SIOUX CITY | When the weather outside is frightful, what better way to spend the day than to curl up in a chair by the fire and get lost in a good book.
Kelsey Patterson, Sioux City Public Library reader services specialist, and Elisha Karr, Southern Hills Barnes & Noble's community relations manager, share some of their favorite winter/holiday reads that are sure to keep you turning the pages as temperatures plummet and snowflakes start flying.
Patterson's recommendations can all be checked out from the Sioux City Public Library:
'The Snow Child' by Eowyn Ivey
The Snow Child
Alaska in the 1920s is a difficult, brutal place to homestead, especially for new arrivals Jack and Mabel. Drifting apart, the childless couple builds a youngster out of snow. The next morning the couple finds the snow child is gone. But they soon discover Faina, a young girl living alone in the wilderness and soon come to love her as their own.
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Why did you read it?
"I picked it because it combines Alaska history -- there aren't a ton of books out there on that --as well as kind of a fairy tale and pioneer life. It's a pretty haunting book. The setting is pretty rugged and it plays a huge role in the book."
Why would you recommend it to other people?
"I would recommend it because it is definitely just kind of one of those general fiction books that could appeal to just about anyone. It has a little bit of everything."
'In a Dark, Dark Wood'Â by Ruth Ware
In a Dark, Dark Wood
Reluctantly, crime writer Leonora Shaw accepts an invitation to a bachelorette party in a remote cabin in the woods. But as the first wintry night falls, revelations unfold among friends old and new, an unnerving memory shatters Leonora’s reserve, and a haunting realization creeps in: the party is not alone. What should be a cozy and fun-filled winter weekend deep in the English countryside takes a sinister turn in this suspenseful and darkly twisted psychological thriller.
Why did you read it?
"I picked this one because I personally am a huge fan of psychological thrillers -- the Gillian Flynn ones, 'Girl on a Train' and kind of all of those that fit into that current trend of publications."
What did you like about it?
"I just really liked that the suspense just kept building. Right off the bat, the author goes back and forth. You know something bad happened during the weekend, but you just don't know what. It's definitely a page-turner. You can't put it down."
'The Children's Blizzard' by David Laskin
The Children's Blizzard
The devastating blizzard of 1888 swept across the Great Plains and killed more than 500 people including numerous schoolchildren. Shattered, these immigrant families had moved to the West on the promise that the prairie would offer them land, freedom, and hope, but they had no idea how hard and unforgiving a place it could be.
Why did you read it?
"I read it because I'm a huge fan of Midwest history. Knowing more about the area I live in always appeals to me."
What did you like about it?
"I liked how moving it was -- from the very first page you just get caught up in the story of all of these different families and the horrible events that happen to them as a result of this blizzard."
Find Karr's recommendations at Southern Hills Mall Barnes & Noble or barnesandnoble.com:
'The Christmas Town' by Donna VanLiere
The Christmas Town
About the book: Lauren Gabriel spent many years of her childhood in foster homes, wishing her mother would come back for her. As Christmas approaches, the now 20-year-old cashier finds the songs, carols and holiday chatter she hears throughout the day unbearable. But when she witnesses a car accident in the small town of Grandon, her outlook changes. Could this town and its people be the home she has always longed for?
Why did you read it?
"This is the author of 'The Christmas Shoes.' I loved that book. When this came into the store I knew it would have to go on my 'to be read' pile."
What did you like about it?
"I loved the premise of the story. I love reading something hopeful during the holiday and winter season. It can remind you of the goodness of people."
'Winter Storms' by Elin Hilderbrand
Winter Storms
About the book: This year promises to be a celebration unlike any other as the Quinn family prepares to host Kevin and Isabelle's wedding at Winter Street Inn. But as the special day approaches, a historic once-in-a-century blizzard bears down on Nantucket, threatening to keep the Quinns away from the place -- and the people -- they love most.
Why did you read it?
"I picked this book because it was a continuation of a series I had been reading. The Winter Street Series. I love reading trilogies. I like being immersed in stories that pull you into the characters’ lives."
What did you like about it?
"Elin Hilderbrand writes such beautifully complex characters and puts them into situations that may be happening in your families. She develops the story in such a way that you can’t stop reading the books. She was also a teaching/writing fellow at the University of Iowa Writer’s Workshop so I can’t help but pull for her success."
'Twelve Days of Christmas' by Debbie Macomber
12 Days of Christmas
About the book:Â Julia Padden likes nearly everyone, but her standoffish neighbor Cain Maddox presents a particular challenge. She decides she's going to break through Cain's Scrooge-like exterior by killing him with kindness. To track her progress, Julia starts a blog called The Twelve Days of Christmas. Her first attempts to humanize Cain are far from successful. Julia brings him homemade Christmas treats and the disagreeable grinch won't even accept them. Meanwhile, Julie's blog becomes an online sensation, as an astonishing number of people start following her adventures.
Why did you read it?
"I love Debbie Macomber. She always does a great read for someone who likes light romance."
What did you like about it?
"Her Christmas novels always leave you feeling hopeful and full of Christmas spirit."
