Well, I finished this:
Nope. I still didn’t like it. I mean- I didn’t hate it, but I just didn’t get why I was supposed to be interested in who killed the princes in the tower. I did learn how to pronounce “Plantagenet,” but not from the book- I googled it. I’m not mad I read it though- a lot of people really like this book, and now I don’t have the feeling that I’m missing out.
Now I’m reading this one:
I REALLY like it! It’s a mystery involving secret societies on the Yale campus, and there’s lots of dark magic going on. The thing is, I can’t seem to find any big chunks of time to read, so I feel like I’m crawling slowly through this book, when I just want to sit down and inhale it- very frustrating. I’m planning to find the time to finish it this week, before Spooky Season is over.
Next up will be the new Robert Galbraith- I’ve been saving it for weeks. And, three of the books on my December TBR have arrived from AbeBooks:
I learned about Murder on the Christmas Express from this post on The Farm Wife Reads. A Holiday by Gaslight was recommended by Meredith on the Currently Reading podcast. And I can’t remember where I heard about Mystery in White? Somehow it ended up on my TBR.
Now, it’s entirely possible that none of these will be great literature, but that’s okay. I don’t have a lot of bandwidth for reading during the month of December, so I just want something fun and Christmas-y. Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan is also on my list for December, so that should elevate things a little.
Have you read any of these?
Do you have any fun Christmas-y books to recommend? – I’m open to suggestions!
21 Responses
I hear you on not having a lot of time to read right now. I feel like I haven’t read very much in the past month, for a variety of reasons. I might just have a bit more reading time after this Friday;-)
I like your Christmas reading lineup. If none of them are Great Literature that’s fine – your high school English teacher is not reading this. The goal is to have all of your December reading be a delight and a joy.
I like that attitude! And- if I were you I would take an entire week to just read, after you get through Friday : )
I haven’t read any of these – how have I missed Josephine Tey? I have read so many classic mysteries- I’ll have to look for this.
I enjoy the Brirish Library Crime Classics- my library has a bunch in that series. Some are definitely dated, but the plotting is usually very good.
I did buy and read The Black Wolf by Louise Penny. I did it in the afternoon, so it was a good read. However, she’s very much going farther afield than I like, so I don’t think I’ll read her again unless she keeps it more locally focused. ( She mentions this in the author’s notes, how some readers want stories centered on Three Pines, and I hate to admit I agree with the readers!)
Now to add the books above to my library request list.
I’ve heard mixed reviews of the last two Penny books- not only are they not Three Pines but she kind of went off in a different direction entirely, right? Like spy thriller territory? I’m about halfway through her books, and I’ll keep reading them but I’ll probably stop when I get to the Wolf books.
You gave that first book a fair shot. And you made me google “Plantagenet” – I’ve never heard of the word. Thanks for filling that gap!
And your December line-up looks like the perfect mix of cozy and clever — Murder on the Christmas Express sounds especially fun.
Do you ever reread Christmas/winter-themed books from past years, or do you always go for something new each December?
I don’t re-read Christmas themed books, unless they’re books from my childhood. I have a couple old favorites that I’ll pull out every so often.
That is too bad that that book was a miss for you. I hate it when that happens! I am not any help on holiday books. The only ones I have read are romances which I know are not your jam!
I think today is your planning day! I hope you have the best time and can fit a bit of reading in, too! Right now I am reading ‘Dream State’ which I am liking. I have this general sense that something is going to go very wrong – there’s sort of a foreboding vibe. It’s been a great read!
Yes, I’m in the middle of my planning day right now! Thoroughly enjoying it. And- one of these is actually a romance, which I’m a little leery of (Holiday by Gaslight). But, Meredith liked it so I’m giving it a try. One of my reading goals for this year was to read ONE romance, so this will be it. If all else fails, at least it’s short!
I love Small Things Like These so you may…not? It’s Christmassy but Jenny – it’s not fun! It’s very very sad. But it is a short book and quick read and, like I said, I love it.
I love a cute holiday romance in December – not great literature, I know what’s going to happen, but sometimes that’s nice!
Okay wait- it’s sad? I figured it was going to be kind of slow paced, but I’m not sure if I want sad in December. I’ll have to look into it- maybe i can read it early in the month and then cheer myself up with the others.
Oh yay! I’m so glad my post had something that caught your eye! (I’ve got some recommendation lists coming in the next weeks) : )
I’m also much more willing to read “not great literature” when it comes to holiday reads, because I just want something fun and festive. Hopefully we both enjoy Christmas on the Murder Express!
Okay, we can both read it and compare notes. And- more recommendations??? I’ll be sure to check your blog!
It’s the perfect cozy time of year for reading books! I wish I had more time to just curl up under a blanket and read because there are so many books on my TBR to try to finish by the end of the year!
I know Engie- I need a reading vacation, for sure. Somehow I just have to carve out more time for reading!
I’ve not read any of these. The mystery with the psychology element does sound good. A writer in my writing group is working on a mystery/story with magic and vampires and witches and even though it’s not my fav genre (I think it’s considered speculative fiction), it’s amazing. I hope it gets published. I think you’d really like it. She’s an amazing writer. I don’t think I’ve ever chosen a specific book to read for Christmas time. Little Women is the only one that comes to mind.
I have not read any of the books that you listed in this blog post, Jenny. But now I get a glimpse of them through your introductions.
I understand that you’re asking if I have any fun Christmas-y books to recommend, Jenny. While I have no books of that type to recommend, you can read about how I approach recommending books through my comment on Dr. Sarah Hart-Unger’s blog post “5 on a Friday: Updates, Books & Beyond” that she wrote on April 4 of this year where she wrote “If you can think of another title that ‘fits’ with those 3 . . . please share!” Notice that my comment to that blog post of hers ended up becoming more than 550-word-long, where the part of that comment of mine that is about books is at least 390-word-long.
I notice that you always read at least some books each month, Jenny, regardless of how much or how little time you have for reading.
That sounds like quite a comment! I’ll have to take a look at it.
I read Holiday by Gaslight and thought I remember really liking it. It is very firmly a romance novel – maybe it will be a gateway romance for you?
I was looking for Holiday novels to read with the kids and 101 Dalmatians was suggested, so I have that from the library. The kids are right now reading a chapter book about witches that I honestly find a little stultifying, so I’m eager to get to 101 Dalmatians as soon as that is over.
Well- I’m open to the book, although I don’t usually read romances. The fact that you really liked it shows that it can’t be a bad book!
Oh… The Ninths House is on my TBR. Glad you enjoy it. Makes it promising when I pick it up.
Small Things Like These is amazing!