annecater
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Seasonal Reads?For the past couple of years I've tried to read at least a couple of Christmas themed books in December.
Are you intending to read any? I know Sarah has already started on hers.
Here's the ones I've chosen for this year, I'd like to read the Fannie Flagg one aswell if I can get a copy:
Silent Night: The Remarkable Christmas Truce of 1914 by Stanley Weintraub
This book tells the extraordinary story of the Christmas Eve truce of 1914, during the First World War, when soldiers on the opposing sides laid down their arms, ate and drank together and exchanged gifts. Beautifully written and delightfully researched.
Rover Saves Christmas by Roddy Doyle
Christmas is under threat! Rudolf the red-nosed reindeer only works one night a year-but, unfortunately, he's chosen Christmas Eve to take a sickie. When your star sleigh-puller is stable-ridden with the flu, what do you do? You call Rover...Join Rover, Robbie, Jimmy and Kayla, and all the other stars of the Giggler Treatment for a fantastic race against time...as Santa embarks on a sleigh-ride he'll never forget...
[b]
A Christmas Card by Paul Theroux
From the author of "The Great Railway Bizarre" and "London Snow", this short, poetic story evokes the meaning of one particular Christmas for one family. The story is set on America's East coast, but it could be anywhere, for the feeling it creates is universal and timeless.
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nuttymum303
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I am reading A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens, Skipping Christmas - John Grisham
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lovely treez
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I have none lined up this year, not because I'm not feeling festive, but I'd run out of seasonal titles. In previous years, I've read...
Skipping Christmas - John Grisham - funny book
A Redbird Christmas - Fannie Flagg (I'll check to see if I still have this Anne - it's not on shelves but might be in my inactive swaps box!)
The Christmas Mystery - Jostein Gaarder (loved this book, nice to read it a chapter a day through Advent)
A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens (didn't a few of us read this last Christmas? Hard to believe a year has gone by..)
I have heard of the Xmas Factor by Annie ? - Has anyone else read this one? Has anyone else any good recommendations? I might have a wee look in the library this week as they usually have a display of Christmas/Winter themed books.
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heathera
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I bought a copy of The Christmas Mystery - Jostein Gaarder last week and I'm hoping to get started on it this week. This is the first time I've decided to read something seasonal at Christmas. However I do have lots of beautiful seasonal books for the boys!!
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annecater
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Last year I read :
The Christmas Factor by Annie Saunders - a nice read, chick lit but easy enough.
A Christmas Carol - I think this was a BB book of the month?
The Christmas Train - David Baldacci - this was sweet but a little Americanised
The year before I read:
Skipping Christmas - John Grisham - another Americanised tale but quite funny
This Year It Will Be Different by Maeve Binchy - this was a USA paperback, I'm sure this was written with the USA market in mind - I hated it! Terrible twee short stories - she can do better than that!
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Karen
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Thanks for your lists of Christmas reads Anne. I don't think I can recall reading something with a Christmas theme at any time and definitely not especially at Christmas. Like Heather I always have had an abundance of Christmas books for my boys which came out and were added to on Dec 1st every year. I am going to buzz off and see if I can find some of these titles on the library catalogue and put a couple of requests in - I think they might be just the ticket for our R&R break in a couple of weeks.
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nicx27
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I've got Lanterns Across the Snow by Susan Hill, and the Everyman's Pocket Classics book of Christmas stories.
I've read The Xmas Factor, The Redbird Christmas, Skipping Christmas and The Christmas Mystery, and enjoyed all of those. I wasn't keen on The Christmas Train though.
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blueflower
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I'm going to try and read The Three Day Rule and A Highland Christmas as I have had both for ages. I would also like to re-read Winter Solstice if I get time.
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eightlegs
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I have read a couple already this "season" as I'm tonight starting Winter Solstice by Rosamund Pilcherwhich is quite thick and I know this month will be busy.
I have read Sea of Dreams - Susan Sallis which I enjoyed. If anyone would like it I am happy to send it on.
Have today finished Skipping Christmas by John Grisham. It's very american and I thought some of it a bit over the top but then got the the second half and liked the way it went after that.
And since I'm doing so well after Winter Solstice I might try to squeeze in A Christmas Carol which I failed to read last year, and have just watched A Muppet Christmas Carol on DVD with the kids this evening!
The kids books are out but not much read yet, but we too have the Rover Saves Christmas which we enjoyed last year Anne. No doubt we will re-read it!
And Gwen, I really enjoyed The Three Day Rule when I read it (last year, or was it the year before?), hope you do too.
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jobar
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My copy of A Christmas Carol has several other Christmas stories so this year I'm going to pick The Haunted Man.
On a lighter note I shall read The Xmas Factor by Annie Sanders.
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blueflower
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| eightlegs wrote: | I have read a couple already this "season" as I'm tonight starting Winter Solstice by Rosamund Pilcherwhich is quite thick and I know this month will be busy.
I have read Sea of Dreams - Susan Sallis which I enjoyed. If anyone would like it I am happy to send it on.
Have today finished Skipping Christmas by John Grisham. It's very american and I thought some of it a bit over the top but then got the the second half and liked the way it went after that.
And since I'm doing so well after Winter Solstice I might try to squeeze in A Christmas Carol which I failed to read last year, and have just watched A Muppet Christmas Carol on DVD with the kids this evening!
The kids books are out but not much read yet, but we too have the Rover Saves Christmas which we enjoyed last year Anne. No doubt we will re-read it!
And Gwen, I really enjoyed The Three Day Rule when I read it (last year, or was it the year before?), hope you do too. |
I watch The Muppet Christmas Carol every Christmas:blush: It's funny you mentioned it as I was just telling the other girls in the office how good it is - don't think they believed me.
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zanthewitch
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The Muppet Christmas Carol - is GREAT, I love this version.
As for reads don't forget Terry Prachett's Hogfather.
Zan
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Karen
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| eightlegs wrote: |
Have today finished Skipping Christmas by John Grisham. It's very american and I thought some of it a bit over the top but then got the the second half and liked the way it went after that. |
I received this as part of the "Chinese Auction" at my first reading group session last week. Quite appropriate because I had been reading about all the Christmas reads everyone was doing on here and was having a bit of trouble deciding what to try.
I can do American (lived there for a couple of years so I can usually relate characters to Americans I've actually met!) and over the top, especially when we are at Center Parcs next week - the deal is that the boys swim and do sweaty stuff and I read!
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eightlegs
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| Karen wrote: | | we are at Center Parcs next week - the deal is that the boys swim and do sweaty stuff and I read! |
Sounds like heaven to me (though I'd include a bit of swimming, the only sport I do) - have a lovely time.
Sarah
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annecater
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I've acquired a couple more short Christmas reads:
A Wayne In A Manger by Gervase Phinn
Politically Correct Holiday Stories by James Finn Garner
now I just have to get round to reading them!
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blueflower
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| Karen wrote: | | eightlegs wrote: |
Have today finished Skipping Christmas by John Grisham. It's very american and I thought some of it a bit over the top but then got the the second half and liked the way it went after that. |
I received this as part of the "Chinese Auction" at my first reading group session last week. Quite appropriate because I had been reading about all the Christmas reads everyone was doing on here and was having a bit of trouble deciding what to try.
I can do American (lived there for a couple of years so I can usually relate characters to Americans I've actually met!) and over the top, especially when we are at Center Parcs next week - the deal is that the boys swim and do sweaty stuff and I read! |
.........and you can buy books at Center Parcs - if it is the one at Whinfell forest my hubby works for the company that does the books there. (more shameless advertising) 
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Karen
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| blueflower wrote: | | Karen wrote: | | eightlegs wrote: |
Have today finished Skipping Christmas by John Grisham. It's very american and I thought some of it a bit over the top but then got the the second half and liked the way it went after that. |
I received this as part of the "Chinese Auction" at my first reading group session last week. Quite appropriate because I had been reading about all the Christmas reads everyone was doing on here and was having a bit of trouble deciding what to try.
I can do American (lived there for a couple of years so I can usually relate characters to Americans I've actually met!) and over the top, especially when we are at Center Parcs next week - the deal is that the boys swim and do sweaty stuff and I read! |
.........and you can buy books at Center Parcs - if it is the one at Whinfell forest my hubby works for the company that does the books there. (more shameless advertising) |
Tell me more! We are going to Whinfell, I don't remember books there from last year, but then I generally hate shopping so unless it was a great big sign saying "books this way" it would have passed me by!
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blueflower
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Full price books only, so no bargains I'm afraid. I think they are in the supermarket, kid store, sport centre, gift shop etc.
Enjoy your break. I have never been but it sounds like a good place for a holiday.
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katey
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Bumping this for more Christmas reads!
I am going to read 'Skipping Christmas' this year. In the past I have read 'A Christmas Carol' and 'The Christmas Mystery' at this time of year.
I am going to reserve some at the library if I cna find any others that appeal to me.
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Karen
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| katey wrote: | Bumping this for more Christmas reads!
I am going to read 'Skipping Christmas' this year. In the past I have read 'A Christmas Carol' and 'The Christmas Mystery' at this time of year.
I am going to reserve some at the library if I cna find any others that appeal to me. |
Do you have a copy of Skipping Christmas Katey? I have a copy that you are welcome to if you want it - yours to pass on or do what you want with once you are done with it. I read it last year and will not want to read it again.
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eightlegs
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I have three lined up for Christmas so far:
A Wedding in December by Anita Shrive which someone pointed out on RISI as appropriate and was already on my TBR
The Adventures of the Christmas Pudding by Agatha Christie which I found at my mums when I was looking for AC books in Sept and is a collection of short stories (not my favourite but I'll give it a go)
Agatha Raisin and Kissing Christmas Goodbye - M C Beaton
And I still haven't read A Christmas Carol by Dickens even though I now own a copy but it went into storage at my mum's and I'm not sure if I'll be able to retrieve it.
And I shan't start reading them until 1st Dec.
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katey
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| Karen wrote: | | katey wrote: | Bumping this for more Christmas reads!
I am going to read 'Skipping Christmas' this year. In the past I have read 'A Christmas Carol' and 'The Christmas Mystery' at this time of year.
I am going to reserve some at the library if I cna find any others that appeal to me. |
Do you have a copy of Skipping Christmas Katey? I have a copy that you are welcome to if you want it - yours to pass on or do what you want with once you are done with it. I read it last year and will not want to read it again. |
Thanks so much for the offer Karen, but I have just managed to get a copy of it from the library. Well, reserved a copy anyway!
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Karen
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| katey wrote: | | Karen wrote: | | katey wrote: | Bumping this for more Christmas reads!
I am going to read 'Skipping Christmas' this year. In the past I have read 'A Christmas Carol' and 'The Christmas Mystery' at this time of year.
I am going to reserve some at the library if I cna find any others that appeal to me. |
Do you have a copy of Skipping Christmas Katey? I have a copy that you are welcome to if you want it - yours to pass on or do what you want with once you are done with it. I read it last year and will not want to read it again. |
Thanks so much for the offer Karen, but I have just managed to get a copy of it from the library. Well, reserved a copy anyway! |
Well, if you want it just let me know. It's only a slim paperback and will be easy to post plus of course it eases up the space a tiny bit too! 
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katey
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You just want room for more books-I know your tactics! 
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jobar
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I'm going to have to get some Christmas reads organised...I feel a mooch or two will be needed this year, as I really don't have anything Christmassy on my bookshelves, apart from A Christmas Carol which I seem to read every year !!
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katey
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I have Skipping Christmas, and The Father Christmas Letters by Tolkein from the library. Will start them soon 
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Tigerlily
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I quite like reading ghost stories in true Victorian Christmas tradition! I quite fancy re-reading The Turn of the Screw by Henry James. I have a Christmas anthology I get down each year filled with short stories and excerpts from novels. It's gorgeous. I quite fancy reading fairy tales too, for that magical element.
I still fancy a Christmas readalong.
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katey
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Have read my first Christmassy book- 'The Father Christmas Letters' by JRR Tolkien. I loved it, gorgeous illustrations too. 
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eightlegs
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Have been having a major sort out today, putting some stuff into storage (my mums  ) and came across A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and his Christmas Stories. I had them as a present last year with the intention to read them this year but had lost them!!!
So they'll be added to my Christmas reading list which I shall start when I finish my current book which should be by the middle of next week, to tie in nicely with the start of December.  I'm going for Agatha Raisin first!
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katey
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I was going to suggest those for the Christmas readlong Sarah!
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eightlegs
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I was thinking Dickens Christmas stories might be good for the readalong too, nice and compartmentalised, and people could join in with some or all.
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