{"title":"Lizzy's Favourite Picks for Winter Reading","description":"\u003cp\u003eThese are the books that Lizzy loves to read in Winter, or that feel like Winter. A combination of fiction, some non-fiction, and a couple chapter books perfect for reading together as a whānau on a cosy evening.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"phosphorescence","title":"Phosphorescence","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe national bestseller, \u003cem\u003ePhosphorescence\u003c\/em\u003e, is a beautiful, intimate and inspiring investigation into how we can find and nurture within ourselves that essential quality of internal happiness – the 'light within' – which will sustain us even through the darkest times.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOver the last decade, we have become better at knowing what brings us contentment, well-being and joy. We know, for example, that there are a few core truths to the science of happiness. We know that being kind and altruistic makes us happy, that turning off devices, talking to people, forging relationships, living with meaning, and delving into the concerns of others offer our best chance of achieving happiness. But how do we retain happiness? It often slips out of our hands as quickly as we find it. So, when we are exposed to, or learn good things, how do we continue to burn with them?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAnd more than that, when our world goes dark, when we're overwhelmed by illness or heartbreak, loss or pain, how do we survive, stay alive or even bloom? In the muck and grit of a daily existence full of disappointments and a disturbing lack of control over many of the things that matter most – finite relationships, fragile health, fraying economies, a planet in peril – how do we find, nurture, and carry our own inner, living light – a light to ward off the darkness?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAn intimate, achingly beautiful and inspiring exploration of the ways we can pursue awe, wonder and purpose, from one of our best, most perceptive writers.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e'Like spending an evening with a wonderful friend, with unlimited time and a glass of good wine in hand … A beautiful and rallying read' \u003cbr\u003eThe Australian\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e'Julia Baird's new, beautiful consideration of the things that glow through the murk … a book such as this one – one that aims to provoke delight and wonder and comfort, that is at its heart trying to find answers or modes of connection, or light – is of the moment in the best possible way' \u003cbr\u003eThe Guardian\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e'Intelligent and emotionally astute ... Many will find sustenance in reading it' \u003cbr\u003eSydney Morning Herald\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e'That is the beauty of this profound book. It transports you into all the deep, inner yearnings you've had for a long time, and then articulates them for you ... I could rave about this gem of a book forever. We need this book. You need this book. It is the perfect gift for us all right now. It is perfect' \u003cbr\u003eBetter Reading\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'Julia Baird is an alchemist, turning the dross of her life's harshest blows into shimmering prose. Both timeless and timely, this is a book of wisdom and wonder.' \u003cbr\u003eGeraldine Brooks, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of \u003cem\u003eMarch\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eCaleb's Crossing\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'This book is a love letter to the world by a brilliant writer who nearly left it. Julia Baird has gone into the depths of human experience-her own, and others'-and come back with this luminous and profound celebration of people and the planet. \u003cem\u003ePhosphorescence\u003c\/em\u003e is a treasure to read and re-read your whole life.' \u003cbr\u003eAnna Funder, author of \u003cem\u003eAll That I Am\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eStasiland\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'I loved this book. A cupped hand full of light in a darkened world. A collection of glittering curios. I'll hold it close in trying times.' \u003cbr\u003eCal Flyn, author of \u003cem\u003eIslands of Abandonment\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"HarperCollins New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45686326526188,"sku":"9781460757161","price":32.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781460757161.jpg?v=1725465575"},{"product_id":"wintering","title":"Wintering","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eWintering\u003c\/i\u003e by Katherine May offers readers an intimate and revelatory exploration into the quieter, often overlooked periods of life. Through a thoughtful narrative, May delves into the times when we must step back to care for and repair ourselves, emphasizing the natural cycles of retreat and renewal. She artfully blends personal memoir with insightful reflections on the ebb and flow of life's seasons, revealing how these fallow periods are as essential to our well-being as the vibrant moments of summer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eRecognised as a Sunday Times bestseller and featured as BBC Radio 4’s Book of the Week, \u003ci\u003eWintering\u003c\/i\u003e captures the delicate beauty of embracing life's darker seasons and finding solace in their inevitability. In her lyrical prose, Katherine May draws from her own experiences and ignites a conversation on how to navigate life’s inevitable challenges with grace and wisdom.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\"A beautiful, gentle exploration of the dark season of life and the light of spring that eventually follows,\" remarks Raynor Winn, highlighting the book's comforting and optimistic outlook. May addresses the universal human experience of enduring hardships and emerging with renewed strength and perspective. Her writing resonates with readers, offering a balm for those enduring their personal winters.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCaitlin Moran calls it, \"My favourite book of the last five years,\" underscoring its profound impact and timeless relevance. Elizabeth Gilbert echoes this sentiment, stating, \"Every bit as beautiful and healing as the season itself,\" while Cheryl Strayed simply describes it as \"Absolutely beautiful.\" These endorsements from notable authors and public figures attest to the book's powerful ability to touch hearts and minds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eWintering\u003c\/i\u003e is not merely a book but an experience—an invitation to embrace our most vulnerable moments and find strength in our cycles of recovery. Katherine May’s eloquent exploration of life’s winters and summers is a must-read for anyone seeking understanding, compassion, and a reminder of the natural rhythm that connects us all.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45696224854252,"sku":"9781846045998","price":22.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781846045998_b29473f3-7c18-49e0-ae09-aa54ed7ec9b1.jpg?v=1731898912"},{"product_id":"small-things-like-these","title":"Small Things Like These","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSet in 1985, in a small Irish town, \u003cem\u003eSmall Things Like These\u003c\/em\u003e by Claire Keegan tells the poignant story of Bill Furlong, a dedicated coal and timber merchant. As Christmas approaches, Bill finds himself busier than ever, delivering fuel to the cold homes of his neighbours. Amidst his routine, he begins to confront the quiet, oppressive presence of the Church in his community and faces unsettling truths about the past.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis compelling novella beautifully captures the essence of its time and place, offering an intimate glimpse into the lives and moral dilemmas of its characters. Through masterful storytelling, Keegan creates an atmosphere thick with the weight of unspoken history and the delicate interplay between guilt and redemption.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'Exquisite.' Damon Galgut\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'Masterly.' \u003cem\u003eThe Times\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'Miraculous.' \u003cem\u003eHerald\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'Astonishing.' Colm Tóibín\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'Stunning.' \u003cem\u003eSunday Independent\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'Absolutely beautiful.' Douglas Stuart\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA Book of the Year in \u003cem\u003eThe Times\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eThe New Statesman\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDescribed as \"a genuine once-in-a-generation writer\" by \u003cem\u003eThe Times\u003c\/em\u003e, Claire Keegan's work is celebrated for its precision and emotional depth. \u003cem\u003eSunday Times\u003c\/em\u003e calls \u003cem\u003eSmall Things Like These\u003c\/em\u003e \"a snowglobe of a story that fits a whole bustling, striving, yearning world into 114 finely wrought pages.\" Hilary Mantel praises it as \"powerful and affecting and very timely... deeply moving,\" while Sinead Gleeson admires its haunting beauty, labelling it \"a haunting, hopeful masterpiece.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe novella is not only a commentary on individual morality but also a reflection on societal complicity, as noted by many reviewers. The \u003cem\u003eDaily Telegraph\u003c\/em\u003e deems it \"remarkable\" and \"truly exquisite,\" while the \u003cem\u003eObserver\u003c\/em\u003e sees it as \"a restrained and intensely moral book, full of hope and love.\" Sarah Moss commends its precision, describing it as \"marvellous - exact and icy and loving all at once.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSmall Things Like These\u003c\/em\u003e is a work of great subtlety and power, making it a must-read for anyone who appreciates rich, character-driven narratives and the exploration of profound themes within the seemingly ordinary moments of life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45705892823276,"sku":"9780571368709","price":21.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780571368709_8b7ad16b-c2fa-455d-af70-de462dc6e20e.jpg?v=1732607920"},{"product_id":"the-great-alone-by-kristin-hannah-9781035030972","title":"The Great Alone","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom the worldwide number one bestselling author of \u003cem\u003eThe Four Winds\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eThe Nightingale\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eThe Great Alone\u003c\/em\u003e is a daring, beautiful, stay-up-all-night story about love and loss.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e'A master storyteller'\u003c\/em\u003e - Delia Owens, author of \u003cem\u003eWhere the Crawdads Sing\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e'A rich, compelling novel of love, sacrifice and survival, as epic as the Alaskan landscape it so vividly describes'\u003c\/em\u003e - Kate Morton, author of \u003cem\u003eHomecoming\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e'A masterclass'\u003c\/em\u003e - Karen Swan, author of \u003cem\u003eThe Stolen Hours\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e'A woman has to be tough as steel up here. 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But Emily Wilde is not good at \u003ci\u003epeople\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSo when she arrives in the hardscrabble village of Hrafnsvik, Emily has no intention of befriending the gruff townsfolk. Nor does she care to spend time with another new arrival: her dashing and insufferably handsome academic rival, Wendell Bambleby.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBut as Emily gets closer to uncovering the secrets of the Hidden Ones — the most elusive of all faeries — she also finds herself on the trail of another mystery: who is Wendell Bambleby, and what does he really want? To find the answer, she'll have to unlock the greatest mystery of all — her own heart.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e'Forget dark academia: give me instead this kind of winter-sunshined, sharp-tongued and footnoted academia, full of field trips and grumpy romance'\u003c\/b\u003e — Freya Marske, author of \u003ci\u003eA Marvellous Light\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e'Enchanting in every sense of the word... This book is real magic'\u003c\/b\u003e — H. G. Parry, author of \u003ci\u003eThe Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e'A book so vividly, endlessly enchanting, so crisply assured, so rich and complete and wise, and far-reaching in its worldbuilding that you'll walk away half ensorcelled, sure Fawcett found Emily Wilde's journal in some sea-stained trunk'\u003c\/b\u003e — Melissa Albert\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003e'The ideal book to curl up with on a chilly winter's evening... this book is an absolute delight.'\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e — Megan Bannen, author of \u003ci\u003eThe Undertaking of Hart and Mercy\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003e'A charmingly whimsical delight... Five dazzling, gladdening stars'\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e — India Holton, author of \u003ci\u003eThe Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003e'I enjoyed every word of this gorgeously written fairy tale featuring a grumpy heroine and an utterly charming love interest'\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e — Isabel Ibanez, author of \u003ci\u003eWoven In Moonlight\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette New Zealand Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45972064501996,"sku":"9780356519142","price":25.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780356519142.jpg?v=1733693759"},{"product_id":"the-correspondent-by-virginia-evans-9780241721261","title":"The Correspondent","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e84 Charing Cross Road\u003c\/em\u003e meets \u003cem\u003eA Man Called Ove\u003c\/em\u003e in this heartwarming, witty story about the life of an extraordinary woman, told through her letters.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn her letters to family and friends, we come to know the life of Sybil Van Antwerp—stubborn, cantankerous, opinionated, always steadfast in her belief in the power of the written word.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBut as the clock begins to tick for Sybil, the need for a few post-scripts to the life she's led becomes apparent. Fixing her difficult relationship with her children. Taking a final chance at romance. Atoning for an old legal case which has come back to haunt her. And finally, reckoning with a devastating loss that she has spent the last thirty years holding close to her chest.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House Distribution","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46233559957740,"sku":"9780241721261","price":29.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780241721261.jpg?v=1741067836"},{"product_id":"wolf-hall-by-hilary-mantel-9780008381691","title":"Wolf Hall","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNow a major TV series. Winner of the Man Booker Prize.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe first book in Hilary Mantel’s award-winning \u003cem\u003eWolf Hall\u003c\/em\u003e trilogy, with a new cover design to celebrate the publication of the much anticipated \u003cem\u003eThe Mirror and the Light\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrom one of our finest living writers, \u003cem\u003eWolf Hall\u003c\/em\u003e is that very rare thing: a truly great English novel.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e‘Every bit as good as they said it was’ \u003cem\u003eObserver\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e‘Terrific’ Margaret Atwood\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e‘As soon as I opened this book I was gripped. I read it almost non-stop’ \u003cem\u003eThe Times\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eWolf Hall\u003c\/em\u003e, one of our very best writers brings the opulent, brutal world of the Tudors to bloody, glittering life. It is the backdrop to the rise and rise of Thomas Cromwell: lowborn boy, charmer, bully, master of deadly intrigue, and, finally, most powerful of Henry VIII’s courtiers.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e‘Dizzyingly, dazzlingly good’ \u003cem\u003eDaily Mail\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e‘Terrifying. It is a world of marvels. But it is also a world of horrors, where screams are commonplace. 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This edition is complete with cover and interior art by the original illustrator, Pauline Baynes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFour adventurous siblings – Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie – step through a wardrobe door and into the land of Narnia, a land frozen in eternal winter and enslaved by the power of the White Witch. But when almost all hope is lost, the return of the Great Lion, Aslan, signals a great change... and a great sacrifice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe\u003c\/em\u003e is the second book in C. S. Lewis's classic fantasy series, which has been drawing readers of all ages into a magical land with unforgettable characters for over sixty years. 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The novel is so immersive, so all-encompassing, that I felt like I was living in it. Douglas Stuart has written something brilliant and rare' \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e- Ann Patchett\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOut of money and with little to show for his art school education, John-Calum Macleod takes the ferry home to the island of Harris to find that not much has changed except for him. In the windswept croft where he grew up, Cal resumes his old life, caught between the two poles of his childhood: his father John, a sheep farmer, weaver, and pillar of their local Presbyterian church, and his Glaswegian grandmother Ella, who has kept a faltering peace with her son-in-law for decades.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile Cal wonders if any lonely men might be found on the barren hillsides of home, John is dismayed by his son’s long hair and how he seems unwilling to be Saved. As the seasons pass, everything is poised to change as the threads holding together the fragile community become increasingly entangled.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eJohn of John\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eis the heartbreaking story of a young man’s return home and how the bonds of family life are torn by the weight of expectation. It confirms Douglas Stuart as one of the great British writers at work today.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Macmillan Publishers New Zealand Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47226684670188,"sku":"9781035086962","price":30.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781035086962.jpg?v=1768765605"},{"product_id":"where-the-earth-meets-the-sky-by-louise-k-blight-9781761357435","title":"Where the Earth Meets the Sky","description":"A stunning work of natural history, science, and polar travelogue, Where the Earth Meets the Sky is a chronicle of one conservation biologist's time in Antarctica, the most isolated place on the planet.\n\nAntarctica is the coldest, windiest and most inaccessible part of our planet-and now one of the places most affected by climate change. In this moving narrative, conservation biologist Louise K. Blight recounts her summer studying Adelie penguins. \nOn isolated Ross Island, from which legendary explorers Sir Ernest Shackleton and Robert Falcon Scott attempted the South Pole, Louise and pioneering penguin biologist David Ainley document how the region's penguins are being affected by the world's largest-ever iceberg. The iceberg's impact is geological in scope and life-changing for the tens of thousands of breeding penguins rushing to mate and rear their young.\n\n Surrounded by the hypnotic splendour of Antarctica's landscape, Louise and David record details of penguin courtship, incubation, and chick-rearing against a backdrop of the mental and emotional impacts of extreme weather, ongoing isolation and twenty-four hours of daylight. Interwoven with stories of early explorers and modern-day Antarcticans, Louise poetically conveys the isolation and the endless silence that ultimately allows her to explore the grief that has lingered since the untimely deaths of her father and sister.\n\n Blending polar travelogue, science and natural history, this is a story about a female scientist navigating Antarctica's extreme conditions and quirky human subculture. It is a story about how the world's most unforgiving environment has shaped the psyches of Antarctica's human visitors, past and present-and how nature can heal the human soul.","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47260391407852,"sku":"9781761357435","price":32.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/f0f2d9b9c94a760627b74e58258a302d.jpg?v=1769890103"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/lizzys-favourite-picks-for-winter-reading.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}