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An early outline for December, as some people may want to plan ahead. It’s a busy time of year with various celebrations. I know a lot of us enjoy reading traditional seasonal stories or children’s books, sometimes sharing them with younger family members. For this month, just enjoy reading any favourite book(s) when you have time. Perhaps share them with the group by recommending a favourite or telling us, if you want, the reason for your choice. Enjoy your celebrations & remember to watch for new annual challenges later in December.

Please wait for Jazzy…

Will be good to hear from you all x

THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVOURITE THINGS...
1-31 December 2024

Happy Holidays Challenge 🎄🎅🏻❄️
December 2024

1. A Surprise For Christmas: And Other Seasonal Mysteries by Martin Edwards✅
2. The Legend of the Christmas Rose by Selma Lagerlöf✅
3. Christmas with Grandma Elsie by Martha Finley✅
[Not recommended, for many reasons]
4. Not if I Know It by Anthony Trollope✅
5. Little Girl's Christmas by Winnifred E. Lincoln✅
6. Jimmy Scarecrow's Christmas by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman✅
7. The Lost Word A Christmas Legend of Long Ago by Henry Van Dyke✅

Happy Holidays Challenge
December 2024

✅1. The Christmas Egg by Mary Kelly (1958) 12/9/24
✅2. Mystery in White by J. Jefferson Farjeon (1937) 12/13/24
✅3. Christmas Pudding by Nancy Mitford (1932) 12/27/24
✅4. Christmas In The Adirondacks by William Henry Harrison Murray(1897)
✅5. The Mistletoe Bough by Anthony Trollope (1883)

Happy Holidays Challenge

✅1. Christmas at Thompson Hall and Other Christmas Stories
2. Who Killed the Curate?

Happy Holidays Challenge

2/3

1. The Osbornes' Christmas by L.M. Montgomery (1903) December 4, 2024 4*

2. Christmas at Thompson Hall: A Mid-Victorian Christmas Tale by Anthony Trollope (1861) November 9, 2024 3*

3.




1. 2.


I am editing my plan a little bit. My goal is to read Christmas short stories. I will pull from the following collections:

> Christmas at Thompson Hall and Other Christmas 2.
Stories (1882)

>The Complete Christmas Stories by L.M. Montgomery

> 50 Beautiful Christmas Stories by various

W. Somerset Maugham - Christmas Holiday 1939

🎄Happy Holidays Challenge🎄
1/3

🎄1 The Holy Night, Selma Lagerlöf, 12/4/24, 5*
2 The Story of the Other Wise Man, Henry Van Dyke
3 A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens

Thank you for signing up. I can see some interesting book choices already. Enjoy your reading!

Happy Holidays!🎄
2/3

1. A Christmas CarolbyCharles Dickens✔13/12/24★ ★ ★ ★ ★
2.The Tailor of GloucesterbyBeatrix Potter✔11/12/24★ ★ ★ ★ ★
3.Twelfth NightbyWilliam Shakespeare

I must ask a somewhat dumb question - are we supposed to do rereads this month? I seldom reread because it takes time from reading books I haven't read.
And are we supposed to reread/read only books that has to do with Christmas (or whatever holidays people celebrate)?
We can't just share books we haven't read earlier and that doesn't feature a winter holiday?
(I might read a short Swedish Christmas classic, I don't really mind,) I just want to get some firm rules. Easier for me to chose reading.

My mind was so set on continuing the prompt from November - to read what's left from other challenges so I became a bit surprised when I realised it actually says something else above. Lol!

Nike wrote: "I must ask a somewhat dumb question - are we supposed to do rereads this month? I seldom reread because it takes time from reading books I haven't read.
And are we supposed to reread/read only boo..."

Don’t worry, Nike. It’s a season for celebrations so read what you want! A lot of people enjoy rereads at Christmas or share traditional stories with children in their families. Just choose something you will enjoy. If you really want a specific task, read a traditional short story such as The Tailor of Gloucester by Beatrix Potter. It’s one of my favourite Christmas stories written for children - though I only found it since joining Goodreads. I’m sure you would like it - or perhaps you know traditional stories written originally in Swedish that you could recommend to the group.

I read a short story for you, Nike! I found it by chance today. I think it’s beautiful. Obviously I had to read it in English, but I suspect the original Swedish version may be even more beautiful:
The Holy Night by Selma Lagerlöf

Tr1sha wrote: "I read a short story for you, Nike! I found it by chance today. I think it’s beautiful. Obviously I had to read it in English, but I suspect the original Swedish version may be even more beautiful:..."

I love that one, read it a number of times as a child. (⁠✷⁠‿⁠✷⁠) Maybe it't time for a reread.

Edit: I DID reread it two or three years ago. Maybe I'm starting to go senile ...╮⁠(⁠.⁠ ⁠❛⁠ ⁠ᴗ⁠ ⁠❛⁠.⁠)⁠╭ ... and maybe I ought to read it again this year.

Tr1sha wrote: "Nike wrote: "I must ask a somewhat dumb question - are we supposed to do rereads this month? I seldom reread because it takes time from reading books I haven't read.
And are we supposed to reread/..."

I'll se if I can find it, thank you (⁠◕⁠ᴗ⁠◕⁠✿⁠)

Edit: I did find it!

I’m glad you like it, Nike - I thought you would. Enjoy your books.

Happy Holidays

1. The Legend of the Christmas Rose 4stars
2. The Angel at the Grave 4stars
3.Christmas at Thompson Hall and Other Christmas Stories 4 stars
4. The Greatest Gift: A Christmas Tale 3 stars

1. 2. 3. 4.

Some lovely choices here - I think I want to read all of them! But I haven’t finished reading my own list yet. It’s always a busy time of year. I hope everyone is having fun preparing for the holiday season.

Merry Christmas!
Happy New Year!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Sergei Aksakov - A Family Chronicle 1856
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐W. Somerset Maugham - Christmas Holiday 1939
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐José Donoso - This Sunday 1966
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Kurt Vonnegut - Mother Night 1961

Happy Holidays Challenge

1/1 The Holy Night by Selma Lagerlöf 1904

I’m pleased you read this, Nike.

Tr1sha wrote: "I’m pleased you read this, Nike."

I'd like to thank you for remind me of it. I read it multiple times as a child but maybe only once or twice as an adult and I'm glad I read it again. (⁠✿⁠ ⁠♡⁠‿⁠♡⁠)