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!

The box of delights - another classic children's tale with slightly sinister undertones

Glad you're enjoying it x

That is a fabulous link Dottie Box of Delights is there too!

For your more 'serious' novel, I recommend the Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco. It's a big book which takes place in at a medieval monesty in winter - a murder mystery and much more. Its popularity is justified.

The Box of Delights is good. I also used to love another children's book - The Children of Green Knowe, beautifully written - you could read it in a sitting.

Some of the Little House on the Prairie have sweet Christmas scenes. I think there’s one where Laura is overcome and can’t believe her luck at getting her very own tin cup instead of having to share with Mary.

Little House on the Prairie series, I mean, sorry.

I'm loving all the wintery children's book recommendations.

Some more:
The Wolves of Willoughby Chase
Winter Holiday (Arthur Ransome)
Moominland Midwinter

None are very christmassy but all have lovely wintery magic

I think I might read everything on this thread between now and the end of the year :) so many favourites mentioned!

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

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

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!

The winter anthology- lots of lovely poems & short stories

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

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

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

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!

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.

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

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

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...

Twelve Days Of Christmas by Trisha Ashleyis great.

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+FOR+THE+ROAD+TENNANT&tag=mumsnetforum-21&ie=UTF8&qid=1541682127&sr=1-2

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.

Oops, that posted without the link somehow. SOrry!

www.amazon.co.uk/Stories-Christmas-Childrens-Paperbacks-Alison/dp/0571163211?tag=mumsnetforum-21

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