5 Novels to Read Over Winter Break

By Jessica Khaimova

It’s nearly that time of year when individuals across the globe take out their comforters, make a nice hot cup of tea, and snuggle up as they allow their minds to drift off to far-away lands as they read a good book.

As Scientistas, we have diverse reading preferences. Some of us enjoy science-fiction and fantasy, while others favor mysteries and dramas. However, it’s crucial that readers don’t just stick to one genre, expanding the types of books you read is key. 

Here are five works of literature (with different genres) that many Scientistas will most likely enjoy:

1. Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card (science fiction)

Recently adapted to the big screen, Ender’s Game has loads of action, adventure, aliens, and science - what does this book have that a Scientista will not enjoy? As women in male-dominated disciplines, many of us can relate to certain aspects of the novel. For example, Ender Wiggin, the protagonist, goes to a school that contains mostly male students, but there are still some amazing female characters that readers get to know and love.

2. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (classic)

The protagonist of the novel, Elizabeth Bennet, is a strong female character that many readers choose to empathize with, even though the book is set way before our time, in the 1800s.  She was ahead of her time because she spoke her mind and had her own independent will, choosing to do things her own way. It’s one of the greatest stories ever written, and is the perfect novel to read on a snowy winter day. Also, if you’re a fan of Pride and Prejudice, then check out the web series “The Lizzie Bennet Diaries” on YouTube. It’s a modern portrayal of the novel, and is shown in the form of video blogs, or vlogs.

3. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood (speculative fiction)

This dystopian novel emphasizes feminism, for the most part. It’s a great winter read and a page-turner. Basically, it’s about a post-apocalyptic world in which women are oppressed, and you get to see how the story unravels through Offred’s, the protagonist’s, eyes. To speak more of the plot would spoil the story.

4. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (speculative fiction)

It was a pleasure to burn. Can you imagine a world where books are burned, where televisions dominate people’s lives so much that it prevents them thinking for themselves, and where firemen start fires instead of putting them out? In Fahrenheit 451, that’s exactly what happens.

5. The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins (young adult- science fiction)

Anyone who has watched reality television knows how daunting human nature can be. Unfortunately, people find entertainment in watching another’s pain, completely detached from what they are seeing. In The Hunger Games, our young heroine, Katniss, has to fight other children to the death on television purely for entertainment. If this doesn’t pique your interest, then perhaps you should go back to watching reality television.



What books are you reading over break? Share in the comments!

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