Dear Readers,
It’s still December for a few more days. I hope everyone had
merry holidays however you celebrated! I often wonder, do your book interests
shift for December with all the holiday festivities? For me, I read at least
one new Christmas themed book during December. Last year, I read In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren and
LOVED it. This year it seemed like there was so many more Christmas and Hanukah
themed books out on display shouting “Read me! Read me!”! I ended up reading
four Christmas centered books this year. Let me share with you!
My daughter and I read The
Christmas Pig by J.K. Rowling. It was as delightful and masterful as I
dreamed it would be. J.K. Rowling is a wordsmith and The Christmas Pig brought the reader not only into the story but we
experienced it! You could see it, smell it, touch it, feel the air and temperatures,
the emotions just oozed off the page, absorbing into our bodies so we could
feel the pain, hope, love, etc. of the characters. I absolutely recommend The Christmas Pig. I know we will reread
it for years to come.
Next, I read Christmas
at Silver Falls by Jenny Hale. It was a cute contemporary novel that
dabbled into romance. It was like reading a Hallmark Christmas movie. For me,
while it was cute, the conflict of the book was too real world and caused me to
be more stressed as I was reading it vs. watching it, knowing it would be resolved
in 2 hours on Hallmark. My mom read it too and thought it was very cute. She
enjoyed it and didn’t feel the added stress I did.
After that, I tried the audio version of Murder at an Irish Christmas by Carlene
O’Connor. I was so excited to listen to this book because the audio reader was Irish!!!
Talk about setting the tone... However, chapters in, I had to pause indefinitely
as the reader had slowed her speech down so much it was tedious and not joyful
to listen to. It distracted from the murder mystery being laid out before me.
Lastly, I decided to stay in the murder mystery genre and
read Bells, Spells, and Murders by
Carol J. Perry. I personally enjoy the Witch City Mystery series. I discovered
it after visiting Salem, MA, and find it so delightful I can picture Lee and
the cast, running around living life and falling into mysteries and solving
them. Bells, Spells, and Murders was
a delightful holiday Who-Done-It.
Before I sign off, I have to apologize my book reviews have
slowed down so much. As ever, I will endeavor to do better. You are not
forgotten, I promise. My book club has
also fizzled out and that didn’t help. It was fun getting other peoples aspects
and reactions to books to share with mine.
Currently, I am reading Diana Gabaldon’s, highly anticipated
and recently released, novel for our beloved Outlander series, Go Tell the Bees That I am Gone. It’s a
giant book and heavy to hold but, as I find ways to prop up the book I sink
deeper into the 18th century with the Fraser’s and their family,
friends and potential enemies. If you love Outlander and are caught up, 300
pages in, I would absolutely hope you would read this 9th
installment.
Merry Christmas!
