Christmas Novels: Know any good ones?

[limette]

I'm a bit of a Christmas junkie and am in need of some related fiction.

I really enjoyed "The Christmas Pearl" because of it's description of the holiday preparations. It takes place entirely within the Christmas season which I'd prefer in other novels.

Any recommendations? I'm agnostic so nothing too preachy.

Thanks a bunch!

[zinemama]

There's a big list here, but from the authors, most of them look fluffy/romance/sappy/preachy.

http://library.loganutah.org/books/a...tmasNovels.cfm

However, the mystery section looks promising.

[KiwiZ]

Charles Dicken's "A Christmas Carol". Its been "done to death" in cartoons, TV shows, skits, parodies and movies, but last year I bought a paperback copy and read it. The writing is so wonderful, it just carries you away and the message of hope/redemption never gets old. I love how Ebeneezer Scrooge transforms from someone you'd want to stay away from/toxic to someone you just want to be around/pick up his warm glow. What a difference one person can make; such an uplifting story!

[Thalia the Muse]

The Little House on the Prairie books! I think every single one has at least one Christmas chapter, and On the Banks of Plum Creek has two, if I remember right. And they are the most joyful, wonderful Christmas stories.

Also, Dylan Thomas' "A Child's Christmas in Wales." And the appropriate chapter in "Little Women." James Joyce's "The Dead" might be the finest Christmas story ever written, but it's not exactly cheery.

[limette]

Thanks, I have a lot of the books listed (little house, christmas carol, little women), just haven't read them yet.

[homefrontgirl]

Skipping Christmas by John Grisham (although this might not be what you want)

also

A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote (short story/longer picture book)

and

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by ?? (children's book)
Christmas Sonata by Gary Paulsen (young adult)

HTH.

[Viola]

I just got one for free on my Kindle from Amazon. It's called The Christmas Bus. I have no idea if it's any good, but it was free, so what the heck. If you search for it on a book site, you'll see recommendations for other books you might like. Examples:

The Christmas Cookie Club
The Christmas Dog
The Gift
Lakeshore Christmas

Yeah, a lot of them are going to be sappy romance kind of stories, but I don't mind those too much. How about a collection of stories? I usually find some at the library and check them out, and I have several books of Christmas stories that I own. I love the ones with the old paintings and poems and such. Here is one: The Greatest Christmas Stories of All Time: Stories that Celebrate the Season. It has stories like the Gift of the Magi, The Little Match Girl, Stubby Pringle's Christmas, The Cobbler's Guest, Christmas Day in the Morning, The Fir Tree.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is by Barbara Robinson and I've never read it, but my daughter liked it. The librarian is reading the Best Halloween Ever to the kids right now, and it sounds pretty funny.

[ollyoxenfree]

Maeve Binchy has a collection of short stories set at Christmas. Some are uplifting, but I recall at least one that was a little sad, so be forewarned!

[christinar]

I love Madeleine L'engle's 24 Days Before Christmas - it's for kids - has pictures but is a chapter-type book and is just so lovely. All about preparations! And lots of good ideas.