Skip to main content

Christmas Reads

It’s that time of the year when my reading preferences, which tend toward to sentimental anyway, veer into what some would call sappy. I love a good Christmas story, with tears and laughter, redemption and happily ever after. Cold dark nights, a warm cup of tea, and a dog to curl up beside me on the couch make this the perfect time of the year to settle in for a read. Yes, traditionally, the dog would be at my feet, but Roxy insists if she's under my blanket, we'll both be warmer.

There are a few stories I visit almost every year, like favorite relatives. First is the classic, Charles Dicken’s A Christmas CarolThe ultimate story of redemption, Ebeneezer Scrooge becomes a new man overnight after seeing ghostly visitors. What may be my all time favorite, Winter Solstice by Rosemunde Pilcher, is the story of a man who’s lost everything and the people, especially one amazing woman, who bring joy back into his life. Recently I finished a wonderful collection,  A Heartwarming Christmas, twelve interconnected stories of love and family, set in the lovely fictional town of Christmas Town, Maine. 

I have a whole shelf of Christmas mysteries I occasional reread. Mary Higgins Clark wrote some great ones. Just today I downloaded a Sherlock Homes short story set at Christmas, The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle. Can't wait to find out what a carbuncle is.

In between decorating, baking, and writing cards, I'll be spending some time with old favorites and meeting new ones. Do you have some favorite Christmas stories I should try?

Hope your holidays are filled with warmth and magic and heartwarming tales. Merry Christmas.

Comments

  1. Oo, I love Sherlock Holmes I'm going to have to pull out my collection and read that one. One of my favorites is Skipping Christmas by John Grisham.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, I like that one, too! I think I gave my copy away. I'll have to reread it sometime.

      Delete
  2. I love Winter Solstice! It was the first Rosamunde Pilcher I read, and it was wonderful. I will be watching A Christmas Carol tomorrow, but the book can't be beaten. There was one illustrated by Arthur Rackham, that really was splendid. And I love it when Scrooge awakens and realizes that all is not lost, that he has a chance to make amends...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I may have to watch A Christmas Carol, too. I haven't been able to figure out where I hid my book. I'd love to leaf through the illustrated version you mentioned. Merry Christmas! God Bless us every one.

      Delete
    2. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
  3. I love Winter Solstice! It was the first Rosamunde Pilcher I read, and it was wonderful. I will be watching A Christmas Carol tomorrow, but the book can't be beaten. There was one illustrated by Arthur Rackham, that really was splendid. And I love it when Scrooge awakens and realizes that all is not lost, that he has a chance to make amends...

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

February Subscriber Giveaway

 This month, I've giving away a copy of AN ALASKAN FAMILY FOUND and a deck of Alaska-themed playing cards in a matching tin to one newsletter subscriber. (US only. If winner has no US mailing address, the prize will be two ebooks.)  You must be a newsletter subscriber to win. If you're not already subscribed, you can sign up HERE . Must be 18 or older. Void where prohibited.  a Rafflecopter giveaway AN ALASKAN FAMILY FOUND A temporary summer arrangement… Or their new forever? Alaskan peony farmer Caleb DeBoer can barely keep up with the weeds—let alone his willful teen daughter and being short-staffed at the start of wedding season. Luckily, sunny counselor Gen Rockford could really use a summer job and a place for her girls to live. Now what began as the perfect solution for Gen and Caleb is transforming into one unforgettable summer. But will one little secret ruin it all?

Snow Sculptures at Fur Rondy

Photo by Bill Roth /   Anchorage Daily News Fur Rondy (short for rendezvous) is the annual winter festival in Anchorage, where residents fight cabin fever with activities like the snowshow softball, the running of the reindeer, and outhouse races. There are other activities too, like hockey, sled dog races, and a poker tournament. My favorite event in Fur Rondy as always been the snow sculptures . The frozen equivalent of sand castles, snow sculptures are, by their very nature, temporary. Beautiful, whimsical, or just funny, they’re created solely for the enjoyment of the artists and passersby. To bring a smile. Like the bloom of a daylily or a rainbow, their short life is part of their charm. It's easy to put off going to the Grand Canyon or the Statue of Liberty. They'll always be there, after all. But come spring, that snow sculpture will be gone forever, so we'd better enjoy while we can. They encourage us to live for today. What temporary pleasures have

December Giveaway

For the holidays, I'm giving away two books, A GIFT FOR SANTA and KIDNAPPED IN ALASKA, plus a pair of goofy reindeer socks. (Prize for US only. If winner has no US mailing address, the prize will be two ebooks.) You must be a newsletter subscriber to win. If you're not already subscribed, you can sign up  HERE . Must be 18 or older. Void where prohibited.  a Rafflecopter giveaway