We are kicking off Blogmas this year with a collection of my suggestions for Christmas reading! I always find the Christmas holiday to be a great time to settle down with some good books, either while we are waiting for turkeys to roast or when the terrible Christmas TV just gets too unbearable. I have put together a few ideas for what I think would make for some great reading this Christmas and have decided to divide the books into three categories; festive reads, general holiday page-turners and gifts. Although all of these books are ones that I particularly like - either I have read them and loved them or they are on my 'to-read' list - and they may, therefore, not be for everyone, I hope that you will at least find some inspiration here!
Festive Reads
- 'Little Women', by Louisa May Alcott
Because a 'Christmas Reads' post just would NOT be complete without Little Women! It's a Christmas classic, it's beautiful, romantic and heart-warming on a cold winter night.
- 'A Christmas Carol', by Charles Dickens
Another classic for this time of year. With this story Dickens presents a wonderful and imaginative journey through Christmas. This book definitely deserves a place on your bedside table this Christmas!
- 'God Is Not Great', by Christopher Hitchens
I had to include something here for the Christmas scrooges among us! I adore Hitchens's writing; this book would be great for anyone struggling to face all of the religious traditions at this time of year, for anyone that is questioning the world, or just for anyone interested in another point of view.
- 'Anna Karenina', by Leo Tolstoy
Although not exactly 'light' reading, this tragic love story is an absolute masterpiece, and the dark and cold landscape of Russia, where it is set, make it a wonderful read during the winter.
Holiday Page-turners
- 'The Girls', by Emma Cline
This is an intriguing fictional novel based on the true story of the Charles Manson family. Written beautifully, it is told from the perspective of a girl who finds herself drawn into the cult and sheds a lot of light on an issue which can otherwise be very difficult to understand.
- '1Q84', by Haruki Murakami
Although I have not read this, I have read other work by this exceptional and special author. This novel, loosely based on George Orwell's '1984', is definitely on my to-read list!
- 'The Shock Of The Fall', by Nathan Filer
I found this to be a very unique novel, as well as a real page-turner. It tells the story of a young boy trying to come to terms with the death of his brother and is portrayed in very creative ways. I definitely recommend giving this a read or as a gift this Christmas.
- 'Wuthering Heights', by Emily Bronte
There seems to be a lot of deep, romantic love stories in this list! I chose to include this book because it is a classic, it is slightly heavier reading so would be perfect for a holiday when you have a bit more time and Christmas is definitely a season I associate with love!
Gifts
- 'The Little Book Of Hygge', by Meik Weiking
This book has recently taken the blogger world by storm! It is all about the 'Danish art of living well', with lots of ideas for how to feel most comfortable in your home and in the world, recommending things like woolly socks, candles and open fires. This is a great coffee-table book and I think it would be lovely to receive as a gift.
- 'Girl on the Train', by Paula Hawkins
Again, I have not personally read this book, but have heard a lot about it in the media and I know that it is very popular at the moment. I also wanted to include it for another reason; my Dad, who is currently learning German and at quite a good level with the language, bought this book in German so that he could practise his German reading. He says it's going really well and fits the purpose beautifully So if you have a friend who is also learning a language, this might be a great gift for them!
- 'The School of Life Book Series'
I have definitely mentioned The School of Life before on my blog (catch the post here!). In a nutshell, The School of Life is a place where we can learn everything about life that we don't learn in school. The brand has a wonderful series of books, each covering a different life issue, such as relationships, money, careers etc., and by a different writer. I have personally read 'How To Find Fulfilling Work', by Roman Krznaric and I can really recommend it. These are short books and can make great personal gifts to fit your individual friends.
- Comic Books by Sarah Andersen
I have also mentioned this author before in my Comic Book Post, but these wonderful, artistic and humorous books would definitely make fantastic gifts. They are short but beautiful and incredibly witty, and would be perfect for anyone, even if they aren't typically a comic book fan.
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Labels: Culture
