Winter is in full swing here in Donegal and this means cold stormy days and long dark nights. In other words, it’s the perfect time to curl up in front of a fire with a good book.
Here are some of the books I’ll be reading when it’s cold and grey outside:

1. Jane Eyre – Charlotte Brontё

Even though I have a soft spot for classics, I was a bit apprehensive about Jane Eyre, but since it’s part of the required reading for my master’s degree, I had no choice but to dive right in. So far, so good! The book is dark and moody, much like our Irish winter, but I’m enjoying the witty humour that shines through.

2. Norwegian Wood – Haruki Murakami

I love the dream-like world that Murakami captures, where the absurd and strange are commonplace. I always feel like I’m only half awake when reading his books, in the best way possible! Norwegian Wood is a seductive story exploring themes of love and loss with intriguing characters and stunning imagery.

3. milk and honey – Rupi Kaur

For my poetry fix, I’ll be re-reading milk and honey. When my copy arrived in the post, I could barely contain my excitement and I immediately consumed the book front to back. Now I’m enjoying dipping in at random, pondering and re-reading sections. Rupi invites you to take a frank look at hurting, loving, breaking and healing. Despite the title, expect to find very little sugar coating.

4. Wheel of Time: Lord of Chaos – Robert Jordan

When I get absorbed in a fantasy series, late night reading, at the cost of all other things, can quickly become a way of life. So, instead of becoming a hermit and reading all the books of this mega 15 book series one after the other, I’ve been pacing myself. I’ve only read five WOT books this year, including the prequel, but I think I’ll take a break from my academic reading over Christmas and indulge in some fantasy binge reading.

5. Creativity takes courage – Irene Smit & Astrid van der Hulst

I love Flow magazine! As soon as I’ve finished my leisurely perusal of the most recent copy, I’m ready for the next edition. I recently decided to treat myself to this little gem of inspiration by Astrid and Irene. To stimulate the creative juices, and to overcome a creative block or two, I will be spending some quality time with this book over the next few months.

6. This is Marketing – Seth Godin (On my wish list)

I regularly listen to Seth Godin’s podcast, Akimbo, as a source of inspiration and for new ideas on marketing, creativity, and business. His latest book, This is marketing, is on my wishlist for Christmas. Hint hint.

If you’re looking for me in the next couple of months, you know where to find me. In front of the fire, with a cat on my lap, reading the cold evenings away.

Let me know what books I should add to my winter reading list? I love updating my ever expanding wild library!

Curious what winters in Donegal are all about? Have a look at the post Winter memories, where I recall all the beautiful and magical moments of winter.

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