Because school is winding down and I’m quite busy, plus I’m reading some chunky novels, I don’t have a review for this week. Instead, I’m looking back at some winter- and secular Christmas-themed novels that I’ve read over the years. I add secular because none of these novels have a Christian plot/focus, and I don’t want to mislead readers.
mystery
“Before the night is over, the old man has had his throat slashed and the diamonds are missing. However, the door was locked from the inside and there are no windows or secret doors out which a murderer could escape. Who dunnit? Someone call Hercule Poirot!”
thriller
A bachelorette party set deep in the snow-covered woods ends in tragedy. But who is the killer?
science fiction
“…the stories were inventive and festive, combining a touch of science fiction with Christmas, such as in “All About Emily,” the tale of an AI robot that looks like a real girl, who wants to be a Rockette despite the ethical dilemma surrounding her ability to change her “skin” (like an avatar) and upload the dance routines compared to the limited number of dancers hired.”
general fiction
“A great read with inventive stories and poetic language, with loads of attention paid to alliteration and rhyme. Will read again come Christmastime.”
“…one of the most wintry books I’ve ever read. It opens with Josey thankful that it’s getting frosty outside. And, the protagonist’s house reeks of peppermint year-round, as her mother puts it on the windowsills. Granted, the smell is a superstitious way to keep out ‘unwanteds,’ but still. Minty.”
theater
“At a time when Christmas trees were only a German tradition, Lizzy has one set up in Pemberley, causing everyone to think her odd and ill-mannered.”
From Wikipedia: “Based on the true story of the Rouse Simmons, a Great Lakes schooner whose captain risks life and limb to transport fir trees from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to Chicago’s German immigrants during the late 19th century.” Music and lyrics by Julie Shannon, book by John Reeger.
lgbtqia+
“Miss Claus is a great holiday read with a more serious drive behind it while still being fuzzy and Christmasy. The ending scene had some wonderful drama that made me shout aloud “woohoo!” at one point, which never fails to scare the spouse.”
horror
“Santa’s Little Help is a fun, scary book that I would recommend to fans of horror by authors like Stephen King because the pacing is a bit slower than modern consumers want (think about how most American horror movies don’t even reach 90 minutes), but it’s a scary-good time!”
fairy tale
Set in the deep, dark, frozen woods of Russia, this novel is a fairy tale for adult readers.
And here is a novel I hope to read over the winter break in the coming weeks:
“A steamy plus-size holiday rom-com about an adult film star who is semi-accidentally cast as a lead in a family-friendly Christmas movie, and the former bad-boy pop star she falls in love with.”
Do you change your reading habits around the holidays to fit the mood of the season? What are you planning to read through the remainder of December?
Grab the Lapels 
Oh you’re right, it is a good time of year to read (or reread) The Bear and the Nightingale! I don’t usually read seasonally but I did read some Christmas stories by Noel Streatfeild last week.
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I read the whole trilogy of The Bear and The Nightingale, and I absolutely loved it. I think since then the author has been writing young adult and children’s books, so I haven’t read more. She came to our zoom book club a few years ago and seemed really defensive. She said some book clubs have invited her to critique her work to her. I was appalled
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That is appalling. Poor thing.
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I think I’ve read everything she’s written. What gall, to invite someone and then turn around to critique what she writes!
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Absolutely!
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I’d never heard of such a thing. She was really cold shoulderish when she arrived to the meeting, and I couldn’t figure it out until she explained what had happened with other book clubs (PLURAL).
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Fun to read Melanie … probably the one that appeals most to me is the Jeanette Winterson. I’ve not read any short stories by her. I will give you a southern hemisphere summer Christmas – secular I believe as I’ve not read it – novel, Benjamin Stevenson’s Everyone This Christmas Has A Secret. It is set in the Blue Mountains which can be chilly even at Christmas so not a beach mystery but at least summer!
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I love secular Christmas stories! I’ll see if my library has that one. The Winterson collection is so atmospheric, I feel half British myself when I read it!
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It’s new. And is his third novel. I bought the second for my son but not sure whether he liked it… or has even read it!!
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Ha! There is always that lingering curiosity as to whether or not our loved ones read the books that we gifted them.
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Ruth Ware’s In A Dark Dark Wood is so atmospheric, I love it.
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I really enjoyed it until we got to the timeline from the past and were about to learn what actually happened, only for the author to put on the brakes and make us stick in the present timeline for way too long. I’ve read several other of her books, and I’ve since noticed she does the same trick in each one. It’s an effective trick, though, because people keep reading her stuff.
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I struggle to name any books with a christmas theme. I was going to say Dickens’ A Christmas Carol 60 plus years ago might be the only one; but your list reminds me I ‘recently’ read Connie Willis’ Doomsday Book.
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Christmas Carol is a good one! I read that too much a few years ago during the season. We’ve watched the beautiful CG film version with Jim Carrey many times.
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I’ve read an really enjoyed four of these from your list (Sugar Queen, Ware, Poirot, and the Winterson.) Right now I’m reading a Christmas romance by Jenny Bayliss – her newest, Kiss Me at Christmas. She’s a great one for a comforting Christmas read. I do try to read at least one Christmas-y book a December.
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I’ve seen that one on displays at my local library. For December, my mom and I decided that instead of reading the same book for our two person book club, we’ll each read something festive. I’m going to read the Merry Little Meet Cute, and I believe she is reading the Poirot.
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Cuuutteee! I think all these books I’ve either read, or would read, I love this selection. I’m reviewing a Christmas book right now that will appear on my blog shortly. I didn’t have as many Xmas books come across my doorstep this year, but that’s ok! I’ve been reading lots of xmas picture books with my kids instead 🙂
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Oh, lovely! I always like the Christmas picture books you review because I want to know what kids are into these days and what kinds of books are out there.
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