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I've gathered a few novels throughout the year which are explicitly set during the holidays or are winter-themed. I haven't read them yet, so I can't speak to them personally, but I would like to read them this winter, and also I would like to share them with you here.
I was introduced to Luke Healy when Innes McKendrick retweeted his short piece of illustrated writing about hiking in the Sierra mountains when his grandfather fell ill across the globe in Ireland. He expanded this piece of writing into the illustrated memoir 'Americana', about his experiences as a gay Irish lad hiking the Pacific Crest Trail in 2016 America, from the border of Mexico and California, to the border of Canada. It's one of my favorite reads in recent memory. I ordered it from the Raven Book Store, and picked up the as-yet unread 'How to Survive in the North' from him as well.
From the back of the book:
Weaving together the true life historical expeditions of Ada Blackjack and Robert Bartlett with a contemporary fictional story, How to Survive in the North is a unique and visual narrative journey that shows the strength it takes to survive in even the harshest conditions - whether that be struggling for survival in the Arctic in the 1900s or surviving a mid-life crisis in the present day.
The book cover has a lovely illustration of the Aurora Borealis, and the artwork within is rendered in Luke's simple and colorful style. I'm looking forward to seeing how these two different stories from different time periods intertwine.
Pick up How to Survive in the North from Raven Book Store or from the publisher.
https://www.ravenbookstore.com/book/9781910620328
https://nobrow.net/shop/how-to-survive-in-the-north-paperback/
Innes McKendrick works on No Man's Sky and has hiked the Pacific Crest Trail as well. He's got a photo log of his hike on Instagram.
https://www.instagram.com/innesmck
I don't remember exactly how I discovered this one - probably another retweet - but I picked it up as part of the same order mentioned above. In addition to the synopsis of the book, I think I was drawn to the publisher's name, Two Dollar Radio, and their general vibe. The copyright and disclaimers in the book are styled with a very charming design, and include this personal touch:
Recommended reading locations for Whiteout Conditions: Upon a Greyhound bound for Rockford by midnight, within view of a bare forest, a hospital, or pretty much anywhere because books are portable and the perfect technology!
Anyway, about the book itself. Here's an edited description that combines the inner sleeve with the back of the book:
On the heels of the holidays, as severe weather batters Chicago, Ant returns after five years away. [He is back] for a funeral, and he typically enjoys funerals. Since most of his family has passed away, he finds himself strangely attracted to their endearing qualities: the hyperbolic language, the stoner altar boy, seeing friends in suits for the first time. That is, until the tragic death of Ray - Ant's childhood friend, Vince's teenage cousin. Ray was the younger third-wheel that Ant and Vince were stuck babysitting while in high school, and his sudden death makes national news.
Chicago is a city approximately three hours north of where I live, and which I have never visited. It looms large. It feels appropriate to read this as a Nor'easter brings massive snowfall to the east, even if it's been relatively mild here.
Pick up Whiteout Conditions from the Raven Book Store, or grab an eBook from the publisher.
https://www.ravenbookstore.com/book/9781937512910
https://twodollarradio.com/collections/all-books/products/whiteout-conditions?variant=32206473134170
If Found… is a video game on my reading list! It's an interactive visual novel. I found out about it when Nina Freeman streamed it on her Twitch channel. It takes place during the month of December 1993, and concludes on New Year's Eve. I've only got a few days to play it if I really want to be on the nose about it. It has a beautiful art style, strong queer representation, and you interact with it by erasing entries from a diary. I'll be playing it on Switch; it'll be cool if you can use the touch screen to do the erasing.
Here's a little synopsis:
If Found… is a gay ass video game about four youngsters living on the fringes of Ireland, going home, coming out and erasing everything.
On December 31st 1993 in the crumbling ruins of a mansion on Achill Island, Kasio destroys her diary.
The diary tells the story of her return home to the West of Ireland, her conflict with her family, the friends she makes, and the challenges she goes through.
Features include: awkward crushes, the planet Jupiter, many kisses, a punk concert, confusion, happiness, a cute dog, and a break in.
It has a page on itch.io, but sadly it doesn't seem to be available for purchase there yet.
https://dreamfeel.itch.io/if-found
And check out Nina Freeman's Twitch channel. She's built a great community. She had to leave Oregon during the wildfires because of severe asthma, and has been living on a farm. In addition to the wide variety of games she plays, you might catch a stream where she's just picking tomatoes and feeding raw sweet corn to a mini donkey named Wilbur. The donkey cronches are strong and satisfying.
https://www.twitch.tv/ninamarie
Well, happy reading to us both.