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

58 replies

EdinaMonsoon · 01/11/2018 11:30

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!

OP posts:
LockedOutOfMN · 09/11/2018 18:56

*Rumor

Travellinghopefully2018 · 09/11/2018 19:02

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!

KoalasAteMyHomework · 09/11/2018 19:10

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.

HopeClearwater · 12/11/2018 00:11

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.

Taytocrisps · 01/11/2020 09:13

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.

CountFosco · 03/11/2020 15:04

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

eddiemairswife · 03/11/2020 18:18

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

CountFosco · 03/11/2020 19:23

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

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