One of my favorite things to do when it’s cold and snowy out is to curl up on my couch or in bed with a book. I’ve always loved reading, but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve noticed that it’s become more and more difficult for me to find books that I truly enjoy reading. I’ve also begun to notice that my taste in books runs toward the macabre. The darker and more dystopian, the better. I’m not entirely sure why that is – I suppose because those sorts of books tend to make me think and are so far removed from my version of reality that I find them fascinating (not to mention they make me grateful for my own happy, peaceful life.)
Obviously, dark and macabre isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, and if you fall into that camp, not to worry – I’ve also included a couple of my current favorite non-fiction and happier fiction novels in the list below. (After all, I like a happy read now and then just as much as the next person.) But even if you do fall among the happy readers of the world, I would highly recommend the darker titles below – all three are well-written and have story lines that will keep you thinking about them for days after you finish reading.
Dark and Twisty:
The Orphan Master’s Son, by Adam Johnson
This novel is not only a page-turner, but is also timely, considering the current state of world affairs. It follows the life of a man raised as an orphan in North Korea, and chronicles the measures he is forced to take to survive. The author was able to visit North Korea several times over the course of writing the book, and his account of life there is enthralling. I couldn’t put this one down.
The Death of Bees, by Lisa O’Donnell
The story of two sisters born into poverty in Glasgow, Scotland. They find themselves orphaned, and must figure out how to survive using their own tenacity and resourcefulness. There are definitely some darker themes in this book (think domestic violence and teenage drug use), but the overall message is one of survival and the surmounting of seemingly insurmountable odds. A heavy novel with a positive twist. 
The Dinner, by Herman Koch
Probably the darkest of the three. This book left me feeling the most unsettled of any book in quite a while. But I recommend it because of how well-written it is (I love a good ‘unreliable narrator’ story), and because it’s guaranteed to make you think. The story is essentially about how far parents will go to protect their children, which sounds trite and boring, I know, but just trust me when I say it’s anything but.
Non-fiction:
Quiet, by Susan Cain
This book caught my eye primarily because of its tagline: “The power of introverts in a world that can’t stop talking.” Even though I’m classified as an extrovert by every Meyers-Briggs test I’ve ever taken (ENFJ, in case you were wondering), I also identify with a lot of the classic introvert traits. I really value my time alone to collect my thoughts and recharge, and I have a distinct tendency to think more than I say. I really appreciated this book for its focus on the ideas that being quiet does not necessarily equate with being shy (and even if you are shy, that’s nothing to be ashamed of), and that there is value in enjoying your own company. Whether you’re more of an extrovert or an introvert, this book gives a great perspective on the value of both introversion and extroversion in society today.
Hardwiring Happiness, by Rick Hanson, Ph.D.
I included this one on the list of winter reads because, let’s face it, winter can be a bit of a gloomy time. I’ve always been fascinated by the brain and its inner workings (I considered becoming a neuroscience major at one point in college, actually), and this book does a great job of explaining not only where negative patterns of thought come from (there’s a biological root), but also how we can use that knowledge to put aside pesky negative thoughts and move forward in a happier, more productive way.
Fun (and Funny) Reading:
At Least in the City Someone Would Hear Me Scream, by Wade Rouse
An oldie but a goodie. I first read this book quite a few years ago, and could not stop laughing. It’s a memoir, and details the adventures (and mishaps) of Wade Rouse, who quits his job as a PR director at a prep school and moves to rural Michigan to pursue his dream of being a writer. Suffice it to say, life in the wilderness is definitely not his forte right off 
the bat, and his self-deprecating, irreverent account of his quest to follow in the footsteps of Thoreau is just the thing to shake off the winter blues. Snuggle up under a blanket with a mug of tea (or glass of wine, whatever) and get ready to laugh.
The Thing About Jane Spring, by Sharon Krum
This is a fun little novel about a woman’s process of self-reinvention. An over-the-top-intense New York District Attorney with a great career but not so hot love life decides to transform herself into the living embodiment of Doris Day to see if she can turn things around romantically. Absolutely nothing serious about this book, but it’s a fun read and I really enjoyed it (particularly as I’m an attorney myself.) Great for a winter weekend of hibernation.
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