Thursday 10 December 2009

Christmas Reading








Here's a sneak peak at some of the themed reading that I am hoping to indulge in over the next two weeks. What are your festive reads, if any?

25 comments:

verity said...

Lovely! Mine is Christmas from Fairacre (Miss Read), and the new ghost written Miss Read Christmas at Thrush Green.

I may well revisit Fell Farm Christmas, a book from my childhood, and the second Chalet School book (CS and Jo) which has a very big Christmas bit.

Unknown said...

The only festive reading I'm planning is A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg. I look forward to finding out which of these books you like best, so that I can get a copy ready for next year!

claire said...

Love that Dickens cover! I won't be able to do any themed reading this month, but hoping to finish a lot more than originally intended. Happy Christmassy reading!

kimbofo said...

Excellent. I was casting around for suggestions on my blog earlier in the week -- and these would have been perfect. I'd forgotten all about the Capote story -- it's a good 'un.

Paperback Reader said...

Verity, I hope that you enjoy them and find them suitably festive.

The Chalet School books remind me of the season because of the snow setting.

Jackie, I look forward to sharing my thoughts on these with you and to reading about the Fannie Flagg book.

Claire, isn't the Dickens cover divine?! Have a productive remainder of the month.

Apologies, Kim; I had so many posts to read through from the past week that I commented on so few. I have heard some great things about "A Christmas Memory" and looking forward to it.

Anonymous said...

My only planned festive read is possibly, not definately though, will be a festive Agatha Raisin I think am about to have an Agatha Christie and Raisin fest over the festive season.

serendipity_viv said...

I like the look of A Touch of Mistletoe. I love those old green Vintage books.

I have been reading:

Santaland Diaries by David Sedaris - non fiction and very funny.
Skipping Christmas by John Grisham - loved it.
The Christmas Box Paul Evans.

I have just started The Gift by Cecilia Ahern.

Paperback Reader said...

Sounds great, Simon! Perfect Christmas comfort reading and don't forget Peyton Place. I'm sadly coming to the conclusion that there isn't enough time over Christmas to read all the books that I want to and that I'm going to have to be brutal and cull some.

Did you receive my message earlier?

Vivienne, I can't resist the lure of green Viragoes. This is the only one of the books that is Christmassy in title only.

My, you have got quite the head start on the Christmas reading! I have a copy of The Gift somewhere that I received free with Marie Claire.

Sarah said...

I re-read 'A Christmas Carol' every Christmas Eve. (Although now I fall asleep half-way through. When I was little it would take up most of the long wait for Santa.)

I love Everyman's collection of Christmas Stories too: Dickens, Gogol, Nabokov, Alice Munro and that wonderful Truman Capote story. It's so great!

Aarti said...

That may be the most adult and classy cover of The Hogfather I have ever seen. Love that book :-)

Paperback Reader said...

Sarah, I try to reread A Christmas Carol every year too and this year I may even read the other stories.

I was looking for a good collection of Christmas stories this year so the Everyman's edition is one for me to keep in mind for next year.

Aarti, normally when I post images of books that I haven't taken myself I always use the cover that I have but in this case I couldn't resist the lovely black cover for Hogfather; you should see the one for Mort... So, not the ones I own but ones I covet (my boyfriend is the one that owns all the Pratchett books so I read his). I thought it was about time that I read Hogfather although I have seen the TV adapatation, I have never read the book.

Anonymous said...

Great list! My Christmas list also includes a Christmas Carol as well as Matchless by Gregory Maguire. I have some library books I have to get through so my Christmas list is short :) Happy reading!

Karen said...

I have never read A Christmas Carol but I hope to change all that this year. I hope I can find the edition you have - gorgeous!

Ana S. said...

I haven't read the second, but the other three are PERFECT choices. Enjoy!

The Literary Stew said...

I'm reading Little Women right now. I don't know if that counts as seasonal but it opens in a Christmas scene and there are a few snowy/skating episodes. I'm loving it so far!

Anonymous said...

I don't normally do any holiday reads, but Audible gave away A Christmas Carol, narrated by Tim Curry, so I'm currently listening to a very crotchety Scrooge.

Jodie said...

The ending of Hogfather scares me quite a bit, but it's very enjoyable otherwise. I see lots of people have seasonal reading on the go, but apart from maybe trying some Dickens I still just read at random.

Darlene said...

I agree with Claire, the cover art for A Christmas Carol is fantastic! It just so happens to also be the book I turn to at Christmas. BUT, this year I think I'm going to read the short stories included in my copy instead.

Jenny said...

I ride throughout the blogosphere recommending the Christmas books that I grew up with and nobody else seems to have read. :P Behold:

Julie Lane's probably not-in-print The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus. It tells how Santa Claus got to be Santa Claus, starting from when he is just a little boy who likes making gifts for the children in the village. The illustrations are woodcuts, which I just love.

Rumer Godden's The Story of Holly and Ivy is about an orphan girl called Ivy who has nowhere to go for Christmas, and a Christmas doll called Holly who hasn't been sold yet. Gorgeous illustrations and a very sweet story.

Paperback Reader said...

Danielle, I also have a huge library list just now which will curtail my planned reading somewhat. Is Matchless a re-telling of A Little Match Girl?

Jill, I imagine that Tim Curry will make a tremendous Ebeneezer Scrooge!

Jodie, next year I intend to be far freer with my reading choices as this year I have felt a little hemmed in by challenges and personal challenges/themed reading. I do it to myself!

Darlene, isn't it amazing?! So Christmassy. This year I'm going to attempt the other Christmas stories too as I never have either...

Jenny, would it delight you to know that I have read The Story of Holly and Ivy? I loved it as a child and considered borrowing it from the library this year but have decided to buy a copy next year instead (it has been on my wishlist for some time). I love Rumer Godden and can't wait to revisit a story that holds fond memories for me.

Paperback Reader said...

Oops, I missed some comments there!

Karen, it is a Vintage edition and I'm sure it will be available on The Book Depository if not in the Antipodes; it is simply beautiful (and far more attractive than any of the cheap Penguin copies here).

Ana, I thought so! I'm really looking forward to The Hogfather :).

Astrid, I adore Little Women and it is the PERFECT Christmas read (and the film is deserving of a seasonal viewing too).

Anonymous said...

I haven't had a second to think about themed reading yet. I might browse around a bookstore sometime next weekend to see what I can find. I did enjoy A Christmas Carol years ago, and hoping to see the Disney re-adaptation next week. I've heard good things about the Capote as well, so might look into it.

Thanks for reminding me that I need to look into this!!!

Paperback Reader said...

anothercookie, you're welcome! It's the only thing that I have really thought about this season as I haven't been feeling at all Christmassy; I am hoping that some themed-reading will boost my festive spirits some.

Rebecca Reid said...

I love rereading A Christmas Carol at Christmas. Last year I also read A Cricket on the Hearth, another less known Dickens novella!

I don't think I will reread it this year, but I am reading a religious book to get me in the mood for the religious side of the holiday!

Paperback Reader said...

Rebecca, I will need to look to see if A Cricket on the Hearth is in that same volume and if so then I shall be reading it this year!

Enjoy your religious reading.