Some Holiday Reads

Well, now that we have made it past Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the house is made festive with Christmas decorations, I thought it was time to take a good holiday book from off the shelf, put my feet up and do some serious Christmas reading!  Okay, so I don't have everything done.  I still have presents to finish making, shopping to begin, cookies to bake and cards to write, but what is Christmas without a good book to read? So here is my list of books that I love to read during the holiday season.  I hope you enjoy the list, and if you would like to comment and share with me the books you enjoy during the holiday season, please do share!

 First on the list has to be the Bible! This goes without saying, but since some of my Readers are new, you may not know that the Bible has first place in my life.  The story from Luke 2 is most important.  When I was a child we never went off to bed until we had read the Christmas story from Luke.  I always went to bed with thoughts of God's gift of Jesus in my head and heart.

Now the rest are listed in no particular order, just how I happen to think of them.
 What child does not enjoy the Night Before Christmas, by Clement Moore?  I can still recite it from memory.

The Best Christmas Pageant ever by Barbara Robinson.  The story is funny and gives the true meaning of Jesus' birth.  I love this story and never tire of reading.  This is a good one to read to your children.

A Christmas Story by Jean Shepherd.  This is not my favorite, but if you grew up in hard times, one can relate to it.  I don't think I would read it to children, but that is just my opinion.

The Gift of the Magai by O. Henry.  What is Christmas without this story?  A husband and wife each sacrificing something special for the other, brings tenderness to Christmas.

The Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and please don't just watch the movie; read the book.  It is wonderful.

Miracle on 34th Street by Valentine Davies.  The book is every bit as good as the movie, but if you watch the movie, make the old version from the 40's with Maureen O'Hara, it is by far the best.  Classic books and Classic movies are by far the best, but that is my opine.

Skipping Christmas by John Grisham is hiliarous and another book that is fun to read to your family.  It is non-stop laughter from beginning to end, and also has very tender moments in them too.  The movie is nothing like the book. Avoid the movie and read the book.

If you like romance there are two books by Christian author Grace Livingston Hill.  The Substitute Guest,first published in 1936, this story takes place on Christmas Eve.  alan Monteith had planned to spend Christmas Eve at a party with friends, but instead he has to go on an errand of mercy up in the mountains where he meets the Devereaux family, and his live is changed forever.  The Christmas Bride,first published in 1934, finds Margaret McLaren on a park bench in the cold. Gregory Sterling sees her from his window and watches as she collapes on the ground, and he rushes to her rescue.  Both books encourage faith and trust in Jesus Christ as Saviour.

If you like mysteries and knitting, there is A Holiday Yarn, by Sally Goldenbaum.  I am currently reading this book.  I bought it on a lark at Barnes and Noble. I just went in my daughter to browse, and the cover art attracted me to the  book.  When I read the story involved knitters, I wanted to try it. So far it is good.  A circle of knitting friends try and help Mary,  a fellow knitter, solve the mystery of who murdered Mary's cousin.  Will the solve the crime before Christmas?  It is the fourth book in the Seaside Knitters Mystery Series, but I didn't feel outside the loop, so I am guessing you don't have to read them in order.

Then there is always Little Women, by Lousia May Alcott, which begins the tale at Christmas, and even if you only read that chapter, it would put you in the holiday mood.

I am sure I am forgetting something, and if I am, please fill me in, and by all means let me know what holiday books you enjoy. 

Now, I better get back to work,  let's see, I have twenty things on my To Do List, and what, I have only crossed off two?  Do you think I procrastinate?

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