Life with Nat - EP196: Book Club #6 - Wintering by Katherine May⁠⁠⁠⁠

Episode Date: February 1, 2026

It's time to have a look at January's book - Wintering by Katherine May⁠⁠⁠⁠. What did you all think? Enjoy!! xx February’s book club - ANY of Sophie Kinsella’s books.  Nat will be reading Sophie’s classic Confessions of a Shopaholic, but pick yourself any of her books to celebrate the life of Sophie, who sadly passed away in Decemeber 2025 - https://www.sophiekinsella.co.uk/books/ Please subscribe, follow, and leave a review. xxx You can find us in all places here; ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podfollow.com/lifewithnat/view⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We're on Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/lifewithnatpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Nat's insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natcass1⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Marc's insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@camera_marc⁠⁠⁠⁠ Niece's insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natsnieces⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Tony's insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@tonycass68⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Linny's insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@auntielinny.lwn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ MORE LIVE SHOWS! 07/02/2026 Brighton, The Forge ⁠⁠⁠⁠TICKETS⁠⁠⁠⁠ 08/02/2026 Newcastle upon Tyne, The Stand ⁠⁠⁠⁠TICKETS⁠⁠⁠⁠ 25/02/2026 Folkestone, Quarterhouse ⁠⁠⁠⁠TICKETS⁠⁠⁠⁠ 28/02/2026 Colchester, Arts Centre ⁠⁠⁠⁠TICKETS⁠⁠⁠⁠ 07/03/2026 Manchester, Fairfield Social Club ⁠⁠⁠⁠TICKETS⁠⁠⁠⁠ 22/03/2026 Leeds, The Wardrobe ⁠⁠⁠⁠TICKETS⁠⁠⁠⁠ 29/03/2026 Bristol, The Gaffe - ⁠⁠⁠⁠TICKETS⁠⁠⁠⁠ Book Club: February's Book - ⁠⁠anything by Sophie Kinsella https://www.sophiekinsella.co.uk/books/ Nat’s solo chats - any rants always welcome!  Scraping the Barrel - SCAN AND SHOP VIRGIN NO LONGER! Bonce vs list! - Are you a list maker? Always collecting for Nostalgia Fest! What’s brewing with the Nieces - AGEING & non-negotiables Things we’re nagging with Linny about - More lateness stories and some cleaning questions, please! The Tony talks chatter - Keep your DIY questions coming, also open to some saucy two paragraph stories for Tony to read out at the Southend show - think cheeky postcards (both in tone and length)! Can we make Tony an influencer and get him any freebies?  A 'Keep It Light Media' Production Sales, advertising, and general enquiries: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[e-mail]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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But I can't keep saying it's Nat's niece's bookworms when they haven't read it. They're definitely going to get involved next week. They've promised me. So I'll tell you all about what we're going to read next a bit later. But firstly, happy 1st of February. Bloody hell we've got through it. That was a very long month.

I know I keep banging on about it, but it felt eternal and I am so pleased to turn the page of my calendar onto February. I really enjoyed January's book. I've had quite a lot of negativity about it. Now I don't know whether that is because

it's a very slow, gentle read but I thought it was a perfect fit for January and thank you for the recommendation from a listener. I thought Catherine's writing was very honest. At some points I did, I did feel, oh, this is very middle class, kind of singing lessons, cold water swimming, crafting, but actually, it's sort of the person I'd like to be, which I quite enjoyed as well. I found it a little self-indulgent in places, but also I thought it was very honest. and I loved the parts about her son and the realisation that he wasn't happy at school.

I thought that was really, really honest and quite insightful into her life. And obviously she'd had a very, very hard time and we learnt about her husband being poorly, her being poorly, and wintering cleverly hasn't got to be in the depths of winter. It's more of an emotional wintering

that she was talking about. that can occur at any stage. And I think I've learned a lot from the book about how to process things, to slow things down, to appreciate nature on what's around you. I loved all of the facts in it, a bit like my book. You know, you could learn along the way. I love the stuff about the bees and how they act

and, you know, what they do to survive. So, yeah, I really, really enjoyed it. And I even got a little Instagram message from Catherine when I popped the book up saying, I hope you enjoy. So if Catherine or anyone she knows listens, I truly enjoyed it. I'm going to play some reviews and read them. And yeah, here we go. Hi, Annette, this is Rebecca in Jersey. Just thought I'd send you another voice now.

It was just about your book club. I just want to say thank you because it made me join the library after several years. yeah it's been really good it's really quite exciting when you search on the library website and the book in the club is free and you can obviously get the copy so i've been looking for the recent one because that sounds great and there was one free so i went we've got two libraries here one in the town and one sort of out of town so i went to the little library out of town got there and it turns out that the only copy that the island has is at the prison in the prison library. So I was a bit peeved and I was a bit like, oh, okay, that's a shame.

But actually looking at the front cover, it's saying the power of rest and retreat in difficult times, I thought, yeah, that's probably a really good place to have the book. You've got quite a lot of time to read it and they are quite difficult. So, yeah, I've ordered my copy now. But I hope the person who's reading it in the prison gets quite a lot of out of it, because I think it sounds like it's going to be great. And just one more thing, I just want to say, even though we're kind of over Christmas now,

we're not really, you know, it's in the past, the best advice that you and your brother gave about Don't Be a Lazy Bastard over Christmas was fabulous. It really got me doing everything I need to do. And yeah, I would totally, that is going to be my new saying for Christmas because it made me very successful at my to-do list. So, yeah, anyway, thank you. you, loving the pod and

can't wave the next one. Bye. Oh, well, thank you, Rebecca, for that. It is quite funny, isn't it, that I'm sat here talking about a really intellectual book and you said that your favourite quote that I've said with my brother is, don't be a lazy bastard.

But there you go, that's the difference between myself and Catherine, obviously. In terms of the book being in the prison, I find that quite marvellous actually Like you I hope it's being shared around I mean people have got plenty of time to have a little read haven't they laying in their bunks Do they have bunks

You see when I think of prison I just envision porridge and Ronnie Barker Not sure if it's like that anymore Richard Beck and Sale Anyhow I did quite a lot of reading There was always a book on the go And I think it will help people

I think it'll be very good We had a little message here from Marie in Galway, who's always a lovely listener and quite funny. And she said goodbye January, thank fuck. I'm fine with it. I actually love it, but I am so fed up listening to everyone moaning the past month. Blue Monday was one of the happiest days for me. Whoever invented that needs a slap.

See, I like Marie because she's very straight talking. Bit like myself. There's no mucking about with her. So thank you for that, Marie. A couple of people on Facebook have said, if you don't follow, please do Natalie Cassidy's Life with Nat podcast. I'm on Facebook. So find that, get yourself on there.

Because you can comment and then I read stuff out. So if you like Facebook, get yourself on there. Deb E. Vans said, I listened to it as an audio book this week. I wasn't sure whether I'd like it or not, but I had three very long train journeys and needed to be occupied and I actually really enjoyed it. It gave me reassurance that even when life falls apart,

piece by piece, you can put things back in place. I found it weirdly relatable and it's somewhat normalised that life at times is tough. Yeah, I think that's so well put. And I could relate, but I don't know why. Because she lives in Wittstable, I could relate to that because that was my childhood sort of trip in the car for anyone who read my book, Happy Days. I speak about it. We never went on holiday when I was little. Our holiday was kind of getting in the car and having a day out and having fish and chips on the stones in Whitstable. So I did find that relatable and I could sort of picture where she was, which was so nice. Mark also proposed to me in Whitstable, so it holds a very special place in my heart. Katie Smallfield said,

halfway through the audiobook and enjoying the slower pace and feel of it all, Perfect for January. Please can I suggest my friend's debut novel, Room 706, for a different pace, suspenseful love story about a mother like us and written for tired but clever women everywhere. Even SJP has backed it. That sounds like a cracker.

I shall put it on the list, Katie. Thank you very much. I do find choosing books very, very difficult. There are so many books. I know you know that. But it is quite hard. of what to do and what genre. But the next one I'm going to do,

I will tell you now, I've had lots and lots of people talking about Sophie Kinsella and obviously she passed away before Christmas, which is so, so sad. I'll read this to you first and then I'll tell you what I'm going to do. Now, I listened to your book review this morning.

The suggestion to read a Sophie Kinsella book is a wonderful way to pay tribute. I was on my cruise when she passed, but I had picked up one of her novels on the library on the ship, not knowing it was her last night, novel and a very personal novel. Can I suggest we read this and for anyone not wanting to read as it's a bit of a hard read, they can pick any of our other novels. Here is a wee overview. Sophie Kinsella's newest book is the poignant novella, What Does It Feel Like? Published in late

2024, which is a deeply personal and heartwarming story about a novelist facing a brain tumour and relearning life's simple joys, inspired by Kinsella's own health struggles. It's a short but powerful read that offers a celebration of life and love through a difficult diagnosis, noted for being both heartbreaking and funny. Thanks Nat, love Fee in Scotland. Fee also read both December books on holiday and she loved them. Fee, I'm going to do exactly what you said. I think it's a brilliant idea. That is Sophie's newest book that she wrote and that is what does it feel like. If people want to read that, please do. But I'm going to throw it out. read whatever Sophie can sell a book you would like.

I'm going to choose Confessions of a Shopaholic because I've never read any of her books. So I'm going to go back and I'm going to read that. And then we can all just say what one we read if we enjoyed it and, you know, a little bit about each book. And that'll be at the end of Feb. So, yeah, I think that's a brilliant idea and I really, really thank you for it.

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Via Rail, love the way. Kim from Ludlow says, book review of wintering. I was so looking forward to a good hunkering down by the fire to read this. It captured my interest at the start, but I felt it descended into a long, winger ball fest about all our illnesses. How many people can winter, by not working and taking singing lessons, I wonder. Yes, I do understand what you're saying.

You know, I do love a point of view. And there were parts of it, as I've said, that did feel a little self-indulgent. And I'm sorry you didn't enjoy it. But there you go. That's what I book clubs for. Can't love everything. Onward and upward.

Marios said, Hi, Marios. I am so happy to have read Wintering because it gave me the permission I feel is lacking in general society, to just be, to feel okay about accepting that we are like other mammals, and we need time to recuperate and hunker down. I love the author's unapologetic style of, this is my experience, this is what I've learnt, take it or leave it. There is no pressure to be one way or another, and that, blended with a touch of autobiography, makes it the perfect book in my opinion.

Thank you for choosing it, and I shall look forward to the next one, Marios. That is such a lovely review, And again, that's what our book club's about, right? You're reading things that you might not pick up. You're going to enjoy some. You might find an amazing style that you've never read that you fall in love with and you'll read more of. So, yeah, so good to hear from you. Thanks, Marios.

Faye from Aberdeenshire in Scotland, school librarian and Vionetta lover, said, hello Nat, loving the book club, and I'm about halfway through wintering. It's really thoughtful and considered, but maybe a bit serious at times. I have a wee recommendation for you and think you will approve.

The book is Welcome to the neighbourhood by Jane Fallon, who is the long-term partner of your favourite, Ricky Jervais. I do know that. Would you believe? I will send you a pick of the cover and the blurb. Her books are always magic.

She is one funny lady and sharp as a tack. Keep being amazing from Fay. So I'm going to put Jane on the list. Never read a Jane Fallon book. So these are all fantastic. Is she as funny as Ricky though? That's what I want to know. I doubt it.

Or maybe she's funnier. And he's learned everything he knows from Jane. Quite a possibility. Let's be honest. Morning there. I just was listening to the Book Club pod. And I thought I'd just say thank you for introducing me to the author of The Housemaid. Because I've since listened to and read several of her other books.

And I don't think I would have. done that unless I'd thought yep do you know what I'm getting back into reading and I'm doing this book club with you all and I went to see the housemaid with a friend my mom and my mother-in-law two of us had seen it me and my friend we'd read it sorry and we were able to talk about it afterwards how it was different to the book and things and yeah it was I really enjoyed that film and I think I'm going to go back and read the other housemaid ones in the series as well but yeah thank you very much and I hope your January is going well.

Thank you for that. I'm so pleased. I'd never ever read any of those books, the Freedom McFadden ones. And I did enjoy it. And as you know, Eliza loved the film. I'm looking forward to watching the film of Eliza because she wants me to.

And then maybe I'll go back and read a few more. There's just so many authors to get through. I kind of want to just have an array of difference before I sort of, you know, hunker down to one author. Hi, Nat. I hope you really well. Thanks so much for recommending this month's book, Wintering. Wow, what a great book.

Really enjoyed it, and honestly, it's coming at a really important time for me, going through my own personal winter with some challenges at work and a period of intense anxiety. I've taken a lot from it and will continue to refer back to it as I recover from a tough time, looking forward to spring. Already can't wait for next month's book. Thank you. And that's from Haley. Haley, I'm sorry you've been for a tough time.

Things do get better. They always will do. And that's, I suppose, what Catherine was saying. And really what I say all the time, you know, we go through dark periods, but there will always be light at the end of the tunnel. Even in your darkest days, never give up. Never, ever. We all worry at different parts of our life.

We worry about different things. But there will always come a little bit of sunshine, a little bit of light, a treat, a friend. someone to make you smile. So you just keep going and anxiety is so awful. Really, really awful. I've suffered with it this month. Not to a huge extent. I'm not saying it was extreme,

but that tight feeling in the chest and that feeling of worrying you don't even know why you're worrying and it isn't great. So yeah, take a deep breath and you'll be all right, I promise. Roger said, I'm not going to lie, it wasn't for me.

I found it quite boring, but I think this may have been because I listened to the audio and it wasn't read by the author. I think the passion and realness isn't there when not read by the author. Fingers crossed, the next one, is more to my liking. Well, fingers crossed, Roger, I'm sure it will be. You can choose a book of choice from Sophie Kinsella. Hi, Nat, so I would never have picked up this book if I had been in a shop. However, being a loyal book club girl and audible being my thing, I gave it a go.

I compared it with someone who was reading it, and we both agreed that the start was a slow burner. I definitely would have struggled had I been reading it and not listening to the author's soothing voice. Completely different to Roger, see? Everyone's different. I quite like the slow pace of January and I actually began to enjoy this book

and I thought this was a good one for this time of year. I enjoyed learning new facts and hearing how people winter. We have it so easy compared to the Scandinavians. Goodness me, don't we? When you think about the light, lack of light and just that bitter cold. I mean, it's crazy. Absolutely crazy.

I've been taking a dip in the outdoor pole at the gym I'm going to at the moment and it isn't like cold water swimming at all. It's actually warm, but still outside, still got to get in, still got to get out wet. And I did think about the book and think about the Scandinavians. For the future, could I make a suggestion?

Maybe one of Harriet from the Traitor's books. I've heard her book Blood Orange is fantastic. It's going on the list. But as it's Feb, how about something girly for Galantines? Thank you for the pod and book club as always. Lots and lots of love, Michelle from Welling. And it's not too far from where? Where?

Thank you, Michelle, for that. Fantastic little suggestion. I wonder if they are good, the books, or is it just because it's Harriet from the traitors? I did see an Instagram review, and I think it was the Times of the Telegraph, saying that they are marvellous. So I'll chuck it on the list.

And in terms of something girly for Galantines, I think the shopaholic stuff is quite girly and quite good for Galantines, if you want to go down that route, rather than her last final novel. Fay also left me a message on Instagram, and she said, back to the current book, Winterin, the best chapter was when she went cold water swimming.

It might persuade you to give it a go again. Well, look, I'm outside swimming in a heated pole. That's as far as it's going for now. I'd love to get in the cold water and just a bit of a wuss. And my experience on that channel for a documentary when they lowered me in just doesn't help me really. I'd rather just run into the sea. Hi Nat, just sending in a book review for wintering.

I'm about two-thirds in. I am really liking the tone of the book. It's very different. It is very slow, but I think it's meant to be slow. So it's doing the job that it's written. to do. I love the sentiment of it and it really makes you think about your own wintering journey and that's not just the season but your own kind of life and emotions and things you're going through. And I love how open and honest she is about things going on in her life and I particularly

enjoyed the bit about her son when she pulled her son out of school and how they had their own wintering and healing process and then she found the homeschooling group. I really liked that element of it. I liked the tone and the energy of it. I do think it's a really nice book. It's very, very different to something that I would read. It's one that I am going to keep because I think it's got a really lovely soul to the book. And it's, yeah, it's just a, it's a really nice, comforting book. I think it was a really good choice for this time of year. And I also think it's made me, approach things slightly differently, particularly this time of year as well. And I've kind of not wanted to rush January. And I know we all joke about, oh God, it's, you know, the 58th of January

and it's the longest month. But actually, it's the longest month for a reason. So it's about reframing your own thoughts to embrace what's around you and taking stock of what you need. And I really like that. So yeah, overall, I would say, I don't know, seven or eight out of ten. Thank you, Claire. We had the same thoughts about that, and I really like that section as well about her little boy and taking him out of school and stuff. I really enjoyed it. And as always, lovely to hear from my friend Claire. Claire actually bought me a book for Christmas. I'm yet to open it. Don't you worry. I will be doing that soon. Looks fabulous. I can't thank you all enough, as always, for sending in reviews on Instagram, Facebook, voice note, this would not be able to be our little thing if you didn't read the books. So thank you so so much. Let me know, send us a picture or a voice note or a little, whatever, a little message.

Let me know what Sophie can sell a book you choose to read. And I think that really opens it up. And also a few people would say, can we have more notice for the book club? so they can find it in the library or buy it elsewhere or a bookshop or what have you, which I completely understand and I know that this sort of thing can be expensive. I can't really do that because it's got to be a month-by-month thing. So I hope this coming out on the 1st of Feb will give you plenty of time and you've got plenty of choice because the late and great Sophie obviously wrote many, many books.

Thank you for listening. Have a fantastic rest of your Sunday. Hunker down before a very busy week starts, no doubt. Love you all loads and speak soon. See ya.