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These are some really fun, inspiring books to read this winter!
Last week we shared our easy ways to stay happy this winter. One of those is learning something new and reading. I love to read stories that inspire me! Some of these below are true stories that happened, so it makes it even better!
Make sure to pour a nice, healthy cup of hot tea while you get into a new read 🙂
1. Bitter Harvest (An Orchard Mystery)
Not exactly inspiring per say, but fun to read when it’s cold. This is the second book I have read in this series, and they are really just fun little mysteries to read. Very quick and easy reads which I always appreciate. This one is set during a blizzard, so it is the perfect setting for a winter read.
2. The Obituary Writer
I LOVE reading books set back in the early 1900s, especially in the winter. This was a unique and interesting book, set in to different times periods.
3. Rise of the Rocket Girls: The Women Who Propelled Us, from Missiles to the Moon to Mars
Winter is the perfect time to read true stories that you may not know much about. This story is so awesome to learn about.
4. Rocket Girl: The Story of Mary Sherman Morgan, America’s First Female Rocket Scientist
Just like the one above, this is a story about a female rocket scientist. The first one in America to be exact.
5. The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II
As a chemist, I really appreciate reading this story. This is an unforgotten story about the women scientists and engineers that helped make the atom bomb. Not to mention details about the woman who invented nuclear fission, Lise Meitner.
6. Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race
I was so excited to see this is a movie coming out soon! Another inspiring story is the women scientist behind the space program. I love learning everything about this time period when it was all about who would make it to outer space first.
7. The Glass Universe: How the Ladies of the Harvard Observatory Took the Measure of the Stars
Okay one more story about amazing women scientist. This is another unique and unknown story worth a read this winter.
8. Life of the Party: The Remarkable Story of How Brownie Wise Built, and Lost, a Tupperware Party Empire
You can read my full review on this book here. I loved how inspiring this book was. I never knew much about how Tupperware gained popularity, but this story was all about the woman responsible for it’s success (and downfall).
9. Tea with Jane Austen: Recipes inspired by her novels and letters
Any Jane Austen fan will enjoy this. More of a cookbook than a novel, but still fun to read this winter and experiment with!
10. The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America
I’ve recommended this book before, but all of Erik Larsons books are based on true historical stories. He writes them so well too. If you haven’t read any of this books, I recommend starting with this one!
11. Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania
This is his latest book, which is on my to read this this winter! I am not even a huge history buff or anything, but his books are so captivating, you can’t help but love them.
12. The Last Kind Words Saloon: A Novel
Have you ever read Larry McMurtry novels? He wrote Lonesome Dove, The Last Picture Show, Texasville, and Terms of Endearment. All which are awesome movies too. As a Texas girl, I love all his stories. This is his newest novel about the closing of America’s frontier. If you haven’t read his books, I would start with Lonesome Dove for sure.
[Tweet “12 inspiring books to read this winter #booklist @chemistrycachet”]
Okay, now tell me what books you are reading this winter!
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Jessica says
This is such a unique list. I love true stories! Adding all these to my list
Alexis says
I do too! True stories seem so much more inspirational to me 🙂
Sarah Geringer says
Visiting from #tuestalk as your linkup neighbor. Yours is a varied and interesting list. If you are looking for a Bible study to read, mine is a free download today only (Jan. 10). See my latest blog post for more info at sarahgeringer.com.
Alexis says
It like to mix it up when reading 🙂 thanks for letting me know! I’ll check it out
Jo-Anne the crazy woman says
Nice, and interesting books
Alexis says
Definitely some interesting ones 🙂
Pamela says
I’ve never read any of these but Rocket Girls and The Girls of Atomic City both sound really interesting! Usually I’m not big on true stories but sometimes it’s fun to mix it up! <3, Pamela Sequins & Sea Breezes
Alexis says
Anything about women scientists and I love it 🙂 For some reason, I love reading non-fiction in the winter vs other times of the year!
Kate @ Green Fashionista says
I so need to read Rise of the Rocket Girls 😀
Green Fashionista
Alexis says
It is such a great book!
Emelia says
The Obituary Writer sounds super interesting just by the title. I’ll have to check some of these out!
Alexis says
It is really interesting! I love how it goes back to different eras!
Veronica U says
I am so excited for your recommendations! I love history books and although Rise of the Rocket Girls was already on my list, the other ones weren’t. Have you read The Astronauts Wives Club? It’s along a similar vein, but all about how the astronauts’ families dealt with all the stresses as they went through training. 🙂
Alexis says
That is another good book! I love learning about that time period and seeing what they went through. Have you watched the TV series of Astronauts Wives Club? I haven’t yet since the book was so good. I want to see how it is though 🙂
Jean Blythe, RNC says
Great list! I’ve read the Girls of Atomic City and loved it. I’ve just started Hidden Figures. It’s so interesting to read about this which happened when I was in grade school. I only saw the rockets firing into space and the all male teams. I hope the movie inspires more women to choose to work in science related fields!
Alexis says
I absolutely agree! One of the things that inspired me to go into Chemistry was learning about awesome women in the field! How neat that you remember that happening!
Akaleistar says
I got Tea with Jane Austen for Christmas, and it’s such a beautiful book!
Alexis says
It is such a beautiful book!
Paula Kiger says
What a phenomenal list!!
Alexis says
Thanks so much Paula! I loved all these books 🙂
Jamie@TheMomGene says
I’m adding The Last Kind Words Saloon to my list and I loved Devil in the White City. I taught it in my high school English class.
Alexis says
How cool you taught that in high school! I think it is such an awesome book to learn from and also just fantastic writing!
Nicole @OldSchoolReads says
Cool list. I read Devil in the White City a while back. It’s way outside of what I normally read. I can’t even remember why I picked it up. I ended up finishing it in two days. It’s really a great read.
Have a fantastic day!
Alexis says
I was the same way when I read that book. It was the first historical fiction I really got in to, now I just love all his books. I am reading the Lusitania right now and it is so good!
Linda Arthur Tejera says
From your list, I’ve already read two and can recommend them both. First is The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II; and second, The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America.
Alexis says
Those were both such great books! I really loved them 🙂