First published 2022
Katherine May faces a cascade of disruptions when her husband falls ill, her son stops attending school, and her own health problems force her to leave a demanding job. These unexpected circumstances push her into what she calls "wintering," a period of withdrawal and rest that initially feels isolating and painful. May discovers that these fallow times offer unique opportunities for transformation. She draws lessons from literature, mythology, and the natural world, finding guidance in sources ranging from C.S. Lewis and Sylvia Plath to solstice celebrations and dormouse hibernation. Through activities like swimming in icy waters and studying Arctic navigation, May develops a philosophy that embraces sadness as part of life's natural cycles. She learns to find nourishment in deep retreat and beauty in winter's quiet moments. Rather than viewing difficulty as something to overcome quickly, May shows how to actively accept these dormant periods and use them for renewal, ultimately emerging with a transformed understanding of life as cyclical rather than linear.
Genres: contemporary, non-fiction, biography-memoir, 21st-century
Vibes: emotional-atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: personal-journey, self-discovery
Setting: Arctic
Period: Winter
288 pages · Paperback · Roca
Content warnings: depression, mental-illness