Do you have one book you read over and over at Christmas? Do you like Christmas-themed books? Do you need some new suggestions for Christmas books?

While we’re talking about what you like to read at Christmas time, let me remind you of the high percentage of people who cannot enjoy the simple pleasure–and sometimes the critical need–of reading.  That’s why I’m enthusiastic about the Passport With Purpose effort this year to provide schools and adult literacy programs in Mali.  If you have not yet learned about buildOn, the organization that helps local people build their own schools, please take a look at this video.

Then click to Passports with Purpose and select a prize you’d like to win for your $10 contribution. See that thermometer on the right?  Keep track of how we’re doing at reading the goal. And be proud of being part of that effort.

BUT BACK TO CHRISTMAS READING

Are you still re-reading The Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens every year? You can choose from audio books, pop-up books, children’s editions, annotated books, e-books–not to mention DVDs of various productions. Charles Dickens, you know, made money from his books by serializing them in newspapers, writing the next installment as the readers were still paging through the last one. What would he have thought of all those new ways to read,listen to or watch his story? I think he would have loved it!

The edition pictured here looks like a particularly decorative book, but since it really is a rather short book, you might want to get a collection of Christmas books that includes the Dickens classic.

Publishers of books and magazines all but beg writers to produce holiday-related material, because Christmas Sells!  Everyone, I’m sure, is looking for the next “Christmas Carol” or “Twas the Night Before Christmas, or A Visit with St. Nicholas“. Christmas books of that quality are few and far between, although Dr. Seuss did create an immortal new Christmas character with The Grinch.

In time for the holidays, Penguin  published Edie Kiglatuk’s Christmas (A Penguin holiday E-Special). After reading The Boy in the Snow, which I reviewed here, I was happy to read Edie Kiglatuk’s Christmas.  This very short novel starts out as a rather bloody mystery that had me wondering what in the world is “Christmasy” about this?  But, as the publicity release says, “This is  a stunning short mystery with a magical and heart-rending twist.” If you have not read one of the Edie Kiglatuk’s mysteries yet, the e-book also tempts you with excerpts from the first two novels in the series, The Boy in the Snow and White Heat.

Are you a mystery fan?  Every mystery writer, it seems, cranks out a book featuring Christmas.  But if you want to save time, just get the new compilation: The Big Book of Christmas Mysteries. This is a collection of 60 short stories by well known  (Agatha Christie, O. Henry, and Mary Higgins Clark, Ed McBain) and not-so well known writers. I haven’t read it but think I’d like to. A reviewer named Carole on Amazon says, ” If you like a little holiday reading that’s not so glycemic this is your sugarplum antidote.”  Sounds good to me.

In the past we have given you some books written specifically for Christmas.  In an article last year, Pamelas Douglas Webster suggested Truman Capote’s  A Christmas Memory among other Christmas books.

I laughed myself silly over Comfort and Joy, the antidote for all the holiday perfection pressure. Do give it a go. It may become one of your favorite Christmas books.

What do you read at Christmas time? Re read the classic Christmas books, or dive into a brand new mystery or romance with a holiday theme? Make a list in the comment section.

A reminder:  I am an Amazon affiliate.  The book covers here are linked to Amazon, as are some other links on this page.  When you do your shopping at Amazon, would you please get there by clicking one of my links? It will not cost you any extra, but it will help A Traveler’s Library stay in business. THANKS!

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