There is nothing better than hunkering down on the couch, cracking a new book on a cold night, under a throw with a cup of milky tea steeping on the end table.
Praise the Lord...I just made myself happy writing that.
Some of my favorites, though, are Christmas books.
but I will say I have been known to read a Christmas book mid-July.
Because Christmas books are that good.
Christmas books should all have a happy ending....
if you by chance are reading a Christmas book with a terrible ending throw it right out.
I'm not saying Jesus doesn't like books with sad endings, but in keeping with all the joy related to his birth...let's keep it happy, sisters.
These are the books I am trying to soak up this season.
I started out with Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg, hands down my favorite Christmas book ever. Because I love stories about love and small towns and little girls and beating the odds and redbirds.
I just finished reading Shepherds Abiding by Jan Karon. I love the Mitford Series because it is escapism at its best with some tea and scones and an Episcopalian priest and his adventures thrown in.
Next on my list to read is The Christmas Train by David Baldacci. Romance and intrigue and train robbery and a rescue mission on horseback? Scrumptious.
Then there is Boo Humbug by Rene Gutteridge which is a super fun little novella. Humor mixed with Dickens and Skary, Indiana and a tyranical play director. Fun!
Next it will be Tidings of Comfort and Joy by T. Davis Bunn. World War 2 and England and heroism and Christmas presents? You may cry a little if you read it...I won't lie...but it's a happy cry so it still can be included on the list.
And the one I am most looking forward to?
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson. We read this with the boys last year and we were all laughing. A family of mean kids, each kid meaner than the last, come looking for free snacks at Sunday school and end up taking over the Christmas Pageant. Brilliant.
And the one I haven't read but I am asking for for Christmas?
A Season of Gifts by my new favorite author Richard Peck. It involves Grandma Dowdel from A Year Down Yonder, his Newberry Award winning book. You have to love a Grandma who totes a shotgun and knows how to bait catfish with stinky cheese. Okay, maybe you don't, but I do.
There it is. A merry Christmas via literature.
Any good Christmas books out there I am missing?
7 comments:
Sue, have you ever read "An Angel's Story" by Max Lucado? Not a real novel like some of the others you listed, but absolutely amazing. Floated around my house for years as a Christmas-time coffee table book and finally read it last year...so glad I did! Also, a really touching children's book is called, "Room for a Little One" by Martin Waddell. I can't get thru reading that at bedtime w/out losing it. I'll check out those other ones! I've always enjoyed Baldacci. :-)
We LOVE Christmas books around our house!!! I have a bunch of kids books that we read each night during the Christmas Season, Kade is loving that. Hannah & I ready "The Greatest Christmas Pageant Ever", it's tradition. I also love Karen Kingsbury's Red Glove Series; Hannah's Hope, Sarah's Song, Maggie's Miracle, and Gideon's Gift. They are great Christmas reads. Thanks for all of the other great ideas!!
I love a good book recommendation! Thank you!
I have The Christmas Train sitting out in hopes that I too can curl up in front of the fire to read... I like The Christmas Box, by Richard Paul Evans, and am currently reading, Dashing Through the Snow, by Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark...then there are all the beloved Children's stories that we read each night...the miracle of this season through stories is amazing!
I love Richard Peck books. I think I've read almost every one he's written. Grandma Dowdel is one of my all time favorite characters. I've got to get a copy of A Season of Gifts!
I'm so happy that Richard Peck has a new book with Grandma Dowdel! She's incredible! I read that to a fifth grade class and we all loved it. So hilarious and I totally had tears at the end. I love Richard Peck!
Sue - the kids at NCC just put on the play version of "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever". Summer was Alice and Josiah was a shepherd :) It was pretty much awesome.
This is a GREAT recommended reading list - Thanks so much!
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