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Source: (consider it)
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Thread: Christmas reading
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Magersfontein Lugg
Shipmate
# 18240
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Posted
Do you like a good 'Christmas book'?
I wonder what it is.
I like to find a whodunnit set in the winter or at Christmas time. I prefer the 'cozy' type - Agatha Christie or the like, rather than the full horrible details type.
I suppose I like a bit of escapism into a different qorld - when things where a little simpler, less commercial etc etc
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
Posts: 104 | From: Bottle Street | Registered: Oct 2014
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L'organist
Shipmate
# 17338
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Posted
Try The Unquiet Bones by Melvin Starr.
A mediaeval whodunnit that may help to pass the time on a sofa, munching walnuts and clementines.
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Rara temporum felicitate ubi sentire quae velis et quae sentias dicere licet
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Magersfontein Lugg
Shipmate
# 18240
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Posted
Thanks l'organist - thats the type of activity I like at Christmas
I do rummage around to find the right stuff to read and often don't sort it out in time.
Posts: 104 | From: Bottle Street | Registered: Oct 2014
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Adeodatus
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# 4992
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Posted
I'm a fan of the old tradition of ghost stories at Christmas. I'll probably read a short story or two by either M.R.James or E.F.Benson. Perennial favourites would include James's Canon Alberic's Scrapbook or The Stalls of Barchester, or Benson's How Fear Departed from the Long Gallery (which is charming rather than scary) or The Room in the Tower (which is very definitely more scary than charming).
I've also only recently discovered Agatha Christie's Poirot stories (I know - how can you get this far through life?) and I was thinking of tackling either Hercule Poirot's Christmas or Muder on the Orient Express.
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"What is broken, repair with gold."
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Ariel
Shipmate
# 58
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Posted
One of the chapters from "Wind in the Willows", where Mole rediscovers his old home, is a lovely thing to read at this time. (Some of the magic of childhood can also be recaptured with John Masefield's "Box of Delights".) Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" is something else I usually try to read around now and I will very likely watch at least one of the film versions of this.
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Pigwidgeon
Ship's Owl
# 10192
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Posted
Definitely cozy mysteries -- but since it's still only December 8, it's Advent mysteries for the next week or so. I have several Christmas ones waiting.
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"...that is generally a matter for Pigwidgeon, several other consenting adults, a bottle of cheap Gin and the odd giraffe."
~Tortuf
Posts: 9835 | From: Hogwarts | Registered: Aug 2005
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Magersfontein Lugg
Shipmate
# 18240
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Posted
Ah good point Pigwidgeon, but I like to order my books in time
What cozy Christmas mystery reading do you suggest?
Posts: 104 | From: Bottle Street | Registered: Oct 2014
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Tree Bee
Ship's tiller girl
# 4033
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Posted
Not Christmassy , but Aunt Dimity's Death by Nancy Atherton was a ship book group read a few years ago.
It is a very cosy mystery, the homes and hotels Lori finds herself in, the weather descriptions and the food she eats are all very comforting.
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"Any fool can make something complicated. It takes a genius to make it simple."
— Woody Guthrie
http://saysaysay54.wordpress.com
Posts: 5257 | From: me to you. | Registered: Feb 2003
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Sarasa
Shipmate
# 12271
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Posted
Aunt DImity sounds like a very comforting read, Tree Bee. I'll look that out for some Christmas reading. I was talking to my husband about Friendly Persuasion by Jessamyn West the other day, but they don't do a kindle edition, otherwise I'd be thinking of that as a good read for this time of year.
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'I guess things didn't go so well tonight, but I'm trying. Lord, I'm trying.' Charlie (Harvey Keitel) in Mean Streets.
Posts: 2035 | From: London | Registered: Jan 2007
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JoannaP
Shipmate
# 4493
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Posted
A couple of the British Library Crime Classics are set at Christmas; I was saving them but I could force myself to read them earlier and let you know.
Thirteen Days of Christmas is the one book that I always read at some point over Christmas.
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"Freedom for the pike is death for the minnow." R. H. Tawney (quoted by Isaiah Berlin)
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." Benjamin Franklin
Posts: 1877 | From: England | Registered: May 2003
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Sparrow
Shipmate
# 2458
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Posted
I like to read the Christmas chapters of "The Pickwick Papers"; also there are a couple of Ellis Peters' Cadfael mysteries set around winter/Christmas that always put me in the mood, especially "The Virgin in the Ice".
And then there's the Hogfather ....
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For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life,nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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ChastMastr
Shipmate
# 716
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Posted
I have purchased and plan to read the Li'l Vampi Holiday Special, featuring a cute kid version of Vampirella trying to save Christmas. A preview is here.
I expect to like it, as it's by Brian Joines, who did the Krampus miniseries last year. Preview for that one here.
If I run across some of my other Christmas comics while cleaning I will of course read those as well.
One regular favorite of mine is Christmas Therapy, an Elf-Help book, which is about the simple joys of the season and not being overwhelmed by perfectionism and commercialism. I love it!
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My essays on comics continuity: http://chastmastr.tumblr.com/tagged/continuity
Posts: 14068 | From: Clearwater, Florida | Registered: Jul 2001
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Moo
Ship's tough old bird
# 107
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Sparrow:
... also there are a couple of Ellis Peters' Cadfael mysteries set around winter/Christmas that always put me in the mood, especially "The Virgin in the Ice".
My favorite Brother Cadfael Christmas passage in in Monk's Hood. Cadfael is at the grange in Wales. He has completed everything he came to do, and he and the other two brothers there are celebrating Christmas together. quote:
They had no less than three Christmas morning lambs, a single and twins. They brought them all, with their dams, into the house and made much of them, for these innocents shared their stars with the Christ-child. Brother Barnabas, wholly restored, nursed the infants in his great hands and capacious lap, and was as proud as if he had produced them from his own substance. They were very merry together, in a quiet celebration...
Moo
[ 09. December 2014, 21:26: Message edited by: Moo ]
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Posts: 20365 | From: Alleghany Mountains of Virginia | Registered: May 2001
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georgiaboy
Shipmate
# 11294
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Posted
Dorothy L. Sayers' 'The Nine Tailors' begins on New Year's Eve in the Fen Country, but the following Christmas Eve finds Lord Peter back in the same location. Great descriptions of winter in those parts, and lots of change ringing. Not to everyone's taste, but I find it good reading.
Also Elizabeth Goudge's 'Lost -- One Angel,' a short story rather than a novel, but published with her 'Three Men, also a Christmas story, published, IIRC, in a collection called 'The Lost Angel.'
and a hearty second to the Bro. Cadfael citations above.
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You can't retire from a calling.
Posts: 1675 | From: saint meinrad, IN | Registered: Apr 2006
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georgiaboy
Shipmate
# 11294
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Posted
While not particularly Christmass-y, both of these classic American novels begin around Christmas:
Alcott's 'Little Women' which opens with Jo saying 'It won't seem like Christmas without any presents' (that's from memory and may not be an accurate quote)
and 'Gone with the Wind' which has Scarlett declaring 'I'm glad Georgia waited until after Christmas to secede, or it would have spoiled all the parties.' (Again, that may not be accurate!)
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You can't retire from a calling.
Posts: 1675 | From: saint meinrad, IN | Registered: Apr 2006
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TurquoiseTastic
Fish of a different color
# 8978
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Posted
I second "The Box of Delights" and I also rather like Susan Cooper's "The Dark is Rising" at this time of year.
Posts: 1092 | From: Hants., UK | Registered: Jan 2005
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Jane R
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# 331
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Posted
If you like cosy whodunnits you might like Donna Andrews' series about Meg Langslow (first book in the series is called Murder with Peacocks , all of them have some reference to birds in the title). Several of those are set at Christmas time.
I am just about to reread Connie Willis' novella All Seated on the Ground - she's written quite a lot of short stories about Christmas too, collected together in Miracle.
Posts: 3958 | From: Jorvik | Registered: May 2001
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Magersfontein Lugg
Shipmate
# 18240
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Posted
I find 'cozy' myseries set in Victorian England or even US are often good for Christmas reading. At present I am reading a novel by an American lady 'Victoria Thompson' they are set in Victorian New York.
Posts: 104 | From: Bottle Street | Registered: Oct 2014
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Yangtze
Shipmate
# 4965
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by TurquoiseTastic:
.... I also rather like Susan Cooper's "The Dark is Rising" at this time of year.
Seconded.
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Posts: 2022 | From: the smallest town in England | Registered: Sep 2003
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Magersfontein Lugg
Shipmate
# 18240
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Posted
Oh dear!
I searched for all the mysteries named so far in my local library's online catalog and NONE were listed ![[Confused]](confused.gif)
Any more suggestions!
Posts: 104 | From: Bottle Street | Registered: Oct 2014
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Ariel
Shipmate
# 58
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Posted
Pop along to your local bookshop (or even a charity shop if you have no bookshop locally) and see if there's anything that takes your fancy? Sometimes you can find some unexpected gems secondhand that don't break the bank.
(Real bookshops are an endangered species. Support them while you can.)
Posts: 25445 | Registered: May 2001
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Magersfontein Lugg
Shipmate
# 18240
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Posted
I tend to avoid buying books. I use my local library, Ariel (also an endangered species) thats why I like to read others reccommendations and get them from the library.
I was just surprised that the mysteries people mentioned here were not in my library's catalog - as many seemed just right!
I may just need to carry on reading Victoria Thompson but I'm a bit worried I may finish the ones I have just befoe Christmas!
Posts: 104 | From: Bottle Street | Registered: Oct 2014
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Jane R
Shipmate
# 331
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Posted
The ones I recommended are both American writers. I'm surprised your local library doesn't have anything by Connie Willis, though - she is a very well-regarded SF writer. My local library has a few books by Donna Andrews, which is how I found out about her, although I bought my own copies of most of them (like many people addicted to buying books I also use libraries a lot). Might be worth investigating the possibility of inter-library loans if you don't want to buy your own copies.
Some of the things other people have recommended would be in the children's section - The Dark Is Rising and The Midnight Folk, for example.
Posts: 3958 | From: Jorvik | Registered: May 2001
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Niminypiminy
Shipmate
# 15489
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Posted
The Dark is Rising is wonderful - not cosy though, but thrilling and magical.
More in the cosy line, though actually with quite a lot of pain and anguish among the transcendence, is Elizabeth Goudge's The Dean's Watch, which has a wonderful Christmas ending (though it is not what you expect). Marvellous evocation of Victorian Ely, too.
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Posts: 776 | From: Edge of the Fens | Registered: Feb 2010
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Ariel
Shipmate
# 58
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Posted
Our libraries now contain barely half the books they used to have, and those are mostly the latest fiction. If you want anything else you have to get it from the catalogue, pay the reservation fee and wait a while. They've also pretty much gone self-service. I've mostly stopped using them - they're too depressing when you walk in and see all the bare space where there used to be shelves. Browsing is an essential part of a library IMO - how else are you going to make happy, accidental discoveries that suddenly open up a world you never realized existed?
Anyway, on track, Charles Williams' "The Greater Trumps" is set at Christmas, though it isn't exactly what you think of as a Christmas story and it isn't cosy.
Posts: 25445 | Registered: May 2001
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Magersfontein Lugg
Shipmate
# 18240
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Posted
An English Murder by Cyril Hare was very good Christmas reading.
Country House, snow, Christmas good butler, murder... and written over 50 years ago. Splendid!
I'm also reading some of M R James ghost stoires.
Posts: 104 | From: Bottle Street | Registered: Oct 2014
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Firenze
Ordinary decent pagan
# 619
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Magersfontein Lugg:
I'm also reading some of M R James ghost stoires.
You brave person.
And yes, Cyril Hare is very ingenious. Fortunately Kindle has done a lot to make classic detective fiction available - Nicholas Blake, Colin Watson, Gladys Mitchell and Edmund Crispin for example.
Posts: 17302 | From: Edinburgh | Registered: Jun 2001
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Brenda Clough
Shipmate
# 18061
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Posted
I am spending the week in a holiday rental, on a lake. I have very good luck with the books that are inevitably discarded on the shelves by previous vacationers. I see here on this shelf the three-volume set of Jeremy novels by Hugh Walpole. They came out in the 1920s but seem to be set considerably earlier -- public school stories in the Stalky mode, I gather. Worth reading?
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Science fiction and fantasy writer with a Patreon page
Posts: 6378 | From: Washington DC | Registered: Mar 2014
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Ariel
Shipmate
# 58
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Posted
Sounds like fun. Why not give one a go and see how you get on with it? Let us know what you think on the Mordor thread.
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Ahleal V
Shipmate
# 8404
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Posted
As I seem to have picked up some sort of seasonal flu-bug, this Christmas has been less religious than most. Much of it has been spent in bed, and not sleeping, so I've been going through the offerings of BBC radio this year, so whilst not reading, I hope a radio-play counts.
PL Travers (she of Mary Poppins fame) story of the Fox at the Manger was rather moving. Probably meant for children, but suitable for all and every age:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00g227d
x
AV
[ 28. December 2014, 15:11: Message edited by: Ahleal V ]
Posts: 499 | From: English Spires | Registered: Aug 2004
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JoannaP
Shipmate
# 4493
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Magersfontein Lugg:
An English Murder by Cyril Hare was very good Christmas reading.
Country House, snow, Christmas good butler, murder... and written over 50 years ago. Splendid!
The Santa Klaus Murder by Mavis Doriel Hay is another excellent country house murder tale.
Mystery in White is not such a traditional whodunnit and a touch spooky - a bunch of strangers spend Christmas in a snowbound, oddly deserted house - but extremely readable. I am now hoping that more of J. Jefferson Farjeon's work will become available (yes, he was brother to Eleanor).
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"Freedom for the pike is death for the minnow." R. H. Tawney (quoted by Isaiah Berlin)
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." Benjamin Franklin
Posts: 1877 | From: England | Registered: May 2003
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Adeodatus
Shipmate
# 4992
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Magersfontein Lugg:
I'm also reading some of M R James ghost stoires.
Any favourites yet? I've been spending time with E.F.Benson. Last evening I read his Naboth's Vineyard, about a greedy lawyer who gets his comeuppance. You can see the ending coming a mile off, but getting to is is a mildly creepy delight.
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"What is broken, repair with gold."
Posts: 9779 | From: Manchester | Registered: Sep 2003
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Jane R
Shipmate
# 331
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Posted
Hey, I got 'Mystery in White' for Christmas! I thought it was a good read too.
I don't know whether I could describe it as my *favourite* M R James, but the story that made me too scared to turn out the light was 'Mr Poynter's Diary'...
Posts: 3958 | From: Jorvik | Registered: May 2001
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Twilight
Puddleglum's sister
# 2832
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Magersfontein Lugg:
I find 'cozy' myseries set in Victorian England or even US are often good for Christmas reading.
Me, too. I just discovered Anne Perry's Christmas books this year. Set in Victorian England ( in my American head that is Christmas) and only about 200 pages long, which is good for me during the busy season. She has a bit of a religious message in them that isn't there in her big dark Detective Monk mysteries.
I second the recommendation for "Little Women," at Christmas but, what I always do is watch the DVD version with Winona Ryder. It's as beautiful to look at as the best Christmas card.
Posts: 6817 | Registered: May 2002
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SusanDoris
Incurable Optimist
# 12618
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Posted
I never think about reading something sort of seasonal, but my brother recently recommended a title which was, fortunately, available in a talking book. It was very interesting and quite un-put-downable actually.: 'Agen Zig-Zag' by Ben Macintyre. Zig-Zag was a top double agent during WWII.
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Posts: 3083 | From: UK | Registered: May 2007
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Magersfontein Lugg
Shipmate
# 18240
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Posted
I read an Anne Perry Christmas one a few Christmases ago. It was good but for some reason hasn't made me want to read more.
I do like the sound of a Mystery in White and I think I will try and get a copy. Thanks for the suggestion.
[ 30. December 2014, 16:02: Message edited by: Magersfontein Lugg ]
Posts: 104 | From: Bottle Street | Registered: Oct 2014
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SvitlanaV2
Shipmate
# 16967
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Posted
I read 'The Heavenly Man' by Brother Yun over Christmas. It's the autobiography of a late 20th c. Chinese Christian pastor who was persecuted because of his faith. A very moving account, but also uplifting. Interestingly, there's no mention of Christmas in the author's references to Chinese house churches.
Posts: 6668 | From: UK | Registered: Feb 2012
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