Goodreads Ireland discussion

Well myself and Trekawn managed to all but finish our Christmas shopping last week.Its actually late for us. We find Christmas more enjoyable when we'te not paniced about gifts. We wont get away with that in the next few years with Santa lists and the likes. This year tge little guy is still too young to know exactly whats going on

That'll be strange for you all not having your sister around for Christmas. My brother moved to Portugal in March so he won't be here either. He's not big into christmas though but my mam is bringing his presents with her when she flies out to him next week.

Long distance postage is always fun especially at Christmas. Will she be away for all of Christmas

I'm trying to imagine you carrying a Christmas tree now ☺

I'd start with the classics like Dickens and work from there.
I have a decent ghost story anthology called Shivers for Christmas that I read every couole of years .
My scifi fantasy book group are going to read Terry Pratchetts The Hogfather which is based on a similar setup to Christmas.

I always like to do a reread of at least one Harry Potter book around Christmas because I originally got the first four at christmas.

I love Dahl as well. We have a complete set of his kids books ready for our son when hes a little older.
I hope your family takes the hint on the books ☺

I'd never get rid of books I love . Probably why the shelves are overflowing .
I think I'll take down a few of our Christmas books in the coming weeks and try read a few seasonal stories in the run in

Just a heads up to the availability of a free, professionally narrated audio version of Dickens' A Christmas Carol, which I listen to every Christmas, and have just downloaded again in preparation for December!

http://carol.audiobooks.libsynpro.com...

We'll forgive you then ☺

The Late Late Toy Show was always the sort of official start of Christmas when we were kids. We wrote our Santa list very soon after it was on . I got an email for Christmas Fm being available on UPC now as well so Tunes are sorted . The tree and decorations will leave storage at some point today and we are going to a Christmas craft fair on Sunday

The toy show tonight, Christmas decorations tomorrow........Christmas is here :)

Right beside where we live is the Maynooth Gaelscoil which is probably where the little fella will go and they have a fair with Santa and Donkeys and other fun stuff. I find North Kildare is quite good for Christmas Fairs. There is a great on in The Springfield Hotel Leixlip every year. Castletown House has a good one. Thr Glenroyal does as well and there is one in The Salesian College and all these are within 10 minutes of our front door

We used to head in for OConnell street every year as kids .

Paul wrote: "Right beside where we live is the Maynooth Gaelscoil which is probably where the little fella will go and they have a fair with Santa and Donkeys and other fun stuff. I find North Kildare is quite ..."

North Kildare sounds lovely. And Christmas is lots of fun with a little one. I'll buy my tree next weekend. I always get a live tree. Although it is more work, it really puts me in the holiday spirit, and the trees are sold for charity. I have tried to pare down the decorations though it's not easy. I have a collection of nativity scenes mostly from Latin America. I've lost count but have over 50 and am running out of space.

Well has everyone started in on the advent calenders? We have two in our house, a giant stocking filled with chocolate money and a paddington bear one.

Sounds like a fun one ☺

Sadly we never have advent calendars in my house, though I saw early where a lad had a 24 bottle case of Heineken which he was using as his. I suppose it's the adult version :)

Well an alcoholics version at least

No i draw the line, advent calenders should be filled with choc and that's final. Adult versions! Harumph.

Ah now there's no need for x rated chocolate. Why sully the innocence of the advent calender? :-)

I'm not a big drinker anyway but people will twist things for the sake of it. I wish we had more Christmas traditions. Other than driving around Limerick looking at the lights and going the mass plus the usual stuff.

I agree Kevin, I think that's why I enjoyed A Christmas Carol so much. There is talk of the food and special preparations for it and of carols and the different types of games played and the gathering of family. It just sounds more of an event than now. Then it was all about Christmas day and not about weeks of present shopping and work parties etc. God I'm starting to sound like a grump :-) But since my son was born it's made me want christmas to be about more than the toys for him. We do our ham christmas eve and watch a christmas movie and this year he'll help decorate the gingerbread men etc. We're trying to establish our own traditions to give the christmas period back some meaning as a family time.

I think I'll have to do some baking in the days leading up to Christmas to get me in good form. Profiteroles, eclairs, baked Alaska, pavlova and some spelt loaves. I'll be fat as a fool after December. :)

I purchased the fruit for my Christmas pudding yesterday. I'll be making it this weekend. I love the aroma that comes from pudding cooking :-)

Kevin, do you think any of your treats would survive a journey in international mail? If so, I can PM you with my address.

Sara, I'm sure we could give it a go but I can imagine the underfed An Post workers conveniently confiscating them as contraband. :(

We started a new Christmas tradition of going to the panto in UL last year Kevin. If that's a bit too cheesy the lime tree theatre usually have a good play on aswell??

I was thinking of taking my niece and nephew to one of the pantos Seraphina. When I was in primary school used to take us to the one in Friars Gate every year. I think they'd like it and in turn I would :)

I boil or steam them as i think they are so much nicer. I usually do them in a pudding cloth but I may not have time this year as I'm not sure if it has enough time to hang. I'll see what happens. :-)

Well, this quiz is in the Christmas spirit. I scored 7, which is average, but as it's on Dickens' A Christmas Carol and I've never read it (shock, horror), those of you who've read it recently stand a good chance of a full house. Good luck!

http://www.theguardian.com/books/quiz...

Time you read it then Theresa ☺

And a flying 10 in the quiz ☺

10 for me too x

9/10... I was full sure he sent a nintendo wii :(

There I was thinking Paul, that you were going to tell me that you got 10/10 :)

My problem is that I have an inexplicable dislike of Dickens, which isn't on for a Victorian historian :( Luckily my wonderful English teacher at school said that as I loved all the other authors I'd ever read not to worry. However I do give him a try now and then and have the said book on my iPad so I will probably give it a try before Xmas. And might even finish it. :)

PS still expect you to get 10/10 ;)

Kevin , surely it was a SNES way back then

Nope. Never seen the movie.

Myself and Trelawn are quite the fans of Dickens Theresa . I wouldnt read a huge amount of the other Victorian writers to be honest despite Trelawns inclinations.

I got 10 as well. Theresa, try the free audiobook version that I posted the link to-it's a professional production, and one I have returned to each year, despite having purchased / downloaded a couple of other versions over the years.

You're right, Emma. It really is so much part of our culture.

@ Theresa I love Dickens so can never quite understand how anyone else doesn't but that's my issue. Some Dickens is far better than others. My favourite is Bleak House follwed by Great Expectations. I also loved David Copperfield and A Tale of Two Cities. I love that he records people from all walks of life and his role as social commentator is one I admire. I love your description of yourself as Victorian historian, is that amateur or professional?

Allan wrote: "I got 10 as well. Theresa, try the free audiobook version that I posted the link to-it's a professional production, and one I have returned to each year, despite having purchased / downloaded a cou..."

That's a brilliant idea, Allan! Will do.

A SNES indeed Paul. I always forget how Dickens' stories are so heavily influenced by Donkey Kong and Super Mario Kart :)

Trelawn wrote: "@ Theresa I love Dickens so can never quite understand how anyone else doesn't but that's my issue. Some Dickens is far better than others. My favourite is Bleak House follwed by Great Expectations..."

Professional, Trelawn, but not currently. Hence my passion for Elizabeth Gaskell.

And don't forget the influence of Link from Zelda on Dickens heros

Theresa , now Trelwan is going to pepper you with questions ☺

Kevin wrote: "9/10... I was full sure he sent a nintendo wii :("

Some of those options in the quiz were so funny, and there was I thinking that The Guardian didn't have a sense of humour!

Wow, I am suitably impressed. The Victorian era has always faacinated me and I have read around certain aspects of it. I was lucky enough to study under a Victorian Britain expert at college for one module.

Paul wrote: "Theresa , now Trelwan is going to pepper you with questions ☺"

Atishoo!