If you live in the Bay Area, you know that the groundhog wasn’t kidding this year when he said six more weeks of winter. Although walking through campus in the pouring rain and showing up to lecture completely soaked probably isn’t anyone’s idea of a good time, rainy days can be the perfect chance to make some progress on your to-read list. So, grab your mug of tea and a warm blanket, and curl up with one of these books!
1. Break in Case of Emergency by Jessica Winter
Perfect for anyone who has any familiarity with the modern workplace, Break in Case of Emergency is a comedy that follows Jen, a woman in her early thirties, as she begins a new job at a feminist nonprofit. Although the book deals with a toxic workplace, friendship struggles, and a bit of an existential crisis, Winter’s witty and lighthearted writing style makes for an easy, yet moving read.
2. Seating Arrangements by Maggie Shipstead
As a huge fan of Shipstead’s The Great Circle, I picked up Seating Arrangements from the library this winter with high expectations. Be warned, if you prefer likable protagonists, this book is not for you. The novel stars Winn Van Meter, the patriarch of a wealthy American family, as he prepares for his eldest daughter Daphne’s marriage. Shipstead’s social satire paints a hilarious picture of a privileged yet dysfunctional cast of characters, with a protagonist that you will probably love to hate.
3. The Overstory by Richard Powers
A love story to the beautiful natural world around us, The Overstory will change how you look at trees. Weaving together multiple stories of love, activism, and resistance, Powers crafts a novel that is both a portrait of a world that humans often fail to see and a call to action, encouraging readers to pay more attention.