Thought-Provoking Books to Read in Front of a Fireplace

When it’s cold outside and the nights are long, there’s no better way to pass the time than to curl up in front of an open fire with a good book or two. Different types of readers like different kinds of books, so while one person might want to lose themselves inside a fantasy world, another might want to read some non-fiction to teach themselves a new skill.

For our part, we like to read a little bit of everything, and this reading list reflects that. It doesn’t matter whether it’s fiction or non-fiction, as long as it makes you think. And so with that in mind, let’s jump on in and take a look at a few of the best books to read while curled up by a fire.

1. A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf

This classic piece of non-fiction by Virginia Woolf is a staple of feminist non-fiction and a must-read for everyone, if only as a reminder of the steps we’ve taken in the right direction. Woolf argues that if Shakespeare had a twin sister, she wouldn’t have been able to experience the same career because of societal discrimination towards women. Whether you agree with her or not, it’s certainly thought-provoking.

2. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

This iconic dystopian novel by Margaret Atwood has witnessed a sudden rise in popularity over the last couple of years or so. This is down to two factors – the recent Netflix original adaptation of the novel and the 2019 release of The Testaments, its sequel. But Atwood’s original novel still stands up to the test of time, and indeed the mirror that it holds up to the world is arguably more accurate now than it was when the book was first published.

3. Shaking Hands with Death by Terry Pratchett

This short book by Terry Pratchett is effectively a transcription of a speech that he delivered on the nature of death, healthcare and assisted suicide after he’d been diagnosed with the Alzheimer’s disease that would eventually kill him. Just be warned that it might make you cry.

4. What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami

This hybrid memoir and self-help book was written by Japanese author Haruki Murakami. When he was in his late twenties, Murakami was overweight and a heavy smoker who worked in a pub. When he decided to give writing a go, he realised he needed to quit smoking and get into shape, so he started running. This memoir covers the impact that running has had on his life and explains why he still runs at least one marathon a year despite being in his sixties.

Conclusion

Now that we’ve shared our list of thought-provoking books, we want to hear from you. Which books have made you think lately and which ones would you recommend to us and our readers? Be sure to let us know. In the meantime, get ready to light your fire and go and pick out a good book from your bookshelves. Happy reading!