Cold Enough for Snow by Jessica Au

Posted by Ms K on November 5, 2023 in All | Leave a comment

So, the end of the year is coming way too fast, and you can hardly find a second to breathe BUT you’re desperate to read a good book but when, how?

Readheads, here is your answer.

Cold Enough for Snow is a quietly powerful and beautiful novella about a mother and daughter holidaying in Japan and while it is only 98 pages, trust me when I say they run deep. You’ll be left feeling like you’ve read and felt so much more.

The daughter asks her mother to join her on a trip to Japan. They do not live in the same city anymore and they have never really been away together as adults. The trip is important to the daughter for many reasons – some obvious and some she can’t really name. Together they travel by train, they sightsee and visit places chosen for their architecture and cultural significance. They eat simple meals and walk the streets and canals into the early evening. The days are gentle, rhythmic and more often than not, they carry umbrellas to protect them from the soft, continuing autumn rain.

Much is spoken between them as they walk and travel – they talk of the simple details of their lives, their interests, the weather, their clothing choices. What gifts to buy. What is unspoken between them hangs between them like a promise of snow.

This book reminds you of the loveliness of the everyday and the beauty of simple observations. The small, unhurried exchanges between those you love, who know you in ways others never will. And it reminds you of the power of really, really good writing. Pick it up for yourself or pop it in a book lover’s festive stocking. They’ll love you for it.

And that is my two cents worth.