The Christmas season is upon us! Decorations, holiday treats, traditions … and books! For anybody looking to pass some time this winter break with a cup of hot cocoa and a good book by the fireplace, look no further. Here are some of my holiday book recommendations!
“A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens. This is a classic for a reason. It’s got everything one could possibly need in a holiday book: messages about human kindness, the importance of striving to be a better person each year and ghosts who haunt billionaires. The main character Ebenezer Scrooge only cares about money and hates others (and honestly, with a name
like that, it’s no wonder he’s not too cheery). As ghosts take him on a whirlwind journey through time to help him discover the true meaning of life, Scrooge is forever changed. This book is a great way to ease you into the Christmas spirit.
“Little Women” by Louisa May Alcott is another winter-themed, holiday-centered book. Sisters Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy begin the book lamenting their lack of a proper Christmas without their father. This somewhat-miserable Christmas spent together sparks the story of four sisters growing into adults.
“Winter” by Ali Smith is the second book of her seasonal quartet, with each book following a different set of characters each time. This one centers on a family reuniting for Christmas. Invited by their matriarch Sophia, the messy drama of the family keeps Smith’s readers thoroughly entertained. Stylistically, Smith’s books don’t use quotations around dialogue, which is my only gripe with the quartet. Other than that, Smith makes “Winter” into a contemporary and insightful examination of current events.
“The Polar Express” by Chris Van Allsburg is another timeless Christmas story. While it may be marketed towards young children, every year I still find myself drawn to its classic storyline either by reading the novel or its movie adaptation. The story follows a young boy as he finds a train outside his door on Christmas Eve that takes him and several other young children to the North Pole to meet Santa Claus. No one is too old for the magic of Christmas. This is truly such a sweet, enjoyable read that leaves you filled with a heavy sense of nostalgia.
Even if you don’t celebrate Christmas, these books are still a great way to get in the holiday spirit. From classics like “A Christmas Carol” to children’s books like “The Polar Express,” there are so many books to read over Winter Break. If none of these appeal to you, I hope they at least inspire you to find your favorite winter-themed read this year. Make some hot cocoa, play some music, start a fire, curl up on the couch and enjoy!
