The winter of 2014 – is it one for the ages?
When we complained about the inconveniences of winter as children, my father told us how he walked 5 km to school, even in the worst winter weather; when the lake froze over he could skate there, which was only 3 km. Not to be outdone, my mother told us how so much snow fell one night when she was a child that the front door wouldn't open in the morning; her brother had to climb out an upstairs window and slide down the snow piled up against the house before he could shovel it away from the door.
What stories will we tell about the winter of 2014?
We've experienced an ice storm, power outages, frost quakes and a polar vortex - all before the middle of January. It's shaping up to be an epic winter.
Here are some reading suggestions in keeping with the season:
Former science journalist Gosnell presents a well-researched and engaging history that natural science readers will enjoy. She discusses ice in all its forms as it occurs in nature, as well as how it is experienced and used by plants, animals and humans.
Stories and anecdotes about snow from a Yellowknife-based science writer. Includes instructions for building a quinzhee (snow house).
A classic book describing how plants, animals and human interact with their winter environments. The author is an ecologist, writer and photographer.
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For fictional treatments of winter stories:
The Thames River has frozen forty times from the first record in 1142 to the most recent occurance in 1895. Here, Helen Humphreys presents stories, based on actual events, for each of the times the river froze.
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This classic children's book by Mary Mapes Dodge seems to be enjoying a revival of sorts. I picked it up a few years ago and found it stands up very well to a second reading. The story has universal appeal and is satisfying on many levels.
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The Osborne Collection has copies of Hans Brinker, or The Silver Skates dating back to 1874.
2 thoughts on “The winter of 2014 – is it one for the ages?”
I tried to walk 5km with the kids yesterday, but only made it 2 before we hoped a bus. Maybe by the end of winter. The pond over at Earl Bales might be skateable… that’s less than a 3km walk from the library 😉
Thank you for the great recommendations of books. Putting a couple on hold.
I’ve always felt that keeping active outdoors is the best way to enjoy winter, but the icy conditions this year are making it harder to to get out there!
Thanks for your comment. I’m glad you enjoyed the reading suggestions.