Summer is often a time associated with reading, with beach reads released and memories of summer reading lists when I was in school. But I’d argue that winter is the best time to cozy up with a good book. 

When the air gets cold and snow traps us in our homes, winter is a time of staying warm and sharing stories with friends and family. 

That’s why giving books as gifts in the winter is a beautiful tradition: it’s a way to share stories with loved ones and stay warm on a cold winter night.  

Many cultures exchange books in the winter, around Christmastime. Iceland is known for releasing new books in the months before Christmas, and Icelanders exchange books as gifts and spend Christmas Eve reading them.

For some Indigenous communities, winter is a season of traditional storytelling, as reporter Chandra Colvin tells us.  

I recently hosted a Winter Solstice party, and people brought books they enjoyed to exchange for new ones. I gifted “Wreck” – a sequel to the book “Sandwich” by Catherine Newman.

I love the author’s writing style. It feels similar to my inner thoughts: optimism mixed with a little existential dread. 

The main character, Rocky, is relatable; it feels like I know her. She is a collage of so many of the women in my life and it’s impossible not to care about her meandering thoughts about life.

Others gifted books like “You Are Here,” a book of nature poetry edited by Ada Limón and “There There” by Tommy Orange. 

I received the book “The Orchardist” by Amanda Coplin, a University of Minnesota graduate. It’s a historical fiction novel set in the American West, and I’m so excited to dive into it.  

What books are you excited to dive into this winter? Maybe some larger tomes that didn’t seem as appealing in the warmer months — when the sun beckoned for you to come out and play? 

If you need some ideas, check out our website on Monday for our long-awaited list of our favorite books. My MPR News colleagues curated a list of their favorite books they read this year.

In years’ past, I’ve used the list as a great way to create a to-be-read list for the next year. Enjoy cozying up to a warm story this winter.