The holidays are, for many of us, that rare moment in the year when everything slows down a little. Candles on, phone away, book open. And because I’m a big fan of historical fiction, science fiction and good humour, I want to share three very different books that shaped my reading year.
Pope Joan by Donna W. Cross — History for the Heart
Historical fiction and sci-fi may seem far apart, but for me they share something essential: they take you into worlds that feel familiar enough to imagine, yet far enough removed from everyday life to truly escape for a few winter evenings.
Pope Joan is set in the early Middle Ages and tells the story of Johanna — a curious, intelligent and far too modern woman for her time. In a deeply patriarchal society where education was a privilege of men and life was shaped by randomness and superstition, she fights her way through monasteries, medicine, power structures and church politics.
Particularly fascinating (and at times unsettling) are
- the almost unchecked power of the church
- how little control people had over their own lives
- and the “science” of the time, which feels absurd from today’s perspective
The author reflects at the end whether Johanna might really have existed — but honestly, the story works beautifully either way.
As a father of two daughters, I love strong female protagonists. Combined with the historical setting, this book became a personal favourite for me.
🎬 Film fans take note: The novel was also adapted into a movie.
Verdict: A story for the heart.
The Restoration of Death by Andreas Eschbach — Sci-Fi for the Mind
This book takes place in the near future — not quite as far removed from everyday life as I sometimes prefer in sci-fi, but still absolutely gripping.
Without giving too much away: the core idea revolves around how death could be overcome through technology. The basic concept isn’t entirely new, but Eschbach tells it in a way that sparks curiosity and invites reflection.
Important note: the novel is currently only available in German, but an English audiobook is planned — great news for anyone outside the German speaking world who’s curious to dive in.
What I especially liked:
- Eschbach always finds a fascinating central idea. Few authors write such compelling brain-teasers.
- The notion of a truly neutral, unbiased news platform is a small but brilliant detail.
- The characters are complex and believable, especially the protagonist James Widower, who stays with you long after finishing the book.
Verdict: A story for the mind.
Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson — Humour for Anyone With Kids (or Who Never Wants Any) 😄
To finish off: something light. Something fun. Something you can read even when you’re too tired for “real” literature — Calvin and Hobbes.
Whether as a collected edition or a paperback, these comics are timeless. Anyone who has ever spent time with a six-year-old will instantly recognise the humour. It’s warm, clever and surprisingly profound for simple newspaper strips.
Calvin is six, bright, loud and wonderfully mischievous. His stuffed tiger Hobbes comes to life whenever the two are alone. Together, they embark on adventures, philosophise about the world and cause all kinds of chaos.
A few of my favourite moments:
- the snowman protest march against Calvin’s “strict” parents
- the “dad approval ratings” Calvin tries to improve with PR strategies
- the space adventures of Spaceman Spiff
- the time machine that is supposed to bring homework from the future
- and the legendary Transmogrifier — where Calvin turns into an elephant to remember things better… which unfortunately causes considerable damage in the house. Naturally, the elephant can’t be blamed. It is an elephant. 🐘😂
These comics capture the limitless imagination of a six-year-old so perfectly that you can’t help but laugh.
Verdict: Philosophy and imagination at their funniest. A must-read for anyone who has kids — or never wants any.
Whether you spend the holidays with a novel, a comic or a fresh learning path — this season is the perfect time to slow down, breathe and let yourself be inspired by good stories.
We wish you a wonderful Christmas season, many peaceful hours with family, friends and your favourite books, and a great start into the new year.
And if you feel like diving into something new in between: PEM Automic has plenty of Automic topics, tutorials and labs ready to give you those little “aha” moments — even between the holidays.
Happy holidays and a fantastic start to the new year!
Philipp and the PEM team