Books Blog : holiday, Christmas

Christmas is Coming

Shh_ImReading@evpl — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 17:48:00 GMT

I don't want to alarm anyone, but Christmas is coming; in fact it's less than two months away. Now, it's still entirely too early to be putting up tinsel and whatnot, but it is absolutely time to get on the waiting lists for these new Christmas cookbooks!

I'm personally very much looking forward to trying out the recipe for toffee thins on page 86 of Sweet Christmas: Homemade Peppermints, Sugar Cake, Chocolate-Almond Toffee, Eggnog Fudge, and Other Sweet Treats and Decorations by Sharon Bowers, with photographs by David Bowers.

Other new Christmas cookbooks to be excited about:

Christmas Baking: Fun & Delicious Holiday Treats by Mia Ohrn

A Home-Baked Christmas: 56 Delicious Cookies, Cakes, & Gifts from Your Kitchen

American Christmas

If you really can't wait for these titles, I recommend checking out a copy of an older title, A Baker's Field Guide to Christmas Cookies by Dede Wilson, which has a nice variety of cookies to try.

Joy to the Readers: New Christmas Fiction

Shh_ImReading@evpl — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 00:08:00 GMT

Every year, sometimes starting as early as September, the EVPL starts recieving new Christmas fiction. Here are a few of the titles we've gotten in so far this year:

Sarah's Christmas Miracle by Mary Ellis

The Three Kings by Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez

The Mischief of the Mistletoe by Lauren Willig

The Next Queen of Heaven : A Novel by Gregory Maguire

Busy Body: An Agatha Raisin Mystery by M.C. Beaton

A Chesapeake Shores Christmas by Sherryl Woods

Christmas Mourning by Margaret Maron

Call Me Mrs. Miracle by Debbie Macomber

Cat Coming Home: A Joe Grey Mystery by Shirley Rousseau Murphy

Love Finds You Under the Mistletoe: Two Heartwarming Stories of Christmas Past and Present

A Piggly Wiggly Christmas by Robert Dalby

A Darcy Christmas: [a holiday tribute to Jane Austen] by Amanda Grange, Sharon Lathan, Carolyn Eberhart

Christmas at The Mysterious Bookshop : 'Tis the Season to be Deadly : Stories of Mistletoe and Mayhem from 17 Masters of Suspense edited by Otto Penzler

Christmas at Harrington's by Melody Carlson

Christmas with Tucker by Greg Kincaid

A Holiday Yarn: A Seaside Knitters Mystery by Sally Goldenbaum

Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor by Lisa Kleypas

Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball : A Novella by Donita K. Paul

Gingerbread Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke, Laura Levine and Leslie Meier

A Simple Amish Christmas by Vannetta Chapman

Some of these titles are availble in large print or as audiobooks too!

'Tis the Season to Curl Up With a Good Book

Shh_ImReading@evpl — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:01:00 GMT

Most years I try to pick out and read at least one Christmas novel during the holidays. I thought I would share some of the titles I've enjoyed in years past.

Some of the novels I've read are fairly traditional. I've never been a fan of Charles Dickens, but A Christmas Carol really is worth your time. The Christmas Train by David Baldacci is one of my favorites. The Handmaid and the Carpenter by Elizabeth Berg is a story about Mary and Joseph.

There are two that I thought were well-written and enjoyable, but don't have the happy endings some people expect from a Christmas novel. One is a collection of short stories by Maeve Binchy called This Year it Will Be Different and the other is a small book by Stewart O'Nan called Last Night at the Lobster.

When I can find them, I really enjoy off-the-wall Christmas stories. The Stupidest Angel by Christopher Moore is certainly off-the-wall. I have one word for you: ZOMBIES. Hogfather by Terry Pratchett is another great one, especially for fantasy readers. You might also try The Shepherd, the Angel and Walter the Christmas Miracle Dog by Dave Barry. It's short and funny.

Some of these titles are available in large print and audio! Also, the edition of A Christmas Carol that I've linked to is the annotated one. There are smaller copies without notes available as well if you prefer.

I'm always looking for Christmas reading suggestions, so be sure to sign in share what you've enjoyed in the comments below!