The Wisdom of Winter

Written by Annie Seyler

Narrated by Maria Marquis

2023 Book of the Year in Fiction (Independent Publishers of New England)
2023 Best in Literary Fiction (Independent Publishers of New England)
2023 Finalist in Women's Fiction (National Indie Excellence Awards)
2023 Reviewer's Choice Award (Feathered Quill Books)
2023 Adult Fiction with Animal Theme, 2nd place (Feathered Quill Books)
"A deeply moving novel." (BookView Review)
"Great for fans of Anne Lamott." (BookLife Reviews)
"A book to be savored. A pure delight." (Independent Publishers of New England)
"...passionate, memorable, reflective reading." (D. Donovan, Midwest Book Review)
Tangled influences compel a young girl to hide her true nature until one weekend in her mid-20s when the truths she’s been suppressing call her to a crossroads she can’t avoid.

Insulated from societal mores by her glamorous mother and humble father, six-year-old Beatrice—barefoot in ratty overalls—tunes into animals, senses the unspoken, and thrives. But when tragedy penetrates their rural Vermont bubble, Beatrice is thrust into a world that tells her she has no place unless she hides her depth, pretties up, and falls in line. She complies.

Years later in San Francisco, incongruities in Beatrice's life abound. What’s real is hidden. What’s false is celebrated. She numbs and sidesteps and, despite inner warnings, artfully outruns thoughts of her family, the girl she once was, and the woman she pretends to be. But when a cascade of events steers her back to her childhood home, a discovery in a rundown barn quiets her. In the still point, she sees her crossroads: carry on the known path or step into uncertainty. Her future rests on her interpretation of change. Anxiety and loss. Or hope and renewal. She must decide who she is.

In beautiful, spare prose, The Wisdom of Winter explores the tenacity of misbeliefs, the magic in forgiveness, and the artistry of the natural world in healing the past.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Voice Over Vermont
• Release date: Apr 19, 2024
• ISBN: 9781639886487

Reviews for The Wisdom of Winter

[Leah Barton Tew · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

The first word that comes to mind about this book is “cheesy “. The second word is “pandering”. That pretty much sums it up.

[pomo58 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Wisdom of Winter by Annie Seyler is the kind of book that not only tells a story but makes the reader look at, and consider, events in their own life. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Beatrice and spending time in her world. Every time I empathized with her, or wanted to nudge her in a different direction, I also thought back to moments in my life when I made similar mistakes or faced similar doubts. In other words, this novel is both a very specific story and a very relatable story. Most of us have wondered who we are, who our family is, and what we actually want (as compared to what others seem to convince us we want).There will be moments that will bring a smile and some that bring a tear. Most of all, I think, is that it will bring life, with its many complications and insecurities, into better focus. Not perfect focus, but is it ever? I think I need to make a phone call, so I'll cut this short.Highly recommended for readers who enjoy a novel that looks at life writ large through the lens of one particular life.Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.