I'm linking up with
That Artsy Reader Girl for another Top Ten Tuesday.
This week's theme is cozy reads. I did this topic
four years ago, so I decided to see what I've read in the past four years that could fit this category. I'm not sure exactly how to define "cozy," but these would all be great choices when you just want to curl up with a blanket, a cup of tea, and a book that will leave you a little happier or a little calmer by the end.
1. 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
This is a compilation of two decades of correspondence between Hanff and a bookshop in London. The sense of drama she infuses her book orders with — and her over-the-top reactions to the copies she receives — make this an entertaining read throughout. It's also heartwarming to see how she spent her hard-earned money on gifting the bookstore employees with food they couldn't get during wartime rationing.
2. The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery
Although this book starts out depressing, as the main character is bullied by her family, it quickly turns satisfying and even hilarious after a shocking diagnosis leads Valancy to scandalize everyone whose opinion she previously valued by doing exactly what she wants with whomever she wants. The book then settles into a more peaceful tone, with beautiful descriptions of nature, as Valancy makes a gentle life for herself and appreciates everything the world has to offer.
3. Heartstopper by Alice Oseman
The two schoolboys at the center of this adorable graphic novel series are just the sweetest cinnamon rolls you could imagine. If you want a heartwarming depiction of young love and friendship, look no further than these books.
4. The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune
This is a story of found family among outcasts, a group of children who have been shunned by society at large for their magical abilities but who are all just doing the best they can. It's also the story of a by-the-book government worker finding love and questioning the system in which he works. And it all takes place on a colorful island in a beautiful, sunny location, perfect for escaping from the winter blahs.
5. Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney
As the title suggests, this book is structured around the main character, at 85 years old, taking a walk around her beloved New York City and reflecting on her life. Based on the real-life Margaret Fishback, Lillian Boxfish is a curious, confident, open-hearted woman with a generally delightful outlook on the world. Although she deals with challenges in her life, I think you'll finish this book with a sense of peace and hopefulness.
6. The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis
This is my favorite of the Chronicles of Narnia, and it apparently took Lewis the longest to write, which isn't surprising given the care that seems to have been put into this story. It's charming and whimsical and at times quite poetic, and there's a satisfying sense of justice in the way things shake out for the characters. If you've read
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, it's especially fun to see Lewis' imaginings for the origin of things like the wardrobe and the lamppost.
7. The Mysterious Howling by Maryrose Wood
This whole series, of which this is the first book, is both ridiculous and delightful. A proper English governess must care for three children who were raised by wolves, which turns out to be less difficult than you might think, but soon mysterious happenings seem to follow them everywhere and they must figure out what's happening. Suspend your disbelief and enjoy the wonderful absurdity of this story.
8. A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
Chambers is the queen of "hopepunk," science fiction that imagines a better, more inclusive world. This slim book, the first in a duology, is here to encourage you to listen to your heart and body, to seek out something new — even if you feel like you should be grateful for what you already have — or to just sit and enjoy a cup of tea and let yourself rest.
9. The Shell Seekers by Rosemunde Pilcher
There are, admittedly, some hard things that happen in the course of this book, but it nonetheless left me feeling peaceful and refreshed. There are no villains here; every character is trying their best, and sometimes their values or priorities conflict with one another, but no one is truly malicious. The detailed descriptions of scenery and people's lives mean this isn't one to read in quick snatches but rather to pick up when you have time to get cozy and really invest in the world of the book, and it will pay off.
10. The Switch by Beth O'Leary
I've described this as "a Hallmark Christmas movie if it were in book form and took place in the spring." A grandmother and granddaughter switch places for two months — the grandmother moving to London, the granddaughter to the countryside — to try to reset their lives after some major life events. It's silly, sweet, and just plain fun.
What cozy books have you read in recent years?
Looking back:
One year ago I was reading:
Shalom and the Community of Creation,
The Pod and the Bog, and
Apples Never Fall
Five years ago I was reading:
The New Jim Crow and
Stranger in a Strange Land
Ten years ago I was reading:
The Pox Party
