Focus on Reading - Week 21 - Holiday Cheer

[Booknblues]

What books have you read that embody Holiday feelings of joy, caring, giving, family, kindness or whatever else you attribute to the holiday season?

[Amy]

I thought the entrance of the Motzah Ball was fun this year.

[Theresa]

This year has seen little holiday reading by me, a total anomally, I assure you! What little reading time I have is devoted to the marvelous A Suitable Boy where it is the hot summer months of 1951 in eastern India. However, what I do love are romances and cozy mysteries, with the occasional sidestep into satire. Favorites I reread:

Romance:

All 4 of the Lady Osbaldestones Christmas Chronicles by Stephanie Laurens
The Christmas Spirit - 19th Century England and a very special story about a lonely sad man learning to embrace life after a stranger arrives for Christmas.
What Happens At Christmas a 19th century english christmas house party unlike any other.
The Nine Lives of Christmas - contemporary where a stray cat on his 9th life brings a couple together...better than Hallmark adaptation.
Home for Christmas by Holly Chamberlin - really contemp fiction about a family facing last Christmas with kids all still living at home. Lovely. Romance minimal.

Cozy mystery and crime fiction:
The Usual Santas - short stories from Soho Crimes international group of writers
Rest You Merry - makes me laugh every time.
The Twelve Deaths Of Christmas - you need a good bit of black humor to get why I love this one.

Others:

Merry Christmas, Mr. Baxter - still true of NYC today!
The Joyous Season from he who gave us Auntie Mame: An Irreverent Escapade which also is a holiday read.
Holidays on Ice - the Santaland Diaries and the annual Christmas Letter essays.
Christmas Days: 12 Stories and 12 Feasts for 12 Days - to be read one or two at a time.

[Tracy]

I’m a die hard fan of A Christmas Carol. And I second Christmas Days by Jeanette Winterson.

[Book Concierge]

I re-read Truman Capote's A Christmas Memory every year.

Another Christmas story that I loved was: Mr. Ives' Christmas by Oscar Hijuelos.

And I also really liked Wally Lamb's Wishin' and Hopin'

[Joanne]

@ Tracy : My daughter and I are awaiting the fresh Polish sausage, presently simmering low and slow in the oven, once done we will fill our plate and watch the original 1938 version of A Christmas Carol-a favorite around here.

[Joanne]

As for a book that represents the spirit of Christmas-I am going with
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! 😊

[Holly R W]

A short story that I read long ago has stayed with me. "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry is a classic. Merry Christmas everyone!

[Theresa]

Joanne wrote: "As for a book that represents the spirit of Christmas-I am going with
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! 😊"

A Racht Family favorite!

[Jgrace]

I don't know how anyone finds time to enjoy holiday reading before and during the holidays. I love my family and all of the activities of the season. But, I enjoy the quiet period after it's all over. Before I take my decorations down ( somewhere in mid-January) I like to read Dickens (naturally), Miracle on 34th Street, the Christmas chapters of The Wind in the Willows and Little Women. It all goes down well with cups of tea and left over goodies.

[Jgrace]

Happy Holidays to all ! 🎄☃️❄️

[NancyJ]

How the Grinch stole Christmas is my husband's favorite holiday show. He is wearing his Grinch pajama shirt right now.

I haven't read any holiday books yet, but I'll enjoy them more this week when I can relax. I always loved the week between Christmas and New Years. I almost always had time off and I could snuggle up with Jammies, Classic movies, books, and hot coffee (or spiked cocoa).

I picked up the Christmas Pig to read this week, and I have a Lady Osbaldestone on audible, plus many holiday classics.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful day!