November Prompt: It's getting CHILLY out there!

[Prof. Tarma Amelia Black]

We have a focus on 'Winter' in our November Book Trivia Game. Is there anything in books or stories which focus on winter - as a season or a time of year - which has caught your imagination?

There is one 'quote' which I immediately think of! A series of books, highly regarded by many and made into film, contains a phrase and always I think of snow and ice and wind. (Do you know of what I write?) Post below with any book or movie or book made into a movie which, to you, is explicitly pointing at winter.

If you post with words, your write-up needs to be at least 100 words to count towards Beans (and any possible award)! If you post a graphic, please keep it to 600x600 or smaller, and write a brief description underneath what the graphic depicts.

You will receive 20 Beans when you post. Any replies in here, through the school year, will be credited towards a possible award. As always, please keep to HOL appropriate sources for your post.

There is no deadline as such for these prompts but if you’d like it to count towards your chance of earning the award for a specific year, we’ll need it by the end of that school year. If you’re comfortable sharing, then post below. If not, email your story to us via hol.bookclub @ gmail.com (without the spaces).

Remember to click preview before posting to look for spelling and grammatical errors -- or see if auto-correct changed what you wanted to write to something entirely else!

[Hannah Lovegood]

Narnia (from The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe) is set in winter and it is always snowing.

[Silvana Mandeville]

The Nutcracker and the Four Realms. When a girl crossed a fantasy world on the Christmas Eve.

[Hiya Debnath]

While thinking of winter brings many books to mind, I thought I would like to use this opportunity to discuss a book from my favorite genre - fantasy. "The Bear and the Nightingale" by Katherine Arden, is Katherine Arden's debut novel set in the chilly winter season. It is based in the lands of Russia where temperatures are constantly low. The story is based on Russian folklore and depicts a young girl fond of fairytales told by her grandmother, especially those about the winter demon Frost. However, her world turns upside down when her father remarries and in comes her stepmother. Her stepmother prevents her family from continuing the tradition of honoring the household spirits which brings harm upon them and causes evil things to happen. The girl is then forced to use her hidden powers to remedy the situation. A thrilling fantasy drama story full of magic, set against a chilly backdrop, this book is a perfect read by the fireplace with a cup of coffee or hot chocolate in hand. Throughout the book, one is glued to it's pages, reading about the young girl discovering herself throughout the book and coming to terms with her powers. The entire book is a very magical read with magic playing an important role in all the occurrences. Despite the very common evil stepmother trope, this is not just a simple fairytale but one that in many ways is inspiring and teaches some important values while giving little glimpses into the cultural beliefs in Russia. I truly enjoyed reading this book very much.


2.11.2024 - Beans sent - Tarma

[Dibyarup James Potter]

Imgur Link - Larger Version [1200 x 1200 px]

The Frozen movie series by Disney is one of those that is explicitly pointing at winter. I do enjoy watching the movies every now and then, but they are the most enjoyable during the winter. I have included photos from Frozen and Frozen II in the graphic above, highlighting its winter and ice-magic theme.



6.20.2024 - Beans sent - Tarma

[Galena May]

Thinking of winter brings to mind the 1944 fairytale "The Snow Queen" by one of the most celebrated fairytale authors, Hans Christian Andersen. It was adapted into a film of the same name. It tells the story of two little children, Kai, a boy, and, Gerda, a girl, who are neighbors as well as friends and love each other deeply until the Snow Queen kidnaps Kai. Also, fragments of a troll's mirror in Kai's eye and an ice fragment in his heart make Kai lose his love and see everything as ugly, except for snow, which he is obsessed with. Meanwhile, Gerda journeys several realms to reach Kai and rescues him with the help of the innocence and warmth in her heart. Her love is reciprocated by Kai as he is healed by Gerda's kiss melting the icy fragment in his heart and is forced to cry making the tears release the mirror fragment in his eye and he sees everything beautiful again. In the film version, they are brother and sister, not friends, and the plot is changed a bit. The Snow Queen's backstory is revealed in both versions and has something to do with emotional hurt and coldness or aloofness (as in manner of demeanor), and misery, wanting to see others miserable. The whole backdrop of winter and ice being the main weapon of destruction and the Snow Queen's snowy abode and icy wintery aesthetic lends a symbolic meaning related to winter to the story. Gerda's warm heart full of love and innocence is the perfect cure to it and is neatly symbolized by it being summer at their house when they finally return home together, with Kai happy and healed.
Winter being associated with stark, cold, rude, aloof, and barren is a very common theme in many plots, although many love the winter season. Summer, or more commonly spring, on the other hand is associated with warmth, love, rebirth, and fresh starts to the story.




9.14.2024 - Beans sent - Tarma