Table of Contents
Books are undoubtedly among the most popular gifts to put under the Christmas tree: objects that can make us smile, reflect and dream, and transport us to far-off fantasy lands. From great Christmas classics to the most original and modern takes on the festive period, we’ve selected 10 titles for readers young and old: the perfect way to immerse yourself in the magical atmosphere of this special time of year and explore its different aspects.
Skipping Christmas by John Grisham
Former criminal lawyer John Grisham stepped away from his day job as a renowned legal thriller writer to try his hand at writing a fun and light-hearted Christmas novel. It tells the story of a middle-aged couple who, when their daughter sets off on a humanitarian mission to Peru, decide to give the traditional Christmas festivities a miss and take a relaxing cruise around the Carribbean. However, they come up against a series of unexpected events, forcing them to tackle hypocritical and self-righteous neighbours and acquaintances who oppose their decision to skip the Christmas preparations. The book reflects wittily and with a good dose of realism on the consumerism that surrounds the Christmas period and the social obligations it brings with it.
The Shepherd by Frederick Forsyth
It is Christmas Eve 1957, and fighter pilot Freddie Hook is flying home on board the Vampire after a period spent serving in West Germany. Everything seems to be going to plan on his short night flight to Lakenheath, Suffolk, until dense fog forms above the North Sea, and the plane’s on-board instrumentation suffers a fault. Hook is just resigning himself to his fate when, all of a sudden, a vintage fighter-bomber appears and tries to make contact with him. Forsyth’s brilliant tale is built around the traditional Christmas themes of hope, salvation and the supernatural. The Shepherd is one of the best-loved Christmas mystery tales in the UK and USA, and has inspired various stage adaptations and a film, directed by Iain Softley and available on Disney+.
The Christmas Orphans Club: A Novel by Becca Freeman
This romantic novel set in New York is the perfect gift for those who do not have a conventional family with whom to celebrate Christmas, but who still believe in the importance of the holiday’s true meaning. The plot revolves around four friends who spend every Christmas together comparing notes on the challenges and joys of adult life. Then Finn gets the opportunity to move to another city for work: the news shatters the group’s harmony, forcing them to take some important decisions and calling all their certainties into question. A story that invites readers to reflect on friendship, love and the transition to adulthood.
The Christmas Book by Sam Bilton, Dolph Gotelli and David Trigg
Featuring over 200 large images of paintings, books, prints, sculptures, textiles, ceramics and photographs from various eras and continents, The Christmas Book is a perfect coffee table book for art and culture buffs and fans of Christmas. The tome tells the full story of the festival, from its religious roots to the present day, unearthing a wide range of traditions, anecdotes and interesting facts along the way: Christmas trees and decorations, carols, films, music and traditional recipes. Edited by food historian Sam Bilton, art critic David Trigg and design professor Dolph Gotelli, the book also explores Christmas’s artistic and cultural influence over the years through a vast collection of works from both famous and little-known artists.
The Christmas Mystery by Jostein Gaarder
In the corner of an old bookshop, a boy called Joachim discovers a magic Advent calendar. When he opens the first window, a small piece of paper falls out that tells the story of Elisabet, a child who went on a pilgrimage through time and space to attend Jesus’s birth in Bethlehem. This children’s story is designed to be read one chapter per day: each of the 24 windows in the calendar reveals another episode in Elisabet’s story. Expertly interweaving historical and geographical references and fiction, Gardner crafts a compelling story sure to thrill adults and children alike.
Letters from Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkein
Starting in 1920, Tolkein sent his four children a letter signed by Father Christmas, including stamps from the North Pole. He continued this tradition for over 20 years, from the first missive sent to his eldest son to the final one in 1943 for his youngest daughter. Each year, the author sent stories, poems and drawings describing the magical world of Lapland and the fantastic characters surrounding Father Christmas, from the bungling Polar Bear and the Snowman to the goblins who live in the basement of the house. Initially meant to be kept private – they were eventually published posthumously by Tolkein’s son – these stories convey the fatherly love, tenderness and imagination of a great writer. The volume also contains photographs of the original letters, so readers can discover the polar bear’s spelling mistakes and Tolkein’s simulation of Father Christmas’s trembling and uncertain handwriting.
Everyone this Christmas Has a Secret by Benjamin Stevenson
The final novel in Benjamin Stevenson’s successful series dedicated to the detective Ernest Cunningham invites readers to step into the character’s shoes and find out the truth with him (or even before he does!) This time, Cunningham is backstage at the show of world-famous magician Rylan Blaze: the show’s patron has just been murdered, and many of the prime suspects are masters in the art of illusion and misdirection. As well as the magician himself, possible culprits include a make-up and disguise expert, a hypnotist, a financial manager, a psychologist and a lights and special effects operator. Like an Advent calendar, each chapter reveals a new clue, leading the reader towards a surprising ending.
A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote
Buddy, a seven-year-old boy who has been left with no parents, lives with his elderly cousin Miss Sook in a house in the south of the USA. In spite of their poverty and isolation from the rest of the family, the two form a deep and special bond as a result of their small, daily rituals. Every year, at Christmas time, they gather the ingredients to make fruit cakes and send their creations to relatives, acquaintances and even some illustrious strangers like Franklin D. Roosevelt. Truman Capote turned his childhood memories into a poetic and timeless story centred on the themes of friendship, loyalty and the magic of small things, perfect for reading aloud to children. This Christmas classic has spawned countless stage, film and TV adaptations, including one in 1967 narrated by Capote himself and starring the actress Geraldine Page.
Santa Claus and A Christmas Carol by Russell Ince
When Santa’s village comes under siege, he realises that the Elves’ magic – not to mention the joy and hope in human hearts – is failing, and fears that Christmas might disappear forever. He therefore decides to travel to London to ask Charles Dickens, the author who found fame with his novel A Christmas Carol, for help. Fans of fantasy and winter atmospheres will love this adventure set in Victorian London, which sees the two characters come together to save Christmas from the dark forces that threaten it. A story suitable for both adults and children that provides an original and gripping reinterpretation of the spirit of Christmas, reminding us that the festival is about much more than simply exchanging gifts.
The Dead of Winter: The Demons, Witches and Ghosts of Christmas by Sarah Clegg
From medieval English folk plays to Austrian Krampus runs and modern pagan rituals at Stonehenge, this book is a collection of less well-known Christmas and winter traditions and festivals that takes the reader on a fascinating journey to discover Christmas’s darker and more disturbing side. Drawing on a vast array of sources and historical references and on the author’s own experiences, the volume pairs descriptions of monsters, masks, spirits and processions with a light and humorous writing style.
With her tales of masked devils, ghostly figures and bizarre rituals, Clegg reveals how a world of superstitions, beliefs and folk legends linked to death and rebirth still lurk behind Christmas’s festive façade.
This volume brings our overview of Christmas books to a close: all that remains is to wish you many happy hours of reading and a holiday period that is brought to life by the magic and beauty of the stories these books contain.