages) // By weaving together parallel storylines of characters across medieval Constantinople, present-day Idaho, and a spacecraft in the future, author Anthony Doerr beautifully blurs the lines between historical fiction, scifi, and contemporary fiction, with a subtle nod to fantasy throughout. In the Author’s Note, Doerr writes that this work is “intended as a paean to books,” and his appreciation for literature and the power of storytelling shines through. As the characters each encounter the fantastical story of Cloud Cuckoo Land across time, the story’s impact on their lives, and the characters’ impact on each other’s lives, comes into focus. This is a most unusual, creative, wonderful book — one that captivated me and stayed with me on a much deeper level than Doer’s Pulitzer Prize winning work, All the Light We Cannot See. From a practical standpoint, do not be put off by then lengthy page count. Most chapters are only a couple of pages long, meaning that a significant portion of the book consists of blank back-sides of pages before a new chapter starts. In other words, the book reads quicker than one might expect, even given the complexity of the story.

Fellowship Point by Alice Elliott Dark (2022; 592 pages) // This is all around a really lovely book that encompasses so many of my favorite things in literature: strong friendships; smart, ambitious women; multi-decade timelines; an appreciation for nature; and hints of suspense. The protagonist, Agnes Lee, is an elderly woman with a Jo March level of gumption and self assuredness that I absolutely adored.

The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles (2021; 592 pages) // The Lincoln Highway is the ultimate adventure story! This page-turning book follows two brothers who set out on a cross-country road trip over the span of one week. I really loved the characters (especially the precocious little brother) and the larger-than-life feel about the book. As someone who really enjoyed Amor Towles’ previous book, A Gentleman in Moscow, I can honestly say I like this one even better – it’s just so much fun! Highly recommend!

This month I’m hoping to read Iron Flame, the Fourth Wing Sequel. I’d also love to get my hands on Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead or The Whalebone Theatre by Joanna Quinn, in addition to exploring a few new-to-me titles by Black authors. Black Candle Women by Diane Marie Brown looks fun and twisty, and after really enjoying The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride, I’d love to pick up his 2020 backlist title, Deacon King Kong.