People often ask me what my favourite book is. To be honest I find that hard to answer because I think it depends on the different times and situations in my life. However, we’re now facing those months of winter when all we want to do is curl up in front of a cosy fire with a hot drink and a good book.

There are so many books out there for every diverse situation in our lives, that sometimes it's pretty difficult to spell out exactly what book will do it all for us. Depending on whether we need fantasy, a little bit of romance to spice up the autumn days, science fiction, or perhaps an insight into how someone else lived their life. Whatever we need, we can find it all sitting on the shelves of our local library or bookshop. Here’s a few recommendations to cosy up with over the winter months.

Memoirs and biographies

Biographies can be inspirational. Reading about the various cruxes or life challenges people face can help us cope a bit better with our own.

The Life of Charlotte Bronte by fellow Victorian writer Elizabeth Gaskell is a superb read. It explores the nature of Charlotte’s genius and recounts incidents in her life from her isolated childhood through her years as a writer, to her marriage at thirty eight years and her sudden death the following year. 

Madame Curie: A Biography written by her daughter Eve Curie is a sympathetic and moving chronicle of Curie’s achievements in science. A Polish immigrant, a wife and mother, this memoir shows us a woman who is truly exceptional in her humanity and professional work.

Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly interweaves the rich history of the Civil Rights era, the Space Race, the Cold War and the Women’s Rights movements together with the intimate stories of five courageous African-American women, whose work changed the world forever - as well as dramatically changing the attitude of people towards coloured women. An excellent film adaptation is also available.

Books to escape with

There will be times when we need a book that offers us a little bit of escape and fantasy.

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupery, which although written from a child’s perspective, can help us deal with our own world in a new, fresh way. One of the main points of this charming novella is the secret which the fox tells the little prince - ‘that it is only with the heart we can see rightly. What is essential is invisible to the eye.’ This novella reminds us to be open to the small delights that hide away in our day.

Another delightful read is The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. The story goes that one evening Lewis was sailing from the Mourne Mountains down to Carlingford Lough when he caught a glimpse of a cloud in the sky. He immediately saw a giant coming out of the cloud which inspired the setting of the book. This region now has a beautiful walk called The Narnia Way.

Audiobooks to listen along

Audiobooks are an excellent way to develop a reading habit and are easy to access through apps such as Audible or Chirp. 

The entire Jane Austen Collection is on Audible - a handy way to read Austen or any other classic while travelling, walking to work, or pottering around the house.

Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh, read by actor Jeremy Irons in his rich mesmeric voice, is a wonderful book filled with compelling characters, evocative descriptions, and a truly intricate and gripping plot.

Books are a stimulating entry into another world and we always learn something new from reading that we can incorporate into our own life. The total immersion in another completely different world can provide impetus and fuel for us to re-engage with our own world, in a more dynamic way. A perfect way to spend our winter nights!