Curating a winter TBR list

One of my favorite childhood memories is of my mother eating oranges and reading while sitting out in the sun during winter. She was (and still is, in her 70s) a busy woman with a lot of things to do but in the winter, she would take every opportunity to go up to the terrace and just sit, eat, and read (and occasionally fall into deep slumber). I think this was why I started to associate winters with a slow-paced life.

I always take the time to carefully curate a list of 10 books that I want to read in the winter. I will invariably end up reading other books too but the ones on the list are non-negotiable. This time, I’ve picked some books that I have enjoyed in the past or those that come highly recommended. I also have some books that I have been dying to pick up—books from authors that I have previously enjoyed. As the days get colder, it’s finally that time of the year when weekends are all about basking in the sun with some snacks and a good book to keep you company. With the reading list, I’m all set to make the most of it.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

About two magicians who are pitted against each other and who ultimately fall in love, despite having to risk their careers and lives, ‘The Night Circus’ is a heartwarming story that is just the perfect winter read. Though it’s one of my favorite books of all time, I haven’t reread it in so long that I have forgotten many of the details. My plan is to devote one weekend to this book and I would recommend those who are looking for a great winter read to pick this one up. The story takes a while to build up but I guarantee you won’t be able to put it down.

Someone Else’s Shoes by Jojo Moyes

‘Someone Else’s Shoes’ is Jojo Moyes latest book. I have come across it at various bookstores but I haven’t bought a copy yet, choosing instead to save it for a time when I don’t find anything interesting or when I’m in a reading slump that I desperately want to get out of. I know Moyes won’t let me down. ‘The Giver of Stars’, her book based on the true story of packhorse librarians of Kentucky, is one of the most beautiful books I’ve read in my life. Someone Else’s Shoes is about second chances and how one little thing can change everything. It sounds like a cozy winter read, one that you can breeze through while curled up on the couch with a hot tea by your side.  

Bombay Stories by Sadat Hasan Manto

In every reader’s reading journey, there will inevitably be times when s/he won’t be able to focus on novels. That is when poems or short stories can come to your rescue. Sadat Hasan Manto is known as one of the greatest writers of the 20th century. He wrote mainly in Urdu and produced a wide body of work including but not limited to stories, plays, and essays. He is best known for stories based on the partition of India. ‘Bombay Stories’ is mostly about men and their concubines but the women are portrayed in a fierce way. These are women who hold power over men, women who might be vulnerable but hold their ground, and women who don’t care about what society thinks. It’s a good book to dip in and out of—something that won’t take a lot of your time but will stay in your mind long after you have read it.

Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier

I’m ashamed to admit that I haven’t read Rebecca, which is such a cult classic. A few of my friends have recommended this to me and every time I tell them I haven’t gotten around to it I can see the disappointment in their faces. I read the abridged version when I was in school so I know the plot but my friends swear the vibe is eerie and fills you with a sickeningly sweet sense of dread, which I relish. The Clockwork Reader, a YouTuber I subscribe to, says it’s a fabulous fall read—the vibes are just right, she says—which is why it’s now on my winter TBR list.

Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-reum

If you are in need of a feel-good book, this would be a safe bed. Yeongju gives up a high-flying career, divorces her husband, and starts a bookshop. She meets all kinds of customers and they all have their own problems and disappointments in life. The bookshop is where people come to find some respite from their lives. It’s where they ultimately find themselves. A heartwarming, albeit slightly cliché, story about love and human conditionings, the book offers many nuggets of wisdom that could crack your mind wide open. The chapters are short and disjointed as well. You don’t need to focus to keep a track of the story making it a perfect book for when you want to take naps in between reading.

Waiting by Ha Jin

The book was published in 1999 and it’s based on a true story Ha Jin heard from his wife while visiting her family at a hospital in China. There was once an army doctor who waited 18 years to get a divorce so that he could marry his girlfriend who was a nurse. ‘Waiting’ tells us the story of three people: Lin Kong, the army doctor; his wife Shuyu, whom he has never loved; and the nurse Manna Wu, his girlfriend at the hospital where he works. Kong is a decent guy but he has his flaws so it’s quite easy to identify with him. The book had made me really happy. It’s such a beautifully written story and I’m looking forward to rereading it.

Bunny by Mona Awad

‘Bunny’ is Mona Awad’s second book, published three years after her debut novel ‘13 ways of Looking at a Fat Girl’. It’s about a girl named Samantha who arrives a liberal arts college in New England and meets a group of fake-nice rich girls who make up her writing group. The story takes a somewhat sinister tone right from the start and gives you goosebumps that you can’t explain. I would say it’s a mix of horror, magical realism, and fantasy. You are always questioning what you’ve just read and don’t know what to make of it. I read it in the summer and thought it would have been a perfect under-the-cover or out in the sun read. I’m super excited to reread this as I’m sure it will hit differently in colder months. 

The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi

Seventeen-year-old Laxmi escapes an abusive marriage and makes her way alone to the vibrant 1950s pink city of Jaipur. There she becomes the most highly requested henna artist (and soon the confidante) to the wealthy women of the upper class. Though she is trusted with the secrets of the wealthy, she can never reveal her own as it can have grave consequences but secrets have a way of making themselves known. Her husband soon finds her and he brings a girl with her—she is the sister Laxmi never knew she had. There’s intrigue, drama, and a fair bit of suspense in this wonderfully written book that is the first installment in a trilogy.

Dracula by Bram Stoker

Another book I haven’t read in its unabridged form is Bram Stoker’s ‘Dracula’. And it’s a shame because I love vampire and zombie stories. Dracula tells the story of Count Dracula, a vampire who comes to England from Transylvania to feed on new blood and create a bigger circle of vampires. It’s supposed to be gory, tense, and even downright scary. The story is told through diary entries of a journalist called Jonathan as he tries to figure out who the Count actually is. This, I’ve been told, makes for a riveting read as you are easily able to put yourself in his shoes.

Fury by Alex Michaelides

I really enjoyed ‘The Silent Patient’ by Alex Michaelides. It gave me the creeps like no other thriller had in a while. The plot twist was amazing. I didn’t see it coming. Michaelides has a knack for telling stories that keep you hooked. The Maidens, a dark academia thriller, was as good as his debut novel. I’m really excited about reading Fury which was published earlier this year. I got a copy a while back but I have been saving it for the right occasion. I have a feeling that a balmy winter afternoon will be just right for this book that is sure to keep me on the edge of my seat.