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Original poster

It's approaching that time of year...please recommend me a Christmas novel :-)

58 replies

EdinaMonsoon · 01/11/2018 11:30

Huge thank you in advance if you respond to my post :).

I'm looking for two novels on a Christmas theme & would love recommendations please. It's a tale of two genres:

Firstly, a light-hearted easy read. Last year I read The Xmas Factor which although formulaic was entertaining and didn't require much in the way of focus.

Secondly, I'd like a more in-depth, classic novel which would be perfect for evening/bedtime reading. I don't particularly care for historical novels written by contemporary authors but I do love writers of their era eg Austen, Brontes. To date, I have never read any Dickens and I wonder if this might be the year to pick it up? Would also be happy with a more contemporary tale but I honestly don't know where to start with that other than the chick-lit genre!

OP posts:
KeithLeMonde · 04/11/2018 17:57

I think I might read everything on this thread between now and the end of the year :) so many favourites mentioned!

KeithLeMonde · 04/11/2018 17:56

I'm loving all the wintery children's book recommendations.

Some more:
The Wolves of Willoughby Chase
Winter Holiday (Arthur Ransome)
Moominland Midwinter

None are very christmassy but all have lovely wintery magic

Papergirl1968 · 04/11/2018 13:09

Little House on the Prairie series, I mean, sorry.

Papergirl1968 · 04/11/2018 13:08

Some of the Little House on the Prairie have sweet Christmas scenes. I think there’s one where Laura is overcome and can’t believe her luck at getting her very own tin cup instead of having to share with Mary.

Threehoursfromhome · 04/11/2018 13:03

For your more 'serious' novel, I recommend the Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco. It's a big book which takes place in at a medieval monesty in winter - a murder mystery and much more. Its popularity is justified.

The Box of Delights is good. I also used to love another children's book - The Children of Green Knowe, beautifully written - you could read it in a sitting.

CalmConfident · 04/11/2018 12:56

That is a fabulous link Dottie Box of Delights is there too!

BabyMoonPie · 04/11/2018 12:55

Glad you're enjoying it x

CalmConfident · 04/11/2018 12:53

The box of delights - another classic children's tale with slightly sinister undertones

Dottierichardson · 04/11/2018 12:50

This link for The Guardian brings up a list of articles recommending books that are good to read over Christmas, including a really great article about the Susan Cooper books:

www.theguardian.com/books/series/season-s-readings

Dottierichardson · 04/11/2018 12:36

The Dark is rising series is great, the first one is the most traditionally written for children think The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe meets The Famous Five the later ones are (I think) better in terms of the style and the content. The one in the series called 'The Dark is Rising is the most seasonal, lots of wind and snow. And the legends they're set around build on King Arthur's legends. Checked out 'Christmas with the Savages and ended up sending off for a copy! Looks really good. Another good Christmassy classic children's book is The Children of Green Knowe.

BeatriceJoanna · 04/11/2018 11:42

Lots of really interesting books being mentioned. I'm glad I came back to look at this thread because both Christmas with the Savages and Noel Streatfeild's Christmas Stories sound fab and I hadn't heard about either.
Ada mentioning The Dark is Rising has also reminded me that I really should get round to reading these, I've been meaning to for ages.

Original poster
EdinaMonsoon · 04/11/2018 10:36

Christmas With The Savages sounds good as does Cold Christmas.

I enjoy reading children’s stories actually. Would love to revisit Noel Streatfield. I read her books repeatedly as a child.

Had rare night alone last night so lit candles & fire & began reading 12 Days of Christmas as recommended by Babymoonpie Smile. Enjoying it so far & have resolved to get through as many recommendations on here as possible.

OP posts:
gussiefox · 04/11/2018 08:33

Seconding The Christmas Train by David Baldacci.

Dottierichardson · 03/11/2018 23:15

Keith like the sound of 'Christmas with the Savages'. I've often re-read Susan Cooper. This year I've put aside two vintage-ish crime novels - not the gory kind - Dashiell Hammett's 'The Thin Man' set over Christmas and New Year; and Celia Fremlin's 'The Long Shadow: a Christmas Story with a Difference'. I may also re-read 'Little Women'. There is a Noel Streatfield Christmas story collection coming out very soon that looks possible, from Virago it's just called 'Noel Streatfield's Christmas Stories'.

CryHavoc · 03/11/2018 15:23

India Knight's Comfort and Joy is very good.

tobee · 03/11/2018 15:21

If you don't mind children's books my favourite book for Christmas is Cold Christmas by Nina Beachcroft. It's s ghost story.

Papergirl1968 · 02/11/2018 18:04

Paige Toon has written a couple too.
And Veronica Henry’s Christmas at the Beach Hut is reviewed into today’s Daily Mail book section - looks good.

Papergirl1968 · 02/11/2018 18:00

Amanda Prowse has written several Christmas themed chick lit (but not too soppy) books including a Christmas For One and The Christmas Cafe.
Milly Johnson - A Winter Flame and The Mother of All Christmases.
Cathy Kelly - Christmas Magic (short stories).
Maeve Binchy - This Year It Will Be Different.
Patricia Scanlan - Coming Home For Christmas.

KeithLeMonde · 02/11/2018 13:15

I'm about to buy a copy of Christmas with the Savages by Mary Clive - we had a copy when I was a child and I would love to read it again.

It's an Edwardian story about a rather spoilt little girl sent to spend Christmas with a large and unruly family of cousins, uncles, aunts and other random relatives. I remember it as being gentle fun in the vein of Noel Stretfield, E Nesbit and other favourites. I will let you know if it stands up to re-reading as an adult!

Original poster
EdinaMonsoon · 01/11/2018 23:13

Thanks for the suggestions everyone! Off to look them all up :)

OP posts:
ScouseQueen · 01/11/2018 21:47

For the easy read, Sarah Morgan's Christmas romances are great. Sleigh Bells in the Snow is good to start with.

For the classic, all the Dickens Christmas books. You can often get them in one volume.

IrisDolmato · 01/11/2018 21:43

It's not a straight match with either of your categories, but I rather like it, and it won either a Hugo or Nebula award -- The Domesday Book by Connie Willis. It's set in a future Oxford where historians are able to time-travel into the past to study it, and it's about a student who is sent back to the Middle Ages for Christmas just as modern Oxford goes down with an epidemic, and the tutor who tries to get her back safely. So you get two Christmases.

AdaColeman · 01/11/2018 21:31

For several years we read Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising though December, starting on the "right" day. It's a YA book, very well written.

For the classic, Thomas Hardy's Under the Greenwood Tree starts on Christmas Eve, it's a captivating story with wonderful characters.

AdaColeman · 01/11/2018 21:17

Michael Curtin's "The League Against Christmas" is super, funny and clever. Available on Kindle too!