Wicked Good Holiday Reads

We are talking about what we are reading for the holidays.

Sherry: I don’t usually seek out holiday books. But this year one sought out me and I’m so glad it did. Barb Goffman surprised me by using my name in her short story “Operation Knock Her Down a Peg”. Then I found out Sharon Daynard had a short story “Cheese It, The Cops” in the same anthology. So I’m reading The Killer Wore Cranberry: Room for Thirds a short story anthology with a Thanksgiving theme by Untreed Reads. Both stories are great! I’m looking forward to reading the rest.

Edith: I don’t think it has a holiday theme, except maybe summer vacation, but I’m reading Reunion With Death, Sheila Connolly’s standalone. And who doesn’t need a story about summer (in Italy) in December?

Jessie: I have a young family at home so most holiday reading is still centered around Christmas story books. We love A Jolly Christmas at the Patterprints by Vera and Helene Nyce and also The Amazing Christmas Extravaganza by David Shannon. Once the season is over I will do what I do almost every January and reread the Lucia books by E.F. Benson. They are one of my favorite ways to celebrate the new year.

Barb: Like Jessie, most of my holiday reads are children’s classics. My kids read them and now I’m putting them out hoping my granddaughter will eventually come to love them. We have Polar Express, of course, and so many versions of The Night Before Christmas. My new favorite is this spectacular pop up version. Family favorites include Raymond Briggs Father Christmas, a rather irreverent look at the old guy’s day, and Rumer Godden’s The Story of Holly and Ivy with illustrations by Barbara Cooney.

Julie:I love reading holiday themes in series I read. Agatha Christie had a few Christmas stories. Cleo Coyle’s Coffee Shop series has a few holiday entries. But my favorite holiday read? A Christmas Carol. My favorite story of all time.

Liz: I’m definitely going to read the holiday Coffee Shop books – they’ve been on my list for a while. But I think this year I’m going to pick up an old favorite – The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. And maybe ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. Keeping it simple!

Readers: Do you like holiday reads? What are you reading?