It’s that time of year again, the days are getting shorter, the nights are getting colder, and many of us are preparing to hunker down for a long, tedious winter season. But what if instead of kicking and screaming our way into winter, we joyfully tuck ourselves in for a deliciously slow and cozy few months? Rather than dreading the dark half of the year, perhaps we can welcome this time to rest, restore, and recalibrate.
Most of us can relate to the following scenario. You come home after a long day of work and sigh in frustration at the darkened sky. It was barely light outside when you left for work and now you’re coming home in the dark. Where did the day go? The temptation to crawl into bed is so palpable that you can practically feel your head melting into the pillow. But before you succumb to the siren’s call of your bed, pause, and take a moment to imagine all the ways you might sprinkle some cozy pleasure into your waking hours.
Instead of shaking your fist at the inky sky, try coming home and taking a moment to bask in the warmth of your house. Bring a satisfying glow to your space by lighting a few (or many!) candles. There’s no need to remain in those constricting work clothes, you already know that you’re staying in for the evening. Slip into your favorite comfy clothes; soft flannels, buttery cashmeres, and cozy fleece robes are perfect for the chilly nights ahead. You start to feel your heart rate slow and the frenzy of your mind quiet. You head over to the stove and pop the kettle on; there’s nothing like wrapping your hands around a steaming cup of tea to warm you from the inside out. Do you have a fireplace or woodstove? If so, fire that baby up! Your favorite furry friend doesn’t miss a beat; within moments they’re curled up next to you in front of the soft glow of the fire. You grab a snuggly blanket and sink into your favorite chair. Cozy clothes, warm beverage, beloved pet, crackling fire… Is there anything that could possibly make this moment better? Yes, yes, there is, and Russell Library is here to help.
One of the best antidotes to cold, dark nights is a cozy fiction book to bring warmth to your heart and comfort to your soul. Thankfully, our library is chock-full of them! Looking for fantasy? We’ve got you covered. Cozy mysteries, steamy romance? Check and check. Perhaps, you’d simply like to read a book with charming characters in a quaint setting; books that restore your faith in humanity and remind you that most people are genuinely good. Well, we’ve got those, too.
Don’t let the cold weather or the short days get you down this winter. Let this slower time be a gift to yourself. Reconnect with the simple pleasure of a delightful book and a hot cuppa. In a time of immediate gratification and 15-second news clips, remember the beauty of slowing down and savoring the quiet moments of life. There’s no need to rush at the library. Peruse our shelves for as long as you wish, then take your treasures home to savor in your favorite cozy nook. Here are a few recommendations below to get you started. Happy (cozy) reading!
Book Recommendations
Legends and Lattes (Legends & Lattes #1) by Travis Baldree
The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries (Emily Wilde #1) by Heather Fawcett
The Story Collector by Evie Gaughan
The Pumpkin Spice Cafe (Dream Harbor #1) by Laurie Gilmore
The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore (Dream Harbor #2) by Laurie Gilmore
The Kamogawa Food Detectives (Kamogawa Food Detectives #1) by Hisashi Kashiwai
Before the Coffee Gets Cold (Before the Coffee Gets Cold #1) by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher
The House in the Cerulean Sea (Cerulean Chronicles #1) by T.J. Klune
The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency (No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency #1) by Alexander McCall Smith
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers (Vera Wong #1) by Jesse Q. Sutanto
Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea (Tomes & Tea Cozy Fantasies #1) by Rebecca Thorne
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