A few days from now, groundhogs across North America will cheerfully emerge to let us humans know how many more weeks of winter we can expect.
Actually, considering what this winter has been like so far, the groundhogs will probably just jump out, do this, and head right back to their cozy ground holes. That’s definitely how I’ve felt more than a few days this winter.
In previous posts, I’ve already suggested various ways to enjoy winter, and even how to deny its very existence. So today, I’ll assume that your strategy is hibernation, and recommend the following books to keep you company while you’re safely wrapped up in bed:
- In A Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson. Because it’s hilarious, fascinating, and it’s about Australia, which is probably hotter than wherever you are right now.
- Never Saw It Coming by Linwood Barclay. Because he writes awesome thrillers, and this one opens with someone dying when their car falls through the ice on a lake. So no matter how bad this winter has been for you, it probably hasn’t been that bad.
- Frost in May by Antonia White. Because it’s a crazy (and only semi-fictional) look into a young girl’s life at a school run by nuns. And we should probably accept the fact that we might actually have to deal with frost this May.
- Bossypants by Tina Fey. Because laughter helps keep you warm.
- Tintin In Tibet by Herge. Because it’s the best winter-themed book of all time.
And of course, no matter what you choose to read, Carl Bray’s “Deep Cold” can be your soundtrack.
What makes this a beautiful song:
1. The drippy opening chords remind me of melting ice.
2. The right-hand craziness at 3 minutes reminds me of rolling down a snowy hill.
3. The way the bassist starts bowing instead of plucking at 4:04 reminds me of letting out a nice big yawn from the warm safety of a heavy duvet cover.
Recommended listening activity:
Making an elaborate book-holding device out of pillows so that you can keep your arms under the covers.