One of the good things about spending more time indoors during the winter months is having more opportunities to spend an evening with a compelling book. If you are stuck on what to read this winter, we have put together a collection of ten riveting page-turners!
1. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Get a cup of coffee and embark on an adventure with Huck, a rebellious boy, and Jim, a runaway slave. Join their thrilling escapade along the Mississippi river, where they outwit conmen, dodge danger, and challenge the unfair rules of society.
This great American novel explores a whole host of themes which are still controversial to this day, whilst taking you on a journey alongside two of fiction’s greatest characters. So, voyage with Huck and Jim and learn some life lessons along the way – and remember: “If you tell the truth, you do not need a good memory!”
2. Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne
Ever wanted to travel around the world, but just do not have the time? Join Phileas Fogg and his loyal valet Passepartout as they embark on an ambitious journey to circumnavigate the globe in just eighty days!
You will be engrossed in this novel, as Fogg and Passepartout face obstacles, navigate across diverse cultures, and build and burn bridges around the globe in this whirlwind race against time.
3. Barnaby Rudge by Charles Dickens
If you enjoy historical novels, Barnaby Rudge – set during the tumultuous Gordon Riots of 1780 — is the perfect read for your winter season.
An innocent Barnaby is swept up in violent disorder, unsolved murders and dangerous, forbidden romances. You’re guaranteed to be in suspense as he paves his way through the chaos of eighteenth-century London in Dickens’ gripping tale of treachery and heroism.
4. Black Beauty by Anna Sewell
If you are looking for an emotionally sensitive and thought-provoking read, try this work of Victorian animal welfare literature. In Sewell’s socially conscious tale, the horse Black Beauty is the narrator, taking the reader from his carefree days as a foal to the harsh labour he was forced into under various owners, some crueller than others.
Through Black Beauty’s eyes, Anna Sewell explores themes of animal welfare, kindness, and the impact of human behaviour on animals.
5. Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift
Ever dreamt of exploring fantastical lands? In Gulliver’s Travels, Jonathan Swift takes you on an exhilarating journey to lands of Lilliputians, giants, flying islands, and talking horses. From ridiculous rulers to topsy-turvy customs, it is a wild ride!
Each adventure is a satirical look at human nature and society. Are you ready to embark on this whimsical voyage with Gulliver?
6. The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe
Imagine being trapped in a mysterious, eerie castle filled with dark secrets, spine-chilling mysteries, and supernatural occurrences! In this seminal work of Gothic literature, the young Emily St. Auber faces ghoulish threats as she is imprisoned in the sinister Castle Udolpho.
Would you dare explore the castle’s darkest corridors and unravel the mysteries of Udolpho with Emily?
7. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
Step into the glittering world of 1870s New York! This is a captivating tale of love, societal expectations, and hidden desires.
The Age of Innocence follows Newland Archer, a young man torn between duty towards his fiancée and passion for the free-spirited Countess Olenska.
Will he choose his passion or conformity? Would he sacrifice his love for the rules of society? Settle in for this dazzling and heart-wrenching tale from the Gilded Age.
8. Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray
Are you ready for a whirlwind of ambition and intrigue? Follow the cunning Becky Sharp and the sweet Amelia Sedley as they navigate love, ambition, and betrayal in the complex social milieu of 19th century England.
Thackeray’s satirical masterpiece incisively explores the moral deceit of Victorian society. Brimming with wit and drama, this book is a perfect read for your winter reading list!
9. The Romance in the Forest by Ann Radcliffe
Do you enjoy the nights getting longer and the evenings getting darker? This is the perfect atmosphere for uncovering dark secrets in a haunted abbey! Pick up this thrilling tale of mystery and adventure and follow Adeline, an archetypical Gothic heroine, as she discovers a secret in a remote forest while fleeing danger.
Ann Radcliffe packs this tale with suspense, mysteries, hidden dangers, and Gothic intrigue. Are you ready to unravel eerie secrets with Adeline?
10. A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle
Here’s where it all began! The grand debut of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson.
Together, the famous duo dive into the puzzling murder mystery of two Americans whose deaths have some mysterious connection to sinister groups gathering power in both Britain and America.
What starts with a baffling crime scene leads to revenge, romance, and a twisted tale across continents, marking their first iconic adventure together!
Featured image by Simon Berger via Unsplash.
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