UK Book Club discussion

Ok, in keeping with the fast-approaching festive season, post here what you're thinking of reading in December....
Anything with a Christmas setting....

It may not be a surprising or original choice, but I've never read A Christmas Carol. I feel it's about time I gave it a go....

I would quite like to read Letters from Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien, if I can find a copy.
I would like to buy the actual book, then my Grandchildren can read it too.

Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher has been recommended by a friend as being good, and I've downloaded a free book from the Guttenberg Project The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry which I saw on a GR Listopia of Christmas books.

I must have at least 10 books with christmas in the title so may read more than one!

I've found a couple of Agatha Christie books that have a Christmas theme....one is a Hercule Poirot, so I'll definatly look for that.

Thinking of either Hog Father by Terry Pratchett or Winter Ghosts by Kate Mosse (although the second one seems to be set at during winter rather than Christmas does it still count?)

At the moment, I'm thinking of reading a Xmas mystery, Shakespeare's Christmas by Charlaine Harris.

I have read a few books by this author recently with my children. So thought we'd tackle all 32 pages of this one in December ! Lol Great Joy

Bill wrote: "At the moment, I'm thinking of reading a Xmas mystery, Shakespeare's Christmas by Charlaine Harris."

This caught my eye too, Bill, but I wasn't sure if it was the sort of series where it's necessary to read the books in order....have you read the first two?

Susan wrote: "Bill wrote: "At the moment, I'm thinking of reading a Xmas mystery, Shakespeare's Christmas by Charlaine Harris."

This caught my eye too, Bill, but I wasn't sure if it was the sort of series where..."

I've read most of the series, Susan and mostly out of order. I think it's probably useful to read in order, but it didn't affect my enjoyment at all. I think the Xmas kinds of special books probably are read alones for the most part. :0)

Thanks Bill....I'm going to see if my library has it.

Susan wrote: "Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher has been recommended by a friend as being good, and I've downloaded a free book from the Guttenberg Project The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry which I saw on a GR..."

Susan, I read
Winter Solstice a few years ago and really loved it. It's a great Christmas read!

I'm planning on reading that one that is a chapter a day - can't remember what it's called now!

I had a sort out of books in one of the bookcases in the sitting room and found something I bought in 1985. It's called "Looking for a King: An anthology for Christmas" - poetry and prose looking at many aspects of Christmas. Think I'll read through it again!

Helen wrote: "I'm planning on reading that one that is a chapter a day - can't remember what it's called now!"

Was it The Christmas Mystery by Jostein Gaarder?

Billy Christmas by Mark A. Pritchard is one for the kids.

Bizarro chrimbo for me...

Sausagey Santa

Christmas on Crack

Yes Susan! Am reading that and will try and fit a few others too.

This one looks good - free on kindle at the moment http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B009HSBFYQ.... The Last Train Home - takes place on Christmas Eve.

I've just got it, thanks.

I got it too, thanks Sue.

Liz wrote: "It may not be a surprising or original choice, but I've never read A Christmas Carol. I feel it's about time I gave it a go....

"
A great classic that one can find free if they look real hard

I'm going to try Blood and Mistletoe by: E.J. Stevens

Also I've never read A Christmas Carol. I should read that too

I shall be watching Die Hard.......about as far as I wish to go with Christmassy culture......think of me when reading A Christmas Carol....bah humbug lol. Does he actually say that in the novel?

I'll picture you Ian!

Oh Ian you have shattered my illusion of you in an elf outfit! Lol!

Green not my best colour.

Ian wrote: "Green not my best colour."

Oh thats even better then, you can dress in red and we can sit on your knee and whisper in your ear....Lol!!!

Took the words right out of my mouth,ho ho ho!

Lol - I'm not sitting on Ian's knee.

@lynne@helen - are you going to be Santa's helper elves??? :)

I think Helen and I would make lovely santa's helpers!

Liz wrote: "It may not be a surprising or original choice, but I've never read A Christmas Carol. I feel it's about time I gave it a go...."

Me neither, but I found a copy upstairs when helping my dad clear out the spare room so will definitely join in for December, even if I probably end up slipping beind in the challenge later.

I have the white beard to do Santa, but not the patience.....I'd end up killing the little buggers.....I'd deffo need my helpers to ply me with copious amounts of alcohol.

Ian wrote: "I have the white beard to do Santa, but not the patience.....I'd end up killing the little buggers.....I'd deffo need my helpers to ply me with copious amounts of alcohol."

Hmm alcohol, small children and Santa - this can only end well :)

@Ian do we need to send some Ghosts on Christmas eve to restore your xmas spirit?

Lynne - The Book Squirrel wrote: "I think Helen and I would make lovely santa's helpers!"

I concur, I can hear the Christmas tunes already...

Chestnuts Roasting....

Only 36days 3 hours and 16mins till the big day!!

@Helen, I have sorted out the books I want to read in Dec and the cd's lined up to add to my ipod ready to play.

@Ian - reminds me of the movie Bad Santa that my friend and I went to see ages ago and we were the only people to see the end, the other cinema goers walked out after 20 mins!

Dave - really is that all ! Yikes !

@ Dave/Lynne - no need for ghosts, this bad Santa will be full of Xmas spirit on Xmas Eve - a nice cognac probably.

Ian wrote: "@ Dave/Lynne - no need for ghosts, this bad Santa will be full of Xmas spirit on Xmas Eve - a nice cognac probably."

Wish I could join you but sadly lemoned for work on Christmas Eve! Will make up for it Christmas Day after a sleep though!

Didn't you work last Christmas eve too? Dave, wow! The children have started asking how many sleeps it is.

@lynne :( boo - but at least you get Christmas Day to yourself.

@helen an iphone countdown app :)

Cool. I had a water app but trickling water got on my nerves eventually.

Helen wrote: "Didn't you work last Christmas eve too? Dave, wow! The children have started asking how many sleeps it is."

Yes sadly I was! It's cos I don't have kids at home. Although my lovely daughter may join me for Christmas this year which will be lovely.....if she doesn't have to look after 20 odd bearded dragon eggs or if they hatch the baby dragons!

She is so excited as Leo turned out to be a Cleo and she thinks her friends dragon Rocky is the culprit! They first thought they had two boys which they kept together as youngsters but then they started to fight so they then separated them but then someone else re-sexed (C)leo and said it was a girl and thought she was with egg!

Have you been smoking again Lynne???? Dragons!!! By the way, inspired by your good self, I bought a Bah Humbug t-shirt in Tesco yesterday......£6 - essential stocking filler for misery guts husbands/male curmudgeons this Yuletide...so that's my Xmas day outfit sorted lol

http://media.beta.photobucket.com/use...

Here you go Ian! This is what cleo looks like! By the way she also has quite a few Corn Snakes and geckos too!

I had lizards called Leo and Cleo about 2 decades ago - they were definitely the same gender though. It isn't fair that you're having to work simply because your kids are older.

Ian get a pic uploaded of said t-shirt.

Oh, and as the Welsh person, I think I should have a dragon too!

Thinking of getting a Bah Humbug T-shirt myself, been lumbered with a late shift on christmas eve and Christmas day, can't even look at new years.

@Lynne Awwhh there's cute :) As a Welsh person in Wales I definitely need one!! Not fair you have to work - strike I say!!!

Discussions on Xmas leave have lumbered me with working most of the week between Xmas and New Years as I have no kids :( Anyone want to lend me some for a few days - I'll give them back!!