Nothing is better on a cold day than a good book. So with the polar vortex starring in recent forecasts, now is a perfect time to cozy up and read. Here are a few books which, though not entirely winter themed, are sure to pass the snowed-in days.

1. Commonwealth by Ann Patchett

Since being put on shelves in just September of this year, Patchett's Commonwealth has earned critical acclaim and overwhelmingly positive reviews. The novel is extremely immersive, spanning 5 decades of plot detailing the aftermath of a chance meeting at a christening party. Simultaneously witty, warm, and ambitious in its storytelling. In short, the experience of reading Commonwealth could be described as both refreshing and, more precisely, pleasantly different. This book, Patchett's 7th novel, is good for any reader who enjoys following the lives of multiple narratives within a single, tied-together plot.

2. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

Certainly not as recent, but equally compelling, as the first book in this list is Sylvia Plath's magnum opus: The Bell Jar. The novel, which is semi-autobiographical, follows protagonist Esther Greenwood through life, depression, and back again through a beautifully crafted display of human experience. Though dark at times, the work is also rich with dry wit and ultimately leaves the reader feeling fulfilled despite any previous despair that may have previously been induced by certain chapters.

3. Beloved by Toni Morrison

This beautiful yet brutal Pulitzer Prize winning novel, which details the intense traumas undergone by an escaped slave, is no small task to read. While Beloved is both technically and emotionally difficult to process it is a necessary and fantastic contribution to the literary canon. Oftentimes more poetic than prose, the work is a stunning example of stream-of-consciousness writing and is perfect for those seeking challenge.

4. Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman

A departure from the previous works of prose on this list, Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass is an essential experience for any reader. This poetry collection, which was written and re-written by Whitman throughout his life, is an accomplishment of humanity and of art. It explores the soul, life, and what it means to "be." In short Leaves of Grass can be re-read again and again with something new to always offer.

5. Travels With Charley by John Steinbeck

Steinbeck, most famous for Grapes of Wrath deserves recognition too for this fabulous exploration of "place." Overall, this book is made up of snapshots of realism, even in instances where the happenings were fabricated. The story literally travels as does the narrator through the America of the 1960's-- captivating the reader with scenery, people, and emotions.