Christmas Books & December Reading Shifts

 

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 18^th 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 9^th installment.

Merry Christmas!