The official start of winter is now less than a month away, and I’m feeling the need for a stack of books to carry me through the upcoming weeks of rain and cold. Of course, I pretty much have a stack of books all year long, but I hope you know what I mean. In my world December and January are all about books and hot tea (in fact, I think that December should be renamed Teacember; if that idea boosts the tea market, well, you’re welcome, tea vendors).
This is also a very hectic time with all of the holidays, family get-togethers, and general wrap-up activities associated with the end of another calendar year. All the more reason to schedule quiet reading time whenever you can. If you have trouble locating a quiet spot at your house, remember that the library often has areas where you can tuck yourself into a comfortable chair and a good book. It’s what we do.
Now, what to read is always a good question. And with so much getting published every month, the choices can be overwhelming. Let me be of some assistance, if I may, over the next several weeks by suggesting a smaller salmagundi of titles. The word salmagundi, by the way, means a mixture or miscellany (also, a salad consisting of chopped-up meat, eggs, veggies, and anchovies, but that’s a different definition for a different column). I learned this “new” word (it’s actually been around for a long, long time) from Kory Stamper’s “Word by Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries,” which is one of the titles I’ve selected for this week’s reading list. I’ve also chosen a devilishly witty picture book; a title about mountain rescue that should make everyone feel grateful for the people who take on this dangerous volunteer work (and grateful for our warm houses and hot cups of tea); the obligatory cat book (but it’s adorable, so please check it out!); and a few other bibliographic gems.
Until next week — happy reading and happy Thanksgiving!
• “Boundless Books: 50 Literary Classics Transformed into Works of Art,” by Postertext: We’ve all heard the phrase “a picture is worth a thousand words.” Now it’s true thanks to this unique book. By transforming text into art, characters and themes reveal themselves in such classics as “Aesop’s Fables,” “Frankenstein,” and “The Wizard of Oz.” If you’ve always meant to read “Beowulf” but never seem to find the time, give the “Boundless Books” version a try. You just might be able to cross that title off your book bucket list.