Non-fiction, memoirs, novels to make you cry, books perfect for winter—a range of beautifully written books discovered in the past year I think everyone should check out in the following year!
Winter in Sokho by Elisa Shua Dusapin
Having discovered this in the harder-to-get through colder months, I would classify it as the best possible winter read. Following the journey of a young woman in South Korea and her romance with a visitor passing through, it’s a quiet read while still being deeply moving, beautifully atmospheric and making you feel all the cosier for its descriptions of heavy snow and freezing wintry days.
The Swimmers by Julie Otsuka
One of the strangest and most moving novels I’ve ever read, The Swimmers follows a group of people obsessed with a crack at the bottom of their community pool and how it represents a wider link to grief, memory and old age. Through the narrator and her mother’s deterioration into dementia, it offers a beautiful meditation on mother-daughter relationships—relatable to most in some way and perfect for those who enjoy heart-wrenching fiction.
Elvis and Me by Priscilla Presley
I discovered this one following the release of Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla earlier this year, and I think it highlights the importance and appeal of reading memoirs, especially for understanding our understanding of cultural icons. Elvis and Me delves, with brutal honesty, into the complexities of Priscilla and Elvis’s relationship, their shared connection to fame, and Priscilla’s journey through romance to ultimately finding her independence.
Bluets by Maggie Nelson
A unique take on non-fiction, Maggie Nelson’s Bluets consists of a series of musings on the colour blue—from Joni Mitchell’s album to the lyrics of Leonard Cohen to famous painters to cultural use of blue to show sadness and heartbreak. Almost verging on poetry, the general musing on love and life through the lens of the colour blue blends culture for music, art and movie lovers alike—it’s a beautiful read and a little different from most non-fiction novels.
Because They Wanted To: Stories by Mary Gaitskill
For those who tend to favour books broken into smaller parts, Mary Gaitskill’s Because They Wanted To consists of short, mostly slice-of-life stories focusing on difficult and strained relationships; a disappointed father, an unsatisfied lover, an exchange between two people on a plane. The stories are sharp, honest, often vulgar, sometimes witty but are most importantly an insight into the human side of messy and complicated relationships.
So Sad Today by Melissa Broder
In a similar vein, Melissa Broder’s first book is a collection of complex and deeply personal essays, exploring her life as a young woman. Through reflections on her relationships, addiction, sex, death, and mental illness, Broder ties them into a broader commentary on womanhood. This creates a narrative of hope and advice amidst the difficulties of navigating life as a young woman.
Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
I discovered Claire Keegan’s novel following the release of its movie adaption in cinemas and have found it to be delightfully simple and moving—a short, bite-sized read covering the Christmas of a family living in a small Irish town. Beautiful descriptions of winter and explorations of the happiness found in everyday mundanities in a small town community, it’s the perfect way to round off the year.
Photo by Jess Bailey on Unsplash