welcoming winter ~ a recommended reading list

December 10, 2009

Last weekend it was a light skiff. Then yesterday it was a big dump of the white stuff; and so although winter's official arrival date is over a week away I consider old man winter to have arrived with this snow.

Welcome winter camping, snow forts, snowshoeing and mad river rocketing. Say hello to 4 months (if we're lucky) of shoveling, salting, scraping and roof top snow removal. We'll take the good with the bad.

Yesterday morning was our usual library run and we braved the weather because a new stack of books on a snowy day is simply delightful. I treasure that post-libary visit hush that descends on our house after each trip. Such quiet in the middle of the day is very rare.

In anticipation of a snowfall like this I was holding onto (and renewing when it came due) Snowy Day: Stories and Poems, a collection I'd picked up weeks earlier from the library. A book I intended to read to the kiddos on our first big snowfall day. We skipped the stories because the kids had picked out other story books they'd wanted me to read but we enjoyed the poems. Cuddling and reading on snowy days is such a pleasure.

We've read many Christmas & other holiday stories and winter books over the years. Almost 2 years ago I started compiling them on my Goodreads page. I am always on the lookout for booklists and seasonal reading recommendations.

Click here to see my Christmas Bookshelf, and here for my Winter books.

Last December I wrote a post with short reviews of some stories for Christmas and the winter holidays.
I did the same in January for good winter reads. After that my seasonal reading posts fizzled out.
Creative Kismet just posted a holiday reading list. I can't vouch for all the books but there looks to be some good titles to check out.

I would love to hear your great holiday season & winter reading recommendations, adult novels and non-fiction included.

renee on Dec. 10, 2009, 9:16 p.m.

If you're coming here from Google reader so sorry the post looks so nasty. Who knew the code would do that??

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John on Dec. 10, 2009, 10:55 p.m.

Couple of things: 1) I'm too lazy to be a stalker (and I live in Texas which makes it nearly impossible to stalk someone in Maine) :), 2) the book you mentioned in your blog isn't even on your wish list, and 3) even if it were on the list you have no address for them to ship it to you. And if the thought of some random guy buying you a book you want is freaking you out a little, I don't have to do it. I just thought it would be a nice thing to do.

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- renee on Dec. 10, 2009, 11:15 p.m.
  oops. Did I come across wrong? Sometimes I mean to be funny or teasing but maybe I just ungrateful or rude. Did it sound like a I was mocking you? I wasn't. I'm pleased but I was just trying to sound funny, seems I failed : ( And I added that extra about having not asked people to support us because I don't want a blog that is about people buying stuff. Click here to buy this thing that then gives money back to us. That's not my scene.
  
  A couple questions since I'm totally new to this: -what book isn't on our list?? A book from this post or from some other one? Damien bought me a photography book for my birthday that I mentioned on another post so that one is gone from the wish list. The books from this post I'm not interesting in owning, I've already read them.
  
  if someone purchases a wish list item for someone from amazon doesn't amazon have that address and know where to ship it?? This address is blocked from the anon. gift giver right?
  
  all this talk about hiding my address is ridiculous anyway. Anyone could google our name and maine and probably find out what kind of toilet paper we use, never mind where we live. Actually I think I blogged about our TP once.
  
  Forgive me for being so block headed. It appears you're trying to do something nice and I'm just making it so darn difficult. (sheepishly) sorry.
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Denise on Dec. 11, 2009, 2:17 a.m.

I've never been into advertising on my blog either. The thought doesn't even cross my mind - especially the adds that just pop out at you. anyhow. I like that Goodreads page. I am purposely not commenting on the above comments. I'm staying out of it : )

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regina on Dec. 11, 2009, 2:44 a.m.

Great book list. I've added you as a friend on goodreads.

I can't believe all of that snow!!! WOW. It's been well over 10 years since I've seen more than 2 inches.

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- renee on Dec. 11, 2009, 2:46 a.m.
  
  Welcome to Maine!
  
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nicola@which name? on Dec. 11, 2009, 4:01 a.m.

fabulous lists, thank you so much for sharing! i also wasn't aware of goodreads. i have never listed my current reads in the way others do, because it seemed amazon was the way to do it. i had to laugh at myself when reading your "never asked you to support this blog....amazon..." because what am i including in my post for tomorrow but a link to amazon because my calendars done through lulu were picked up by them. oh well, i am still figuring out which direction i am taking my blog, but i am liking where i am at and would love to add a little income-based-on-craft to our family income. babbling... off to check out some of your suggestions! nicola http://whichname.blogspot.com

nicola@which name?'s last blog post... beet juice and other natural dyes

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- renee on Dec. 11, 2009, 12:38 p.m.
  
  Guess I wasn't clear, I seem to be messing that up a lot in this post. What I meant to say is that I'm not asking people to support FIMBY through advertising related income. Clicking sidebar button links or buying a book I recommend and then I get money back from that. If I could I would sell my soap or other craft via my blog or some other venue, it's just not possible right now.
  
  You go girl. Sell your craft and tell us all about!
  
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  - nicola@which name? on Dec. 11, 2009, 4:07 p.m.
    
    oh, you could and maybe should. i would buy soap! see, i didn't even know you could have people link through book links to earn money! nicola http://whichname.blogspot.com
    
    nicola@which name?'s last blog post... works (of all sorts) in progress and completed
    
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Jody on Dec. 11, 2009, 2:08 p.m.

OKay.....So, I'M the "blind" one here.... WHERE is the link to the Amazon wish list? I've skimmed the side bar several times.... Nothing says Amazon....nothing says wish list.... Yet, it appears others found it...????

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- renee on Dec. 11, 2009, 2:42 p.m.
  
  Go to theFIMBY home page, scroll down the page and you should see a link on the far right.
  
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5orangepotatoes on Dec. 11, 2009, 2:25 p.m.

The one thing I dislike about blogging is the fact that things can be taken so out of context. I love you and stalk your site daily ;)

BTW, I have yetis on the mind lately and your little one climbing the large snow hill there....thought you had posted a yeti picture at first! HA!

Have a wonderful snowy weekend for us. We don't have a single flake. ;(

5orangepotatoes's last blog post... whitman the bookworm

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- nicola@which name? on Dec. 11, 2009, 4:11 p.m.
  
  i agree, but i have found almost everyone in the circle i travel to be kind and supportive. no-one batted an eyelash or said "ummmm, the crayon caddy you made was inspired by someone SELLING them." everyone is too nice! i found that out and was so embarrassed! pulled them out of my etsy shop right away. as for my own response to renee, i wasn't meaning to sound offended. renee is right, she doesn't, but she could and maybe she should. i had just posted a link from my blog, so her post made me laugh at myself! nicola http://whichname.blogspot.com
  
  nicola@which name?'s last blog post... works (of all sorts) in progress and completed
  
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