...and why they're loved! Last week I ran an offer on the Woman Alive Facebook Group. For the chance to 'win' one of three books, two of which were the Revell titles A Simple Christmas Wish and The Unfinished Gift, I asked members of the group to tell me which were their favourite Christmas stories, and why. I have always been a bit of a fan of Christmas stories, so I was interested to know whether other readers are, too.
The responses resulted in quite a list of favourites for Christmas! Some very familiar, others less so. Here are the books mentioned:
The Advent Calendar by Steven Croft - this one was mentioned twice! The first nominee is still reading it, enjoying it very much, intrigued and touched and asking questions, the second nominee enjoyed it so much she passed it on to a friend.
Bah, Humbug! by Heather Horrocks - loved for 'happy endings'!
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens - great and memorable characters, tension, love, a moral, the wonderful happy ending and great catchphrases like 'God bless us everyone'
A Christmas Collection by Patricia St John - the stories are very moving, even though they are dated, the nominee can read them again and again as it is still the same 'Lord Jesus'
The Christmas Mouse by Stephanie Jeffs (I think this is the right one!) - it tells the story from the perspective of a little mouse who gets transported into the stable. The nominee of this one says "Both my daughter and son sit transfixed while we read it, and it comes out year after year."
City of Bells by Elizabeth Goudge - wounded ex-soldier Jocelyn is in the cathedral for the Christmas service with his grandparents and cousins, and is struck that 'if these... whom he held to be his superiors, were believers, then their belief was more likely to be true than his own unbelief."
A Cup of Christmas Tea - makes the reader teary every time she reads it!
The Fourth King: The Story of the Other Wise Man by Ted Sieger - oozes love and mercy and kindness...
Heading Home by Naomi Reed - not strictly a Christmas book, but with a title that says it all
The Nutcracker - the nominee of this story used to love it as a child, and was also transfixed by the ballet. She says "It is wonderful to see how my daughter's imagination has come alive with the story too."
The Secret of the Fourth Candle by Patricia St John - the nominator of this remembers reading the story to her son. The second author to be mentioned twice.
Twelve Days of Christmas by Trisha Ashley - light, a good escape at a busy time of year, and it makes the reader laugh!
The Unfinished Gift by Dan Walsh - this one touched the reader for very personal reasons which I won't post on-line. I know you'll understand.
The Bible was also mentioned!
My own favourites include the Anne Perry Christmas novellas, the latest of which is A Christmas Hope.
For sheer fun and laugh-aloud enjoyment, one I dig out every year because it is such a gem is The Twelve Days of Christmas, by John Julius Norwich, Illustrated brilliantly Quentin Blake. It is one of the funniest Christmas books ever. If you haven't read it, it will change your view of the Christmas carol of the same name!
Finally, the one Christmas book which I've given copies away of because it is so fantastic, is Christmas Jars by Jason Wright. Simply wonderful Christmas reading!
If you like Christmas stories, there must be something among that little collection to whet your appetite!
Happy Christmas!
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