What do you read in the run up to Christmas?

[bedelia]

I love to read wintry and festive books at this time of year, so looking for recommendations.

Things like The Box of Delights, The Nutcracker, or ghost stories with a cold-weather/festive theme (just finished reading The Silent Companions, which was wonderful!).

I could be tempted by some non-fiction too. I'm love to get Nigel Slater's Christmas Chronicles, though it does come with a rather hefty price tag. Does anyone have this, or could recommend something similar?

What do you all enjoy in the run up to Christmas?

Antonia Forest's End of Term, Peter's Room and Run Away Home

The Enchanted Horse by Magdalen Nabb is gorgeous. If you can get the audio version read by Anna Massey it is even more atmospheric. My younger sister got it for Christmas in the early 90s and I stole it and never gave it back. I listen to it now 25 years later and still get goose pimples when the music plays. I save it for the winter every year and haven't found a winter story I love as much yet.

I am half way through the Christmas Chronicles it’s beatifully written, I’ve learnt loads of facts and marked a couple of things I want to make. I usually whip through books but am savouring this one

I read A Christmas Carol every year, i adore it and it set's me up in the true spirit of christmas.
I'll normally read a new release with a christmas theme/setting, although I've not decided on what this year.

I love a good ghost story around now. I loved Dark Matter by Michelle Paver, a subtle ghost story set in an isolated Arctic observation post during 4 months of perpetual darkness. I read it a few years ago and the the atmosphere and the ending remains vivid. She has another out now called Thin Air which is my next book

What about classics like The Woman In White, Wilkie Collins or The Turn Of The Screw, Henry James

It seems to divide people a bit but I enjoyed The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters

Just ordered Darkness Rising, I'd not heard of it. Fab thread OP

Just read Thin Air and got Dark Matter next.😀

The Woman in Black starts at Christmas I think if you're into ghost stories.

Murder Under the Christmas Tree has got The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle in it. I always find short stories quite good in the run up to Christmas as it's so busy.

Trying to finish a couple now in readiness for December.📚

Marvellous thread!

I'm a grown-up (!) but Lucy & Tom's Christmas always gets me. Such lovely Shirley Hughes illustrations and makes the run-up to Christmas seem so peaceful and simple.

I always have a read of the Miss Read and the Thrush Green Christmas bits. Love those stories.

And Little House on the Prairie where they're snowed in and have to eat a potato each for Christmas, and eventually the Christmas barrel turns up in... May.

The Ex Wives is an enjoyable easy read. I loved the Snow Child too 🙂

The Dark Is Rising here too.

But also, The Winter of Enchantment which is quite a lovely childrens book - a boy finds a magic teapot, and ends up rescuing a young girl from a wicked enchanter.

Given my username, I think you can guess my answer!

I always read these in December (family tradition haha)!

The Nightmare Before Christmas
Hogfather
A Christmas Carol
Skipping Christmas

Little Women is always a Christmas read for me!

The Snow Child last year was brilliant! I've bought her next book - To the Bright Edge of the World, will read this is January.

Love this thread, i've added loads to my TBR pile - thanks!

Highly recommend The Christmas Chronicles! Although i'm just reading it each chapter a day at a time to savour it fully.

Agatha Christie - the Christmas PUdding murder, and a few years ago The Santa Klaus Murder.

The Snow Child is just 99p on kindle at the moment if anyone is interested 🙂

I got a copy of Christmas at Cold Comfort Farm from the charity shop earlier this year so I will be reading that.

I usually read A Child’s Christmas in Wales and A Christmas Carol and listen to Derek Jacobi reading the ghost stories of MR James. Oh Whistle and I’ll Come To You My Lad’ is a favourite.

Other than that I’ve normally got my head stuck in the cookbooks. I’m reading The Hairy Bikers’ 12 days of Christmas at the moment, making my plans!

I started reading Nigel Slater’s Christmas Chronicles in early November, just a few pages every night. I’m really enjoying it.

I always plan to see A Christmas Carol but have never managed to finish it on a Christmas Eve (despite being a very short book). I blame DD - maybe this year...

Read a Christmas Carol, watching it would be easy!

I have bought the boy who saved Christmas and the girl one and the newer one too. Can’t recall the author. I’m going tonight read them with dd(8)

The Christmas miracle of Jonathan Toomey.❤️

www.amazon.co.uk/Christmas-Miracle-Jonathan-Toomey/dp/1406360384

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. 😊

Ive just rediscovered "Christmas at Fairacre" by Miss Read
Written un the 50's it's everything you could ask for if you like the idea of traditional British Christmas time-you just need a log fire and tea to accompany it!

And a hefty dose of Thrush Green afterwards, Meduse!

I always read something very Christmassy but naff.

Currently reading the Christmas Secret by Karen Swan. Ticks all the boxes!

My secret vice is Nora Roberts, yes, I am blushing!
I have discovered a few Christmas stories so plan to read a few of them.
They really should be filed under Fantasy but are my comfort reads!