Goodreads Ireland discussion

Hi,
Since the festive season is starting, I was thinking to pick a book set around Christmas.
Any recommendations?
Thanks.

Declan wrote: "Hi Ali.

I wish I could be of more help, but I can only remember ever reading two Christmas novels: Skipping Christmas by John Grisham and Dickens's A Christmas Carol.

Skipping Christmas wasn't ba..."

Thanks! I haven't read Skipping Christmas, and I generally like Grisham.

Hi,
One book that I really liked was "The Paper Bag Christmas" by Kevin Alan Milne.

Finn wrote: "Hi,
One book that I really liked was "The Paper Bag Christmas" by Kevin Alan Milne."

Thank you! Will check it out.

The Box of Delights is a wonderful children's book set at Christmas. If you like fantasy try Hogfather by Terry Pratchett.

A classic would be Little Women.

A Madeline Treasury and Elosie.

Anne Enright's 'The Green Road' is one that I'd recommend - don't expect any happy endings though...

Check out this book on Goodreads: The Green Road https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

Lorraine wrote: "The Box of Delights is a wonderful children's book set at Christmas. If you like fantasy try Hogfather by Terry Pratchett.

A classic would be Little Women."

I love Little Women!
I might try Hogfather, I find Pritchett fascinating at times!

Alicia wrote: "A Madeline Treasury and Elosie."

Thanks!

Allan wrote: "Anne Enright's 'The Green Road' is one that I'd recommend - don't expect any happy endings though...

Check out this book on Goodreads: The Green Road https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2......"

Hmmm... no happy ending you say?
For what it's worth, I find Enright's books very moving, I get emotionally involved not her stories like not many other books get me to do.
This one definitely goes on my TBR, Christmas or no Christmas.
Thanks for recommendation!

Ali wrote: "Alicia wrote: "A Madeline Treasury and Elosie."

Thanks!"

You're welcome.

I hate sad ending Christmas stories.

'The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe' by CS Lewis has a Christmas develops a Christmas theme as it progresses.

The Wee Christmas Cabin of Car-na-ween by Ruth Sawyer.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and The Wee Christmas Cabin of Carn-na-ween is a lovely children's book.

I am currently reading on my Kindle Christmas at The New Yorker: Stories, Poems, Humor, and Art - in addition to quaint rural settings, New York is my favorite setting for Christmas stories. I just bought another kindle book Christmas at Little Beach Street Bakery.
I have a Christmas pile:
The Mistletoe Murder: And Other Stories by P.D. James
Silent Nights: Christmas Mysteries
Shepherds Abiding by Jan Karon

I just requested Merry and Bright by Debbie Macomber and Seven Days of Us at my library.

As you can see Christmas themed books tend to be in the romance category or mysteries except for short stories. There are very few other kinds of novels.

I have just picked up a copy of jon mcgregor's Even The Dogs for 1.99 In Chapters.

From the back - On a still and frozen day between Christmas and New Year, a man's body is found lying in his ruined flat.

So bleak I guess.

Barbara wrote: "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and The Wee Christmas Cabin of Carn-na-ween is a lovely children's book.

I am currently reading on my Kindle [book:Christmas at Th..."

Ah thank you, plenty to choose from!
You got me thinking... Yes, NY is definitely in favourites when comes to Christmas settings... Maybe Paris as well.

Maria wrote: "I have just picked up a copy of jon mcgregor's Even The Dogs for 1.99 In Chapters.

From the back - On a still and frozen day between Christmas and ..."
Will check this one out.

Maria / Ali, I read that one when it came out, and my abiding memory of it was that it was overwhelmingly depressing- to the point where I've avoided Mcgregor since. I know that Barbara is reading his latest, and I'm wondering if this one was a one off or whether that's the vibe throughout all his books.

Maria, I don't get down to Chapters that often, but when I do, I'm always impressed with their 'remainder' deals - think i bought about 7 books for €2 or around that the last time I was in. A great asset to Dublin!

Thank you, Allan, for your feedback.
I am not a fan of McGregor at all, but he ignites my interest every so often, more the manner of writing rather than the story plot though. Something tells me though that this might not be the case.

Allan wrote: "Maria / Ali, I read that one when it came out, and my abiding memory of it was that it was overwhelmingly depressing- to the point where I've avoided Mcgregor since. I know that Barbara is reading ..."
Allan, I have very much enjoyed a couple of McGregor's books - Reservoir 13 and If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things - but had to abandon Even the Dogs, just too depressing as you say. I conclude that it was a one-off. I'd recommend Reservoir 13 if you were planning to dip your toe back into Loch McGregor.

Allan wrote: "Maria / Ali, I read that one when it came out, and my abiding memory of it was that it was overwhelmingly depressing- to the point where I've avoided Mcgregor since. I know that Barbara is reading ..."

Declan has long sung the praises of Chapters. I went once and managed to control myself.

I just finished Reservoir 13 and gave it 5 stars. It took me awhile to get through. It is not something to read quickly. I don't think I'd want to read a dark book at holiday time.