Do you have favorite books either set in the month of December or with a Christmas or New Year's theme? I'm encouraging all readers to think of a book or two or maybe nine that they consider their all time favorites set in early winter, during the winter solstice, at Christmas or New Year's, or in just plain old December.
My confession: I have been collecting books with these settings and themes for decades. Yet some of my favorites are not yet in my personal library.
This month I'll revisit as many as I have time for and hope that you'll add several of your own. Please do!
In the Bleak Midwinter, a crime novel, by Julia Spencer-Fleming, set in the so-called Adirondack foothills. First-rate and her series debut.
Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher. True confession time: This is the only book of Pilcher's I've read and I loved every delicious minute, though I'm embarrassed to say so. A superb December comfort read! I listened to the audiobook, read by Lynn Redgrave, which is a masterpiece of audio narration.
Date with a Career by Jan Nickerson
41 minutes ago
I re-read 'Bleak House' every year in the winter time and find something new to enjoy every time. 'In the Bleak Midwinter' is on my list to read.
ReplyDeletefavourite christmas story is blue carbuncle a holmes story set at christmas ,other auggie wrens christmas by paul auster very good , encyclopaedia of snow by sarah emily milano if still in print full of snow winter relate storys and facts a great book very like w g sebald I found a lost gem ,all the best stu
ReplyDeleteStu,
DeleteI'll have to go back to the blue carbuncle Sherlock Holmes story. I know I've read it, but like most things, the decades have erased the details.
I love Auggie Wren's Christmas!! As you know Paul Auster is a favorite author of mine. Have read it twice.
Encyclopedia of Snow by Milano! Thank you! I'll seek it out immediately. I don't care if it's out of print; I'll find it.
I'm not sure--Is the other book Full of Snow? And the Sebald I've never read: I found a Lost Gem.
Thank you so much!
Judith
I wrote a short post about this recently. See what you think:
ReplyDeletehttp://readerbuzz.blogspot.com/2012/12/top-ten-wonderful-christmas-stories.html
I was compiling a list to choose from next December, but only have a small list so far... The only one of these I have read is the one by Charlotte Macleod... many years ago.
ReplyDeleteAgatha Christie:
Murder for Christmas (aka Hercule Poirot's Christmas or A Holiday for Murder)
Patrick Ruell (aka Reginald Hill): Red Christmas
Charlotte Macleod: Rest You Merry