Can we start a Christmas books thread?

[ConstantlyCooking]

Last year, thanks to a lovely Christmas reading thread, I was able to add Solstice and various Trish Ashley books to my seasonal reading list. I was hoping to find some more.
I usual read:
A Christmas Carol
A Season to Remember- Sheila Flanagan
How Far to Bethlehem- Norah Lofts
Little Woman
A Little House on the Prairie book which features Christmas eg theLong Winter
Christmas Agatha Christies
The Spanish Lover - Joanna Trollope (the opening chapter has a great Christmas scene)
I am sure there are others. I like the idea of something which is mainly about Christmas or set at Christmas or in deep winter.

I am sure there are other books I re-read but I am on a train and can't check my bookshelves.

[ConstantlyCooking]

I've had a horrible week and am currently curled up re-reading some Christmas books.

[OpheIiaBaIIs]

The Winter Ghosts is fantastic.

I also recommend Christmas at Cold Comfort Farm - only a few of the stories are festive but it's wonderfully comforting and feel-good throughout.

They're technically kids' books but the Haunting/Chilling/Mysterious Christmas Tales books are brilliant! Gentle spine-chillers which me and DH re-read every year.

Not strictly Christmas, but Dark Matter by Michelle Paver is an atmospheric ghost story set in the Arctic circle, perfect for winter evenings. It's currently 99p in the Kindle October sale.

I do love a good ghost story at Christmas 👻

[ConstantlyCooking]

I have just been on The Book People website and they have a set of 8 Christmas books (many mentioned here) for £9.99.
On no account search Christmas i-did-and-now-have-a-very-full-basket
They also have the Jenny Overton book mentioned on the thread plus beautiful editions of some classic books.

[bedelia]

Surprised no-one has mentioned the Penguin Christmas Classics on here, they are beautiful hardbacks (one of which is The Nutcracker, for the poster asking upthread).

I heartily recommend A Winter's Tale - very long, and thankfully far different from that awful screen adaptation!

I'd love recommendations for a chilling or magical Christmas read. Loved The Dark is Rising, and The Box of Delights!

[OpheIiaBaIIs]

The Mistletoe Bride by Kate Mosse is absolutely perfect for Christmas - an anthology of ghost stories, beautifully illustrated. I've read it for the two Christmases since it was published and probably will every year.

If anyone's interested, the pound shops near me all have it in stock at the moment, inexplicably. Definitely worth picking up if you have one near you!

[mogloveseggs]

Another Vote for the story of holly and ivy and mysterious Christmas tales too.
Tolkien's letters from Father Christmas
And my favourite Christmas story is still little grey rabbit's Christmas by Alison uttley

[bedelia]

Thank you Ophelia, I'll try our local branches. It still surprises me that such great reads can be found in Poundland!

Can anyone provide a link to the Christmas Mysteries books? I've tried searching but nothing seems to be what you're all describing either that or I'm more sleep deprived than I thought!

[mogloveseggs]

I have this. Looks like it might not be in print anymore though

[BonusNewt]

As others have said Children of Green Knowe and the Dark is Rising. I also often re-read A Country Child by Alison Uttley - it has two chapters about the build up to Christmas and Christmas day, and is incredibly descriptive and evocative.

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

Christmas at the Comfort Food Cafe, by Debbie Johnson - it's the sequel to Summer at the Comfort Food Cafe, but I think it would stand on its own.

Jenny Colgan has written Christmas books in a number of her series - the Sweetshop series, the Cupcake Cafe, the Little Beach street bakery.

I've got Christmas at the Little Village Bakery by Tilly Tennant to read - can't say yet whether it is good or not.

Debbie Macomber has written some Christmas books too - they are set in America. So is Nantucket Christmas by Nancy Thayer.

Julia Williams has written a couple of Christmas books - I have read them but ages ago, so can't remember too much about them.

Following this thread, I am definitely going to reread the Dark Is Rising books, and the Box of Delights (and I will watch that on TV too).

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

Ooh - I forgot The Christmas Factor by Annie Sanders.

[SatsukiKusakabe]

Tolkien's Letters to Father Christmas.

Love Holly and Ivy.

Was rereading My Antonia recently and that had a lovely christmas on the Nebraska prairie scene in it.

Christmas Carol

[FreeButtonBee]

Mystery in white is one of the reissued British museum crime thrillers. And very enjoyable. I have a wonderful book of Christmas short stories but I thrill it's in the Christmas box not on the bookcase - but worth looking or for as you can dip into them

[FreeButtonBee]

And I bought this one lastvyear! Haven't read it yet but looking forward to it

[FreeButtonBee]

Found the short stories!

Irish Christmas stories edited by David Marcus

And. A literary Christmas - an anthology (British library)

[Andbabymakesthree]

Letters from father Christmas ( Tolkien)
Children have it on audio!

[GingerIvy]

mog I like the look of the Mysterious Christmas Tales book. I know it says "teenagers" on it, so probably not best to let dcs read it, but it is the kind that will creep me out (which is okay) or have me glancing furtively every few seconds at the Christmas tree (which may not be okay)?

[BarbaraofSeville]

Watching for ideas. I'll also second the Skipping Christmas suggestion, although I was disappointed with the ending.

[mogloveseggs]

ginger its great I've had it since i was about 10. Looks like they're not reprinting though

[GingerIvy]

Thanks - I'll have a look around.

[Taytocrisps]

I've my eye on an illustrated hardback version of 'The Nutcracker' in my local book shop.

[boo2410]

This is a kids book that takes 5 minutes to read but I still love it and the illustrations are lovely - Stick Man by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. Don't read it much now as my son is 13 but when he was little and I read the bit about Stick Lady Love (Stick Mans wife) he used to squirm and get all embarrassed, I loved it when he did that so I used to say it all the more. Buffalo Child is Christmassy too.

[OpheIiaBaIIs]

I bought DH the Mysterious/Chilling/Haunting Tales books from Amazon and eBay for Christmas a few years ago - he had talked about them fondly for years as he'd had them when he was a child. He got quite emotional when he unwrapped them I've seen them available on both since, they can usually be found used for pennies plus postage.

Ivy I'd say they were mildly creepy, in a sort of comforting way iyswim. Might be fine for DC - DD read first them when she was 8 or 9, DH the same. I love them!

[OpheIiaBaIIs]

Haunting
Chilling
Mysterious

Lots available from other sellers too

[ConstantlyCooking]

My box from book people has arrived so I am looking forward to work tomorrow so I can read on my commute