In "Wintering," Katherine May weaves a profound tale of personal metamorphosis through the embrace of life's colder, darker seasons. With unflinching honesty and lyrical grace, May chronicles her journey through unexpected adversity—her husband's mysterious illness, her son's struggles with school, and her own health issues that led her to step away from her career. This narrative is far more than a story of survival; it is a testament to the transformative power of surrendering to life's inevitable ebbs. May's exploration is deeply enriched by her reflections on literature, mythology, and the natural world, drawing parallels between human experiences of hardship and the cycles of nature itself. "Wintering" extends an invitation to its readers to reconsider their own responses to periods of personal desolation. May advocates for a radical acceptance of sadness and an active engagement with solitude, proposing that true nourishment comes from a deep retreat into the self. From the quiet joy found in the stark beauty of winter, to the profound lessons gleaned from the dormancy of nature, May crafts a guiding philosophy that celebrates life's cyclical nature. Through her eyes, we learn to see these fallow periods not as times to be feared, but as opportunities for growth and renewal, preparing us for the blossoming that follows.