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!

[CalmConfident]

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

[BabyMoonPie]

Glad you're enjoying it x

[CalmConfident]

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

[Threehoursfromhome]

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.

[Papergirl1968]

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.

[Papergirl1968]

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

[KeithLeMonde]

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

[KeithLeMonde]

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

[HollySwift]

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

[SPARKS17]

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

[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!

[inthekitchensink]

The winter anthology- lots of lovely poems & short stories

[AdaColeman]

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

[tobee]

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

[tobee]

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

[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!

[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.

[Soupswoop]

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

[Ladydepp]

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

[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...

[Foxylass]

Twelve Days Of Christmas by Trisha Ashleyis great.

[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

[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.

[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

[LockedOutOfMN]

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