Top Ten Books to Beat the Snow Storm Blues

Here in Fort Worth, Texas it’s currently sunny and 60 degrees. But many of you in other parts of the country are buried under many inches or even feet of snow. Brrr!

Wondering how you’re going to survive the days trapped inside? Have no fear! Grab your e-readers and download my top ten books sure to make the time go by fast and keep your insides nice and toasty, too.

#10  Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte — I usually enjoy this time-honored classic during the Christmas season. The bleak scenery of the Yorkshire moors will have you in good company while you try and keep warm. It’s also not the quickest read, so will keep you occupied a while.

#9  The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion — This is an nontraditional romantic comedy about an oddly charming professor and his unlikely love interest that leaves you feeling warm and fuzzy. Think Sheldon Cooper from the Big Bang Theory! If you enjoy, try the sequel, The Rosie Effect.

#8  To Get to You by Joanne Bischof — This sweet young adult novel strikes at the heartstrings of all ages. You’ll forget how cold it is outside as your heart warms up reading about Riley and his journey to get to the girl he loves.

#7  Love Does by Bob Goff — This nonfiction book perfectly compacts my personal theology of loving one another. Author Bob Goff writes with infectious energy to inspire you to live out love in action, not just words. A perfect book to recharge during your days inside!

#6  Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig — This book is probably farthest from the likes of others on this list and even my own writing. It’s dense, at times mind-numbingly scientific, and yet was my favorite title on my summer reading list before senior AP English in high school. It changed the way I thought about reading and writing. It made me think about what I don’t know and about life. A great choice for those of you in the North East who may be stranded at home for a week or more. It’ll take that long, but be so worth it!

#5  Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston — Another classic makes the list. Considered one of the most important books of the twentieth-century, it’s too often left off reading lists, in my opinion. Hurston’s writing is strong, beautiful, and at times haunting. You’ll undoubtedly get lost in its pages.

#4  The Convenient Bride Collection by Multiple Authors — Indulge in nine sweet Christian short stories full of Western romances that leave you feeling warm and fuzzy. Read one over your morning coffee, one with lunchtime soup, another with hot chocolate in the afternoon, and another after dinner in front of the fire. Done and done!

#3  Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen — Come on, you knew it would make the list, right? If you’ve followed along a while, you surely know this is one of my favorite titles. Maybe you’ll get lucky and find one of the film adaptations on TV, too.

#2  Tide Water Inn (Hope Beach Series) by Colleen Coble — I love a good book series. I also love North Carolina, the beach, and a good love story. This book, the first in a three-book series, offers all those things! A perfect read for a lazy day.

#1  The Story Keeper by Lisa Wingate — I’ll gladly recommend any of Lisa’s books. But this unique novel masterfully tells about a women in the publishing industry who attempts to track down a mysterious manuscript and its author in the mountains of North Carolina. A dual story line, from past generations, is woven in with great skill. Keep on the edge of your couch as you curl up with this, my favorite recent read.

What other books would you recommend for those stuck in the snow storms across our country? What titles have kept you entertained on days you couldn’t (or didn’t want to) venture out?