Winterlust: Finding Beauty in the Fiercest Season

In this thoughtful and meditative book on winter, essayist Brunner opts not to bemoan the season’s faults, but to find reasons to sing its praises. In direct and accessible prose, he introduces the titular notion, an admirable variation on wanderlust, zeroing in on “the particular enchantments of this time of year.” He celebrates the magic of snowfall, romantically evoking shared childhood experiences of snowball fights or lying on the ground making snow angels “as we gaze up into the sky.” Brunner encourages readers to willingly embrace winter as an antidote to increasingly hurried and hectic lifestyles. Looking to Scandinavia, he touches on the popular—if somewhat amorphous—concept of hygge, a cultural ideal that has become the “new magic word” for many non-Scandinavians for its associations with “warmth and contentment,” as often created through such elements as a crackling fire, fluffy pillows, and warm blankets—all ways of setting a mood to offset the ice and snow outside. Another notable chapter deals with how such winter sports as skiing, tobogganing, sledding, and curling provide people with reasons to remain—and to find enjoyment—outdoors. With this calm meditation, Brunner offers readers pining for summer something to look forward to instead. (Nov.)