I read a lot, especially when the weather makes venturing outdoors unpalatable. And this winter has been brutal for those of us living in the northeast. Here are the books that have helped me cope during the blizzards and subzero temperatures:

Category: Impossible to Put Down

Best Offer Wins (by Marisa Kashino)

A young Washington DC couple seeks a lifestyle upgrade by moving to the city’s posh, northwestern suburbs. Only then will they be able to expand their family and become the “successful” people they were meant to be. Despite their lucrative jobs and equity from their current home as a sweetener, Margo and her husband have been outbid on 11 offers (even when they’ve gone $100K over the asking price.) A frustrated Margo takes matters into her own hands, embarking on a ruthless course to secure her dream house. What ensues is both shocking and hilarious, and I loved every minute of it. A quick read and an enjoyable one – especially for your inner hater!

Pair it with Virginia wine. My first experience with Virginia wine was at an event called Expedition Blue Ridge featuring the best wines of the region. So impressive! Here is a link where you can learn more, in case you want to sample them for yourself.

Category: Where Was This Book 30 Years Ago? Would’ve Saved Me So Much Grief.

The Courage to be Disliked – How to Free Yourself, Change Your Life, and Achieve Real Happiness (by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga)

This book is presented as a series of five conversations between a philosopher and a young man, each a lesson in how we envision and realize our life’s path. Based on the teachings of psychologist Alfred Adler, the discussions center on how we control our life’s direction, regardless of childhood experiences or the judgment and expectations of others. Adler’s theory differs sharply from that of Freud, who believed our path in life was driven by incidents occurring in our past: a causative relationship that puts us in a reactive mode. Adler, on the other hand, encourages us to clarify which “tasks” belong to others and which are our own responsibility; to realize we always have choices and should live in an active mindset. Super-interesting if you’re trying to lighten your emotional load and live a life of purpose and intention.

Pair it with Japanese whisky. Or your favorite sake.

Category: Indulge Your Inner Art History Nerd

Mona’s Eyes (by Thomas Schlesser)

So you wanted to major in art history but decided a more practical course of study was in order (i.e., you needed to pay your bills.) This book will fill the void in your heart. Mona, a ten-year-old girl living in Paris, is slowly going blind. Doctors don’t understand why, hypothesizing that her condition may be the result of psychological trauma. Their advice? Put Mona through a series of hypnotherapy sessions that will reveal the source of her blindness. But Mona’s grandfather takes a different approach: each Wednesday afternoon he and Mona visit one of the city’s great museums – the Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay, and the Centre Pompidou – so he can teach her to appreciate art while she is still able to see it. As they explore painting and sculpture, we’re along for the ride and it’s an art nerd’s dream! Each trip focuses on one painting or sculpture which her grandfather explains in depth, including the themes, the artist’s personal history, and the historical context in which the work was created. I recommend keeping your laptop open as you read so you can pull up images of the pieces as you go.

Pair it with a Beaujolais. Because there’s nothing more Parisian than an afternoon of museum-hopping followed by dinner at a local bistro (where a good Beaujolais is always available.) This Domaine Vavril, from the Cru Chiroubles, has beautiful composition, just like the paintings in the book.

Category: A Feel-Good Story of Generational Friendship

My Friends (by Fredrik Backman)

I love everything Backman writes and this book didn’t disappoint. It begins with a group of teenagers living in an impoverished coastal community in the northeast, where basic things like safely getting to school and back are daily challenges. We watch as the teens grow older, and their lives inevitably become more complicated. There are family traumas, thwarted dreams, and harsh economic realities aplenty. Different paths emerge and time passes. Twenty-five years later, an unexpected bequest – a painting created by one of the kids who is now a famous artist – brings the group back together. This is a beautiful story that explores the long arc of friendship, and the role art plays in our lives. My favorite line in the book was “Art is what we leave of ourselves in other people.” I was sorry to reach the last page.

Pair it with a wine from Long Island, NY: McCall Wines Ben’s Blend 2015 (furthest to the right in photo) is a blend of 30% Merlot, 30% Cab Franc, 30% Cab Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot. So lovely, with silky tannins, vibrant acidity, and a complex aroma and flavor profile.

Category: Colonialism Is Bad

King Leopold’s Ghost – A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa (by Adam Hoschschild)

This book broke my heart but kept my attention until the very end. It’s an unflinching look at the economics and depravities of colonialism and the dangers of a megalomaniacal leader with unchecked power. But it also describes the plight of explorers like Stanley and Livingston, Richard Francis Burton, and others who sought to understand the immense and imposing African continent. Extremely well-researched and documented, King Leopold’s Ghost is a page-turner: my favorite parts were the chapters devoted to the massive power and geographic reach of the Congo River. The descriptions of how the railways were built along its banks, and the challenges of moving supplies and combating disease were compelling. A hard read, ultimately, but one well worth the time and effort.

Pair it with a strong digestif – you’re gonna need it. My pick would be an amaro – one with a touch of sweetness to counter the bitterness.

Category: Cross-Border Adventurism as a Teenager

All the Pretty Horses  – The Border Trilogy Book 1 (by Cormac McCarthy)

Dateline: Texas, 1948. Young John Grady Cole leaves home with his friend Lacey Rawlins for a cross-border adventure into Mexico. What ensues is both heart wrenching and beautiful: life on the road is brutal at times and, depending on whom you meet, offers golden opportunity or almost-certain death. The lads encounter cattle herders, horse thieves, magicians, and Mormons as they traverse a landscape so vivid and dramatic that it will take your breath away. As is McCarthy’s wont, there’s plenty of random violence, yet unexpected kindness (often at the hands of strangers) occurs more often than one might expect. Brilliantly written, with a tension that carries the reader to the final page. I just love McCarthy, I can’t help it.

Pair it with a wine from Texas. Spicewood Vineyards in the Texas Hill Country makes a host of wines, six of which I got to try a while back. I had a great time pairing them with different dishes in this post.

Category: A Boy and His Wolf: aka The Hero You Can’t Quit

The Crossing  – The Border Trilogy Book 2 (by Cormac McCarthy)

Note: This is a completely separate story from All the Pretty Horses. While there are similarities between books one and two (young, male protagonists making their way through a wild and often hostile landscape) the plots do not overlap.

We’re back in the southwest borderlands, where we meet 16-year-old Billy Parham who captures a she-wolf that has been terrorizing local cattle ranches. But instead of killing her, he decides to return her to the mountains of Mexico and set her free (hence the title, The Crossing.) As readers of McCarthy’s other books will anticipate, Billy’s odyssey is full of obstacles, most human in form. What I loved about this story (aside from the stunning natural beauty gloriously detailed by the author) was the intense relationship that develops between Billy and the wolf. There are other relationships that tug at the heartstrings, namely those with his younger brother (who ultimately accompanies him on the road) and the young woman they encounter and protect. Another book that is at times difficult to read, but so worth it in the end.

Pair with a glass of Arizona wine from Aridus Wine Company. I recently had a chance to sample six of their wines and enjoyed them all. Another example of beauty from the desert! Read the full post here.

Category: Art, Love, and Loss in Post-WWI Southern France

The Artist and the Feast (by Lucy Steeds)

Just finished this one! It’s the perfect (relatively) light read that will transport you to the inviting climate of southern France. Who doesn’t need that right now? The story revolves around a famously hot-tempered painter living with his niece in the hills near Avignon. It’s just after World War I, and Europe is struggling to recover. A young Englishman whose older brother barely survived the trenches, strives for his father’s approval. After failing out of art school, he takes a job writing about art and is dispatched to France to interview the aforementioned painter. What follows is a tutorial on how art is created, what inspires it, and who is permitted to identify as an “artist.” The book has a lot to say about women’s roles in society as well as posing the question of whether artists are born or made. Really enjoyable, especially the colorful descriptions of the south of France.

Pair it with 2020 Laurence Ferraud Lirac from the Southern Rhône. This blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre will make you feel like you’re looking at the Mediterranean even if it’s snowing where you live.

Category: Most Lovable Curmudgeon and The Lost Art of Letter Writing

The Correspondent (by Virginia Evans)

Right from the jump, Sybil Van Antwerp marches into your consciousness and tells you what she thinks, no holds barred. What’s unique about her delivery is that it comes in the mail – literally. The entire “narrative” advances through letters – those written by Sybil to her friends and family, as well as those written to her in response. While at first it seems a bit awkward and formal, within a few chapters the tone feels familiar, and it’s fun getting to know each character through the style of their letters. Sybil is a retired lawyer living alone in Annapolis and she’s tough on everyone around her. But, through her correspondence with a disparate group of folks (the troubled teenaged son of a friend; the son of a man she and her boss sent to prison; the writer Joan Didion) we see a different side of Sybil. If you’re looking for a book that will boost your spirits and brighten your day, this is it. Bonus: the waterside beauty of Annapolis.

Pair it with a glass of Maryland wine. A few years ago I had the opportunity to taste the wines from Old Westminster Winery. One of their specialties is a vin doux naturel, a sweet wine with its roots in Southern France. They make many others as well.

Enjoy the advent of spring. Should the weather continue to frustrate us through March, fear not: I will be back with a few more books (and bottles) to see you through.

Cheers!