Winter’s Tales
By Lorelei Guzevicius
Staff Writer
Jingle bells, reading’s swell
Immerse yourself today,
Oh, what fun it is inside
On a merry winter’s day.
It is that time of the year when winter is about to make its dramatic entrance, and the fireplace starts crackling our name. The end of the semester is fast approaching, and thus, our will to work is deteriorating, which means it is time to resort to the beautiful land of fiction. So, let’s temporarily sweep good old Shakespeare under the carpet and get our favourites off their dusty shelf.
Lessons in Chemistry
Bonnie Garmus
Fiction
Do not get scared; I am not trying to force-feed you science. Lessons in Chemistry is the definition of “don’t judge a book by its cover.” Garmus tells the story of Elizabeth Zott, a chemist in a 1950s world, who is forced to overcome many obstacles put in place by sexism. The story follows her life, from being mistreated by her prejudiced employer to becoming the host of one of the most beloved cooking shows on television. The theme is empowering, however, it is the characters that make the novel such a warm piece of literature. Six-Thirty, Zott’s pet dog, who knows exactly 981 words, is sure to make you chuckle during his POV chapters. If you are looking for a roller coaster of emotions wrapped in a nice bow of feel-good, hop into Garmus’ 1950s World.
Dune
Frank Herbert
Science-Fiction
Written in 1965, Dune is still considered to be one of the greatest science-fiction novels of all time. It follows the story of Paul Atreides and his family from the House Atreides settling on Arrakis, a desert planet full of a vital and priceless resource. All the while, a coup is being orchestrated by the Emperor over the noble family’s exclusive control of this resource. Paul, who is plagued with prescient visions and the whisperings of the locals, is destined for a greater future. If you love intergalactic warfare and the “chosen one” trope (wait, did George Lucas just use Ctrl-C Ctrl-V?), then explore the fascinating and beautifully developed world of Dune.
Fifth Season
N.K. Jemisin
Fantasy
As much as it would be interesting to read a book about Montreal’s five seasons: fall, winter, spring, summer and construction, Jemisin’s Fifth Season, the first book in the trilogy, is not that. It explores the world of the Stillness, where every so often, natural disasters hit and reap destruction and devastation throughout the world. The society is composed of many different orders. Among them are Orogenes, people with the ability to manipulate energy and Guardians, soldiers who monitor Orogenes and resort to murder if they become a threat. Each chapter follows the point of view of three women; each plagued with the consequences of being an Orogene. With many twists, morally gray characters and a world where having superpowers might not be the best, this trilogy is sure to make you turn the page faster than a new traffic cone appears.