It’s no secret that when Halloween comes and goes, everything on TV switches from horror to Christmas, and remains that way until after the New Year. Every radio station catches the holiday spirit. All you hear when you shop are songs that express the reason to be jolly. Should we throw in the towel and not only watch Christmas films (the same ones on repeat), but read a few jolly novels as well?
There are only so many times from Halloween to the New Year that I can watch the same exact movie on TV, but there are a few favorites that I need every year. Though it can be good to get with the spirit and enjoy this time of year instead of choosing to alienate it, sometimes a break or a variety between a book (or movie) can help get you through to the New Year.
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Source: Wikimedia Commons
Maybe you’re a lover of classic literature. Nothing says classic like A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens which has been adapted into numerous novels and films. Everyone knows the story: a man named Scrooge, who gets visits from three ghosts (Past, Present, and Future) help him become a better person. A Visit from St. Nicholas by Clement Clarke Moore, also known as The Night Before Christmas, is a classic that everyone is also fairly familiar with:
‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all thro’ the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
~ Clement Clarke Moore
Maybe you’ll prefer something murderous or mysterious. Try Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot’s Christmas that includes a family reunion, a murder, and an extra entertaining Christmas Eve. Or, for those who enjoy a good cozy mystery, Joanne Fluke’s Christmas Caramel Murder revolves around a production of A Christmas Carol and includes fun holiday recipes.
For those who enjoy a darker side to Christmas, try, Krampus: The Yule Lord by Brom which centers on Santa’s evil half, and Pet Semetary, the horror novel by Stephen King that’s set at Christmastime and focuses on dead pets coming back to life. (Creepy!) For a darker fairytale take, I’d recommend The Nutcracker King by Eustacia Tan that takes place after the events of the classic Nutcracker story, and The Little Match Girl, a fairytale by Hans Christian Andersen that’s about a little girl who freezes to death and is found by an angel.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
For those who have children (or still indulge in a good children’s book), The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg, Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and William Joyce’s The Guardians of Childhood all have quirky characters and endless magic. They fill the spirit of Christmas with the wonder of childhood.
Wanting to enjoy a good fantasy? The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis is a popular novel that takes place in an eternal winter. Hogfather by Terry Pratchett has a little death, murder, magic, and mystery, making the perfect blend for a holiday novel. J.R.R. Tolkien’s Letters from Father Christmas is an additional wonder filled with an accident prone polar bear and goblins.
For romance lovers, check out the author Debbie Macomber who writes a lot of novels set at Christmastime, including There’s Something About Christmas and Trading Christmas, the latter of which was adapted into a Hallmark film.
For those feeling the Christmas spirit, pick a genre and enjoy!
YouTube Channel: Jenny Mustard
Featured image via Pixabay
h/t Daily Republic
