Now that December is upon us, the frantic buying of Christmas presents has begun and many of us will be looking for the perfect gift for the book lover in our lives. Rather than risking buying a book they already have or, even worse, one they won’t enjoy, why not really get into the festive spirit and buy them a book about Christmas? Ideal to open on Christmas Eve, these Christmas books range from crime to humour to history, offering something for everyone when it comes to a Christmas holiday read. Providing they bring their reading glasses and a book mark, these books will make Christmas 2017 a truly special experience.
Books About Christmas
What better book to buy as a Christmas gift than a book about Christmas? Such books have flooded the novelty sections of bookshops in recent years, so it can be difficult to know which ones carry some actual substance. One book that has emerged as a clear favourite is Christmas: A Biography by Judith Flanders, which discusses the myths, legends and historical elements of Christmas that often go unnoticed by us. Flanders unravels commonly held beliefs about the festive season and reveals surprising facts about how the holiday has developed over the centuries.
Christmas Crime Thrillers
Spice up your Christmas with a thrilling crime novel set during the festive period. The ideal gift for reading during the holidays, these novels are guaranteed to bring excitement and intrigue to your Christmas. A firm favourite is Murder in the Snow: A Cotswold Christmas Mystery by Gladys Mitchell, which is the perfect gift for anyone who loves an English crime novel. Starring Mrs Bradley, a sharp psychiatrist and detective, this village mystery novel is set in one of the most picturesque areas of the British countryside. For short crime stories, try The Mistletoe Murder and Other Stories by PD James, which is an undeniable crime classic.
Christmas Poetry
Christmas seems like the perfect time to enjoy a bit of poetry; being the season of joy and creativity. Whereas some Christmas poems are a little too archaic for most people’s tastes today, there are some poets who have managed to capture the contemporary experience of Christmas and express it in an undeniably entertaining way. Wendy Cope’s simply named Christmas Poems is a collection of her most popular festive poems, which captures both the joy and the sadness that the season often brings. Laced with witty humour, her short odes never fail to raise a smile. Alternatively, fans of Carol Ann Duffy may enjoy her latest Christmas offering, Pablo Picasso’s Noel. A narrative poem that the follows the famous painter on an imaged journey on Christmas Eve, this is sure to be a family favourite.
Christmas Anthologies
Literature lovers enjoy a good anthology, and luckily there are plenty of Christmas themed anthologies out there to make the perfect Christmas gift. If you’re spoilt for choice, try The Faber Book of Christmas, a truly beautiful book designed to be an ideal gift. Edited by Simon Rae, with poems by Rimbaud and Milton and extracts from Dickens and Larkin, this is ideal for lovers of the classics. Another favourite is On Christmas: An Anthology, which is introduced by Gyles Brandreth and features an eclectic mix of work from Ali Smith to PG Wodehouse. The perfect choice for contemporary fiction fans, this anthology will keep them entertained for many Christmases to come.
