When it’s cold outside, there’s nothing quite as nice as relaxing in front of a beautiful fire in your natural gas fireplace. When you add a good book to the mix, the experience is even better.
Walton Gas has you covered with fuel for the fire. Now you just need the book. We asked the librarians at Gwinnett County Public Library to suggest a few you might want to consider for a good winter’s read. Here are their picks, along with a warning that you probably won’t want to put them down.
FICTION
The Judge’s List by John Grisham
The bestselling author’s latest legal thriller, the second in the Whistler series, is “filled with high-tech detail and shivering with suspense,” according to one reviewer.
Mercy by David Baldacci
The fourth in the Atlee Pine series finds the title character on the hunt for her long-lost sister, Mercy.
NONFICTION
What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing by Oprah Winfrey and Bruce D. Perry, MD, PhD
The authors explore how what happens to us in early childhood — both good and bad — influences the people we become.
YOUNG ADULT
Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
Arthurian legend meets Southern, black girl magic in this first book in a new series.
CHILDREN
Skunk and Badger by Amy Timberlake; illustrated by Jon Klassen
This witty, delightfully funny story details the friendship between a geologist badger and the skunk who upends his life. Recommended for children ages 8-12.
FAMILY READING
Julia’s House for Lost Creatures by Ben Hatke
The first in a picture book trilogy, this is the story of Julia, her magical house, and all the creatures they adopt. Hatke’s charming illustrations have the kind of detail that allows for multiple readings with continued discoveries each time you look at the page.
CLASSIC
Persuasion by Jane Austen
This is Austen’s last completed novel, though not her best known. It is a love story full of regrets and missed opportunities.
Beloved by Toni Morrison
Set after the American Civil War, it tells the story of a family of former slaves whose Cincinnati home is haunted by a malevolent spirit. Winner of the 1988 Pulitzer Prize for fiction.
GEORGIA CONNECTION
Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan Henry, former Gwinnett County resident
When college student Megs approaches author C. S. Lewis with her younger brother’s request to find out if Narnia is real, he instead takes her on a magical journey through the moments in his life that led to his greatest creation.
Read more
Learn more about the recommended titles by visiting the Gwinnett County Public Library (GCPL) at www.gwinnnettpl.org or calling 770-978-5154.
You can explore more good reads at any one of Georgia’s 387 public libraries. Your local public library is filled with good books, many available in both traditional and digital formats.
Want to meet other book lovers? Most libraries offer book clubs that meet regularly either in person or virtually. Clubs are often geared to different ages and reading interests.
Young adults interested in podcasts about books should check out GCPL’s new podcast Spill Lit for reading recommendations.
Kids and teens can also join book clubs or participate in story time events. Check the website of your local library’s event calendar to get involved.
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