Anticipating, or far more so, wishing, for many snow-days at home with little to do, I have curated a list of books perfect for this winter, whether it be historical fiction, horror, science fiction or even a hilarious-yet-tear-jerking autobiography. Enjoy! 

Born A Crime by Trevor Noah 

Now you may be thinking, Ava, you’re just using books you were forced to read in English class in your book recommendation article. Isn’t that rather lazy? Well first of all, rude. And second of all, yes, that’s absolutely what I’m doing, but this book is a must read! While the idea of a comical take on perhaps one of the grimmest periods in South Africa’s history (Apartheid) might raise some eyebrows, Trevor Noah, esteemed comedian and host of “The Daily Show,” completely pulls it off. The book is a fast read filled with hilarious scenes that made me put the book down because I kept laughing aloud in class, yet still perfectly balancing extremely complex topics centered around race and identity. 

BirdBox by Josh Malerman 

This one has been out for a while, but a list of my favorite books simply would be incomplete without this fascinating horror book. Malerman creates a drastic twist on the classic horror book experience by completely removing the sense of sight from his characters; because those who look at one of the many creatures roaming the world are driven to commit suicide. While it is definitely not a light read, I do appreciate a horror story that focuses on the element of suspense rather than relying on gore for a good scare. 

A Night Divided by Jennifer A. Nielsen 

This book I completely and totally expected to hate. It turns out I could not have been more wrong. It’s a beautiful tale of a girl and her brother working together in a desperate attempt to escape East Berlin during the era of the Berlin Wall. If you are a fan of historical fiction or of brilliantly bold escape plans, this is a perfect read for you. While this book deals with the reality of living in East Berlin during this time, it leaves out most of the descriptions of gore, making it fascinating, although not grotesque. 

This Mortal Coil by Emily Suvada 

This book is fascinating, through and through. If you are interested in what a future with biotechnology would look like, and the reality of programming becoming as commonplace an ability as reading, this is the perfect pick for you. In a world where humans can alter DNA post birth using special programs to enhance themselves, a young girl is followed throughout her life. Without giving too much away, I must say this book is extremely interesting from a philosophical point of view as well as just being an amazing story. And while I normally am not one for romantic arches in books, this author incorporates it into the story in a way that works well with the tale.