Every year on the run up to Christmas I read 'Winter Soltice' by Rosamund Pilcher, what books do you read that get you in the festive mood?

[Swifey]

It is a tradition now, especially in front of the fire with a small (or large) sloe vodka in hand!

Oh, the Christmas chapter in What Katy Did at School is another great one!

Wonderful idea for a thread. I've nothing to contribute but I'll follow this with interest.

My copy of winter solstice arrived! Can't wait until Dec 1st to start it. I've got the DVD and have already begun watching it.

Just received an Amazon delivery with "winter solstice" and "A Wayne in A Manager". Am also planning to find some fogotten classics on the book shelves. I will have to start my Christmas reading early or go on long train journeys!

I love The twelve days of Christmas by Trisha Ashley. Total fluff but it really captures the mood. I want to be snowed in at a country house and eat lovely food and have the space for a giant real tree! I have Christmas envy..

Oh yes. I am a Trisha Ashley fan and this is definitely one of my favourites.

I just remembered that her new book "A Christmas Cracker" came out a few days ago. Now do I have the patience to wait and put it on my Christmas list or should I get it to read in the run up? Oh to hell, I will buy it tomorrow! (Although now I want to read The Twelve Days again

There's a 'Miss Read' short story that's v Christmassy

Lovely idea!!! I'm going to write some of these down - thank you.

Thanks so much for this thread. I'd actually started on The Dark is Rising again this week - off work, unwell, and the only answer is to bring out the old Puffins.

I love getting the kids' Christmas books out, too - even though they're less interested now they're older (sob). 'Lucy and Tom's Christmas' is probably my favourite...

The lion the witch and the wardrobe and the box of delights.

I have the hardback of Tolkien's Letter From Father Christmas and love reading through it in the run up to Christmas.
What a lovely thing to have done for his children and kept it up all those years! And quite poignant at times - apologising for a lack of presents while the war was on.

DD has a gorgeous reindeer picture book that goes into great detail about each of santa's reindeer. She is probably getting a bit old for it but it is always a great read in the few days before the big day

I always read Trisha Ashley books. Makes me feel all cosy

Currently reading The Box of Delights as I found a lovely edition in Waterstones and just couldn't resist! Also ordered the gorgeous new Penguin edition of The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by Frank L Baum (writer of the Oz books) to read with the kids.

Last year I read Winters Tale - truly magical book for the time of year (and infinitely better than that awful film they tried to make!).

I've added The Dark is Rising on my To-Read list, now watching this thread for more!

I like to read Skipping Christmas by John Grisham, and watch my It's a Wonderful Life DVD.

I always read Trisha Ashley books. Makes me feel all cosy

To the other Trisha Ashley fans on this thread: I bought her new book "A Christmas Cracker" the other day and am just approaching the end. If you like "The Twelve Days of Christmas" then I think you will also love this. It is set very close to Little Mumming where "Twelve Days" takes place and the characters from that novel wonder in and out of this one. One of the Maitlands in particular is an important character in this book....

Is anyone else familiar with "The Emerald Crown" by Violet Needham? Written in the 1940s, it is set in winter in a Ruritanian like country in mid-Europe. I love it and have re-read it, along with her other books, many times.

Inspred by this thread, I bought The Twelve Days of Christmas yesterday for my Kindle, I meant to save it but could not resist, well worth £2.99!

5foot5 ooohh...will look out for that one!

So many good suggestions on here!

Mine is comfort and joy by India Knight...the main character may well be amongst the most objectionable heroines of all time BUT it really gets me in the Christmas mood.

Have just bought A Snow Garden by Rachel Joyce. It's a book of short stories based around Christmas time.

I've promised myself I won't start it until 1st December..........

Winter Solstice looks very gorgeous and cosy.

BEST THREAD EVER!

I didn't have any Christmas reads but I will now.

I have finished Winter Solstice, A Wayne in a Manger, Season's Greetings, The Adventures of the Christmas Pudding, Little Women and am now looking through this list again to find more ideas - I need Christmas to be much closer before I start Dickens' Christmas ghost stories.

Has anyone read 'The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus' by L. Frank Baum?

Thank you to those who suggested Trish Ashley. I am reading one of her Christmas books on my kindle on my commute. I probably wouldn't have tried it without your recommendation.

. I bought Winter Solstice a few weeks ago on the recommendation of this thread, put it away to save till nearer the time and now can't find it