Winter's Song: A Hymn to the North

Winter's Song celebrates the intimate, intense relationship Americans living in the northern Midwest have with the season. Many see it as a cold, drab, and miserable time of the year sprinkled with warm holiday spices and a yearning to fly south. Yet Mischke's book invites us into the lives of the hearty people of the north, born with ice in their veins, who accept and even embrace winter like it's a member of the family.

While the other seasons have their place among the pages, winter takes center stage and is depicted like a fantastic and familiar Nordic realm, one that has profoundly influenced and shaped the people of the north. From amusing stories of winter driving, unique fashions, and the inspiring experiences of children, to the effect winter has on spirituality, the health benefits of the cold, and the outsized role of the meteorologist, Winter's Song paints the season with whimsical humor, breathtaking beauty, ancient lore, and cultural touchstones.

But Mischke does more than tie winter to these people of the north. It holds a frosty mirror up to their lives and examines what it means to be human through greater clarity and appreciation. Only through this exploration, can deeper meaning be found in the fluttering snow, the sparkles cast from icicles, and the twinkling darkness overhead at night. Winter's Song isn't just a hymn. It's an ode that elevates the season to a living breathing presence and passes its rich rewards to those who invite it in.