

Avoid all the snow and low temperatures around the region right now and cozy up with these page-turning picks.

If you're low on vacation funds but want to get away from Erie's winter weather, there's an easy way to escape the snow and "travel" anywhere in the world.

No, you won't have to pack a suitcase, find your passport or stand in long lines at the airport. You don't even have to travel any further than your local bookstore or library.

Books are the ultimate form of escapism and the perfect way to while away cold, winter days without spending a bundle.

Ah, but what to read? We turned to a few of Erie's book pros — Tracey Bowes, owner of Pressed Books, Coffee and Gifts; Sheryl Thomas, assistant director of the Erie County Public Library; and Gayle Werner, owner of Werner Books — for suggestions on their favorite tomes. Some are new books, some are older, some offer unforgettable insight and some are just entertaining.

 

BOWES' PICKS

• "Freefall" by Jessica Barry (2019): This is a new, highly enjoyable thriller told from two points of view: an adult daughter who is lost in the wilderness after her plane crashes and her mother who simply can't accept the news that her daughter is dead. There are plenty of family secrets, plot twists and intrigue to keep you turning pages, promised Bowes, owner of Pressed Books, 1535 W. Eighth St.

• "What Alice Forgot" by Liane Moriarty (2012): This is the first Moriarty book Bowes ever read, and she couldn't put it down. It follows a woman who hits her head and forgets the past 10 years of her life, and her struggle to adjust to all that has happened during those lost years.

• "Still Alice" by Lisa Genova (2009): This is a science-based novel written by a neurosurgeon about a brilliant, successful professor going through early onset Alzheimer's disease. It is an enlightening, heartbreaking and also enjoyable read with a lasting impact. It inspires the reader to examine their sense of self and the role memory plays in making us who we are.

• "A New Earth" by Eckhart Tolle (2008): This is a perfect book for the new year and convinces readers to break the habit of continuously thinking about the future so that they can focus on — and fully enjoy — the present. Tolle aims to bring about a shift in consciousness that can be nothing short of life changing.

 

THOMAS' PICKS

• "The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle" by Stuart Turton (2018): Turton's debut novel takes the classic house party whodunit and adds a sci-fi twist with body jumping, time travel and memory loss. This is the sort of book you can read on a chilly night and get completely sucked into its moody and atmospheric world of mystery, explained Thomas, of the Erie County Public Library. Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie classics and those who want a mystery that keeps them guessing to the very last page.

• "The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill" by Julie Klassen (2016): Devotees of Jane Austen and Elizabeth Gaskell will adore this heart-warming book in which readers are introduced to the lives, loves and, surprisingly, entrepreneurial ambitions of the residents of the village of Ivy Hill. This is the first of Klassen's "Tales from Ivy Hill" series; the third book was just published in December.

• The "Queen's Thief" Series by Megan Whalen Turner (1996-2019): Enter the Byzantine world of thieves and royalty in this series featuring an impossible-not-to-love, heroic anti-hero and several warrior queens. Enjoy this "Game of Thrones"-like intrigue and political gamesmanship as a thief becomes a king and smaller nations risk everything against the might of an invading empire. Beginning with the "The Thief" and concluding with the March 2019 release of "Return of the Thief," this series will keep you entertained all winter.

 

WERNER'S PICKS

• "At the Wolf's Table" by Rosella Postorino (2019): This book was just released on Tuesday, but Werner, owner of Werner Books, 3514 Liberty St., received an advance copy that she quickly gobbled up (pun intended) in just one weekend. It is based on Adolf Hitler's tasters — German girls forced to sample his food to be sure it is not poisoned.

• "The Art of Inheriting Secrets" by Barbara O'Neal (2018). This is the most recent book by O'Neal, but Werner recommends any of the author's novels. O'Neal's books are light romances that are well-written, entertaining and offer a nice break from darker or weightier topics.

• "Nomadland" by Jessica Bruder (2017): This is a well-researched and fascinating book about the United States' growing community of people who are forced to live and work from their cars and travel trailers. As a seasoned camper herself, Werner said this book shed a whole new light on the neighbors she has met at some of the campgrounds her family has visited.

• "Dear Bob and Sue" by Matt and Karen Smith (2012): This travel log/memoir centers on a couple who quit their jobs to visit all 59 national parks across the United States. It is laugh-out-loud funny, but also informative and inspirational for those of who dream of setting off on a similar adventure.
https://www.goerie.com/entertainmentlife/20190131/11-winter-reads-suggested-by-erie-book-pros
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