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Original poster

What are you reading this festive season?

38 replies

whatausername · 18/12/2023 16:40

I've Agatha Christie's Midwinter Murder on the go and Enid Blyton's Christmas book for the weekend.

OP posts:
Riverlee · 21/12/2023 21:56

Christmas Appeal - took me a while to get used to how it was written but quite enjoyed it

Four Weddings and Christmas - Philippa Ashby - chick lit, predictable, has all the elements of a chick lit - successful self employed girl, arty good looking boy etc

MissyB1 · 21/12/2023 13:31

I love just given up on “the Christmas appeal” Janice Hallett too many characters and too slow.

Going to try “the adventure of the Christmas pudding “ Agatha Christie and also her “Midwinter Murder“.

BarbaraBuncle · 21/12/2023 13:21

I've now moved onto my annual read of The Dark I Rising by Susan Cooper. I've read it so many times now, it feels very familiar but never gets old.

I'm skipping my normal reread of A Christmas Carol this year. Just don't fancy it. But I might reread Jeanette Winterson's Christmas Days: 12 Stories and 12 Feasts for 12 Days, which also feels like a comfort read.

Carriemac · 21/12/2023 08:12

Cherrypi · 18/12/2023 18:21

About to embark on Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher. Have big old fashioned hardback edition I got secondhand. Might have a flick through hogfather too.

That's my Christmas book too

Sunshinebuttercupsrainbows · 20/12/2023 18:22

I’ve just finished Christmas Pudding by Nancy Mitford, and will start Mr Dickens & His Christmas Carol this evening. I’ll then read A Christmas Carol this weekend!

JaneyGee · 19/12/2023 21:36

I only have two literary traditions. Every spring I re-read the general prologue to The Canterbury Tales (just the prologue), and every Christmas I re-read A Christmas Carol. I don’t cry easily, but Dickens kills me. I can’t even watch a flippin muppets Christmas Carol without sobbing.

I do like a ghost story over Christmas. I’m a pretty good reader out loud, and have read a couple of M. R. James short stories to family on Christmas Eve. On the whole, though, I prefer something light and cheery at this time of year. I’ve always meant to try P. G. Wodehouse’s Blandings books (I love the Jeeves series), so will be reading them. I’ve also got several audiobooks on the go. I’m listening to Kipling’s Just So stories (perfect for audiobook), Virginia Woolf’s Orlando, and a biography of the poet Wilfred Owen.

BarbaraBuncle · 18/12/2023 22:03

I'm currently reading Christmas Pudding by Nancy Mitford, and A Tudor Christmas by Alison Weir and Siobhan Clarke. I'm enjoying both, but think A Tudor Christmas has the edge - a fascinating look at how Christmas was celebrated and not celebrated in the 16th and 17th centuries, from Catholic tradition and Protestant reform through to Restoration.

The Nancy Mitford is a light and amusing counterbalance.

Cherrypi · 18/12/2023 18:21

About to embark on Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher. Have big old fashioned hardback edition I got secondhand. Might have a flick through hogfather too.

AllTheOtherCats · 18/12/2023 18:19

I'm re-reading The Dark is Rising. It's perfect 😊

TheGirlOnTheLanding · 18/12/2023 18:14

I've just started Jeannette Winterston's '12 Days of Christmas' - it's a collection of essays and short stories so easy to dip in and out of (and was reduced on Kindle when I finished my last book!)

eandz13 · 18/12/2023 18:03

I always turn to Dickens at this time of year, Great Expectations is up next for the 100th time.

NigelTheCrab · 18/12/2023 17:59

I started reading Enid Blyton's Christmas Book, but I've shelved it as I wasn't enjoying it.
I've just finished reading The Haunting Season, which I unexpectedly really enjoyed, but I wish I'd saved it for the bit between Christmas and New Year.
I'm starting Happy Christmas by Daphne du Maurier tonight.

Needhelp101 · 18/12/2023 17:07

I always re-read Hogfather (Discworld) at Christmas.
Also love some seasonal Agatha Christie!