Winter is a great time to pick up a new novel alongside a cup of hot chocolate to pass the time productively, instead of wasting time on devices. So whether you enjoy a nail-biting dystopia or an interesting historical fiction novel, I hope you consider at least one of the following books for your next read.
“Life As We Knew It” – Susan Beth Pfeffer
Rating: 3.5/5
This dystopian read envisions life after the moon’s orbit is knocked closer to the Earth by an asteroid. Life ruptures for humanity as necessities become scarce, natural disasters take the lives of millions and desperation lingers constantly. In a series of diary entries written by a teen named Miranda, “Life As We Knew It” explores the importance of family and hope in dark times, as well as the risks people would take just to survive another moment.
This novel is great for anyone who enjoys reading survival stories set in modern times. I enjoyed the premise of this novel and found myself wondering how I would muster the strength to survive in such an eerie situation. At times, the book did feel a bit slow but I found that the constant tension of seeing if life would ever return to “normal” for the characters somewhat made up for it. This novel is also one within a series, with the next novel, “The Dead and the Gone”, exploring the same apocalyptic premise with a different cast of characters. I don’t think I’ll be continuing the series, but I do think this would be a good standalone read for fans of dystopia.
“The Nightingale” – Kristin Hannah
Rating: 5/5
Set in World War II France, this novel follows the life of two sisters, Isabelle and Vianne Rosignol, as they experience life in the midst of war. Courageous and outspoken, Isabelle sets her sights on fighting with the Resistance and making a change within war-struck France. Conversely, Vianne hopes to quietly endure the war in her German occupied home until her husband returns from serving in the military. Told in an interlaced narrative of the two characters’ experiences, this novel explores some of the struggles that women endured during World War II, as well the risks they took to keep their loved ones safe.
This novel is one of the best historical fiction books I’ve ever read – and I’ve always been impartial to Ruta Sepetys’s novels. It was well written, with an impressive, descriptive writing style in addition to an interesting cast of characters. This novel also offered a fresh perspective on the war within France, and its specific impacts on women. I would highly recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys reading about World War II, or who may be in a reading slump. If you enjoy “The Nightingale”, another great World War II novel set in France is “All the Light We Cannot See” by Anthony Doerr.
“Frozen Fire” – Tim Bowler
Rating: 4/5
A psychological thriller, “Frozen Fire” starts out as teenager Dusty receives a call from a boy attempting suicide and wishing for some words of comfort in his final moments. The story unfolds after she finds that this boy somehow has knowledge of personal details about her, linking him to the mysterious disappearance of her brother. Dusty is pulled into a dangerous world as she attempts to track down this boy despite the various rumours about him.
This book is a quick paced read that kept me constantly wondering what was going to happen next. Though it seemed to have a simple plot at first, Bowler does a phenomenal job of crafting an intriguing supernatural tale full of twists and turns. I admit that I found the ending a bit unsatisfying, yet I enjoyed this novel for its exploration of family and unresolved grief. Bowler has also written the acclaimed novel “River Boy” that I’ll be reading soon.
