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

[EdinaMonsoon]

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!

[CountFosco]

Some other options:

Christmas at Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons (short story).
Christmas Days by Jeanette Winterson
Christmas Pudding by Nancy Mitford
Letters from Father Christmas by JRR Tolkein
The Faber Book of Christmas

[eddiemairswife]

Skipping Christmas by John Grisham. A couple decide just to do that, but............

[CountFosco]

A bit different to everything else listed here but 'A Good Man in Africa' by William Boyd is set at Christmas time.

[Taytocrisps]

I'm bumping this thread from 2018 because I thought other Mumsnetters might find some good Christmas present ideas here (or books to buy for themselves, if you're anything like me). The thread is two years old but the recommendations are still relevant. I'm planning to buy Nigel Slater's book 'The Christmas Chronicles' and Jeanette Winterton's book 'Christmas Days' so belated thanks to the posters who suggested these books. I'm also tempted by Noel Streatfeild's Christmas stories. We need some Christmas magic this year, above all years.

[HopeClearwater]

How about the best Beatrix Potter - The Tailor of Gloucester? It’s a lovely Christmas story with beautiful illustrations. OK it doesn’t take long to read, but it’s a perfectly structured short story, with a happy ending on Christmas Day.

[KoalasAteMyHomework]

Oooh didn't know Veronica Henry had done a Christmas at the Beach Hut! Thanks pp for mentioning it.

Think its considered a children's book but I really love Treasure of the Snow by Patricia St John. Read it as a child and loved it.

[Travellinghopefully2018]

I got Nina Stibbe’s An Almost Perfect Christmas last year, a collection of short funny and sweet Christmas tales. Perfect for dipping in and out of - and it’s a beautiful book in hardback as well!

[LockedOutOfMN]

*Rumor

[LockedOutOfMN]

"The Story Of Holly And Ivy" by Rumour Godden. It's a children's book, but well worth a read.

[ShinyMe]

Oops, that posted without the link somehow. SOrry!

www.amazon.co.uk/Stories-Christmas-Childrens-Paperbacks-Alison/dp/0571163211?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[ShinyMe]

Not a novel, but my favourite Christmas book, which I've had to read every Christmas since I was about 7, is an Alison Uttley collection of short stories. They are just magical, and have all the 'proper' Christmas emotions. I adore this book. They are children's stories about Christmas. There's one about a house where the mum is ill, so the cat and the mice and the spiders make tiny mince pies and decorations. There's one about a doll's house that comes to life for 24 hours on Christmas Eve, for the dolls to have Christmas. There's one about a tiny fir tree in the forest that gets taken into a cottage and is decorated and sees Christmas happening, and then goes back to the forest and tells all the other trees about it.

It's just a wonderful collection, I absolutely adore it, and find it so magical and traditional and just lovely.

[DS82]

You could try this slightly different collection of stories called One for the Road, basically it's a compilation of one hundred tales each of hundred words aimed at readers who have limited time to read (parents!) and offers a bit of escapism. All kind of genres included each story has bit of a twist. Think its on free offer for a short while on kindle so easy stocking filler. I read it when bottle feeding!

www.amazon.co.uk/One-Road-100-tales-words-ebook/dp/B077YT9PGK/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&keywords=ONE%20FOR%20THE%20ROAD%20TENNANT&ie=UTF8&qid=1541682127&sr=1-2&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[Foxylass]

Twelve Days Of Christmas by Trisha Ashleyis great.

[tripfiction]

The Christmas Sisters set in the Scottish Highlands will make you wish you were there, in the snow, with a warming cup of hot chocolate! A decent exploration of family dynamics...

[Ladydepp]

Seconding Christmas Days by Jeanette Winterson, books and recipes, lovely book.

[Soupswoop]

Not Christmas as such but for ‘curling up by the fire’ type of book I liked The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey.

[jeapurs54]

I think Katie Fforde Christmas Feast is a really good read. They are very light hearted reading but with a warmth to them that I really enjoyed. I have read a lot of her books and have enjoyed them all.

[CesSimpson]

Karen swan does some great Christmas novels - Christmas at claridges, Christmas at Tiffany’s and my face is “The Gift” - I find her books slightly better than trash!

[tobee]

It's Narnia but I think it works as a stand-alone.

[tobee]

Thinking of children's books I also like The Silver Chair to read at Christmas.

[AdaColeman]

Not a novel, but "A Child's Christmas in Wales" by Dylan Thomas is very evocative.

[inthekitchensink]

The winter anthology- lots of lovely poems & short stories

[EmmaGrundyForPM]

When I was little I had a book called "Christmas is Coming" by John Rae which I loved. I must order it and reread it - hoe it stands the test of time!

[SPARKS17]

Christmas Days by Jeanette Winterson, 12 short stories beautifully written.

[HollySwift]

I second Trisha Ashley’s 12 days of Christmas. I also read it every year, and it’s possibly my favourite book ever 🙈