It’s that time of year. The clocks have gone back, the nights are getting darker, and Leeds is getting colder. What better way to find respite from all of this than by getting warm and cosy with a good book and a warm drink? Carina Bryan has some suggestions for the book. We’ll leave the choice of drink up to you.

 

Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy

Far from the Madding Crowd is my favourite piece of classic literature- the love story between Bathsheba and Gabriel is instantly heart-warming. The book is set in the fictional region of Wessex in rural south West England which creates an idyllic, rustic setting that will make you feel cosy. Hardy’s prose is elegant and the steadfast nature of Bathsheba, the main character, creates an empowering narrative.

 

Two Cures for Love: Selected Poems 1979-2006 by Wendy Cope

This cosy read is slightly different to the others suggested as it is a collection of poetry. Wendy Cope is my favourite poet due to the witty and humorous tone to her poems which is instantly relatable. Poems that will make you feel particularly warm in this collection are: ‘After the Lunch’, ‘The Christmas Life’, ‘Timekeeping’, ‘Valentine’ and ‘Haiku’. Cope’s writing is easily accessible and appeals even to those that feel that they don’t ‘understand’ or get much out of reading poetry. This collection of poetry is also a good option for leisure reading when you have you have lots of work on as it is easy to dip in and out of.

 

 

One Day by David Nicholls

This book is a brilliant read for when the seasons start to change, it starts to get colder and all you want to do is stay in and read with a cup of tea. One Day is a great combination easy-reading and witty dialogue which makes it a lovely book t0 submerge yourself in during these cold months. The style of the novel propels you forward as you encounter the characters on the same day each year and you begin to see how their lives unfold in the snapshot of a day.  The love story between Emma and Dexter is honest, genuine and heart-warming.

 

Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton

Dolly’s memoir of navigating love, friendships and life in your twenties is one of the best books I have read in a long time. Tales of Dolly’s drunken antics, embarrassing conquests for love and heart-wrenching tragedy all work together to produce a compelling account of growing up. I read this book in only a few days as it invites you into Dolly’s world and makes you feel as though you have lived and experienced it too. I particularly enjoyed the recurring section throughout the memoir that begins with ‘Everything I Knew About Love as A Teenager’ and ends with ‘Everything I Know About Love at Twenty-Eight.’

 

Carina Bryan

 

Images: penguinrandomhouse, Allen and Unwin, Amazon