If you are an Australian like me you probably aren’t looking to curl up next to a roaring fire with a good book and a blanket this Christmas. Luckily for us there’s many sunny-weather ways to get cosy with the classics; from slathering yourself in sunscreen and lying out on the deck with a copy of ‘Saving Francesca’ in the morning to cuddling up with your own little Snugglepot and Cuddlepie at night. Here’s a list of five cosy classics for you to enjoy during this holiday season.
Dog Songs
Mary Oliver
If you need a quiet moment between festivities and large meals, this book is a wonderful way to step inside someone else’s head for a few moments. Oliver’s verses meditate on simple joys and personal connections, and her love for life radiates through the page. Gratitude, love, and togetherness are all strong themes, so it’s also a wonderful way to think about how much you love your family while you all take a bit of a breather from talking to each other.
Christmas Days
Jeanette Winterson
At times hilarious, at others heartbreaking, ‘Christmas Days’ is a collection of short stories that captures the spirit of holidays: often chaotic, sometimes combative, and always full of love. The variety of genres means that any of your friends and relatives who pick this book up off the coffee table will find at least one story that interests them, and the unique and energetic writing will likely inspire some fun conversations over lunch.
White Teeth
Zadie Smith
If you’re not up for some heavy themes in your holiday reading, you might want to give this book a pass until January. While it contains potentially triggering topics like suicide and racial and class divides, White Teeth is a deeply compelling story that interrogates traditions and family pressures while embracing the love and connection that tie friends and families together. Smith skillfully entwines humour with tragedy and elevates the sordid and difficult-to-read plot details into a clever reflection of everyday life, creating a read that somehow manages to be both enjoyable and devastating.
The Summer I Turned Pretty
Jenny Han
If you love Young Adult fiction and want some lighthearted reading, give this book a gander. Centred around a girl who views her life between summers as a stasis period, The Summer I Turned Pretty captures both the magic of holidays for the young and the growing pains that occur as you move towards adulthood. Belly’s relationship with her mother and her friends shines strong throughout the book, creating a loving and realistic backdrop to her teenage turmoil. A perfect afternoon read while you digest that huge Christmas lunch.
Merry Christmas, and Happy Reading!