What to read this Christmas
It's the most wonderful time of the year for reading. As soon as that first cold snap hits, it's time to retreat into a good book. December is a special time for reading in particular because so much of the new fiction coming out is about the holidays. You'll find your Christmas spirit in one of these new books, for sure.
1. The Christmas Town by Donna VanLiere
Raised in foster care, 20-year-old Lauren Gabriel dreads the holidays; she really hasn't got a place to call home. But while she's out driving to whisk away her haunting sadness, she chances upon an accident and lands in the town of Grandon as witness. Staying around for the annual fundraiser for a local charity, Lauren thinks she may finally have found her place. - Library Journal Reserve2. Pretty Paper: A Christmas Tale by Willie Nelson
"Willie Nelson, who has always told wonderful stories in song form, proves he can be just as effective in print narrative." - Booklist ReviewsSinger and songwriter Nelson's fable is based on his classic Christmas song "Pretty Paper," which was inspired by a legless street vendor selling wrapping paper in Fort Worth, TX. Imagining the vendor's life story, the narrative takes readers back to the 1960s when Nelson was just starting his career and barely making ends meet.
Reserve3. Mistletoe Murder by P.D. James
A slender collection that reprints four of the 20 mystery stories James left behind at her death in 2014. Murder comes for Christmas in two of these deceptively decorous tales. In the 1991 title story, a mystery author recalls the murder of an obnoxious guest during an anxious Christmas visit in 1940. The list of suspects is so short that it’s hard to imagine how James will pull off any surprises, but many readers will gasp at the very last sentence.
Reserve4. Christmas Days by Jeanette Winterson
For years Jeanette Winterson has loved writing a new story at Christmas time and here she brings together twelve of her brilliantly imaginative, funny and bold tales. For the Twelve Days of Christmas—a time of celebration, sharing, and giving—she offers these twelve plus one: a personal story of her own Christmas memories.
Reserve5. Twelve Days of Christmas by Debbie Macomber
“Twelve Days of Christmas by Debbie Macomber is a beautifully written, festive tale of love, understanding and finding what you need . . . the perfect Christmas read to get you into the holiday mood. A truly delightful, happy read!”—Books of all KindsReserveSee more of Jennifer's fiction suggestions