Holiday Books

Holiday Stories for the Holiday Time!

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I always appreciate it when a genre is fairly easy to describe… say like, Holiday Stories. Well. That kind of covers everything, doesn’t it? And so this time we discussed fictional tales centered around -and for our particular purposes- winter holidays! Ta-dah! On to the good stuff -or what people had to say about the books they read:

Steve: A Christmas Story: Behind the Scenes of a Holiday Classic, by Caseen Gaines, is a wonderful look at the making of this classic and its lasting legacy. Originally A Christmas Story was not a big hit at the theaters, but thanks to VHS rentals, and Ted Turner playing it non-stop after acquiring it from MGM’s film library, A Christmas Story is now a holiday staple. The book is full of many interesting stories. Did you know that the actress playing Miss Shields, Ralphie’s teacher, was actually seven months pregnant and wore a body suit to make her look frumpy instead of pregnant? And that the bulk of the film was actually filmed in St. Catharines and Toronto, Canada, and many of the Canadian school kids were used as extras, and paid just $1 for their work? Many more stories await you in this gem of a book.

Megan: My True Love Gave to Me is a collection of short stories, is compiled and edited by Stephanie Perkins. Twelve well-known young adult authors have contributed holiday-themed romances. As with any anthology, some stories are better than others. In most cases the authors have stuck with what they do best, while others have branched out and tried something new, so you might be in for a surprise when you turn to your favorite author’s story! Full of magic, charm, romance and diversity, this holiday book has something for everyone to enjoy.

Ann: In The Christmas Train by David Baldacci Tom Langdon is on his way cross country on the train to meet his girlfriend for Christmas. Langdon is a writer and reporter taking a break from covering the dangerous wars of the world and from his recent writing about gardening and home decorating, and has decided to write a story about a cross country train journey. From the moment Tom steps on the Capitol Limited he meets character after character. There’s Agnes Joe who almost knocks him down the stairs, hard-working, efficient Regina, one of the train’s employees, Father Kelly, the priest, and young Julie and Steve running off to get married. The most astonishing person he meets is Eleanor Carter, his long-lost first love! Then later, when his current girlfriend boards the Southwest Chief train in Chicago, things really get interesting. Throw in an avalanche and you have a Christmas story filled with twists and turns and lots of surprises. Baldacci dedicates this to everyone who loves trains and holidays.

Julie: For a departure from the usual Christmas stories, it’s no mystery what you should grab – The Big Book of Christmas Mysteries, edited by Otto Penzler. With stories written by Agatha Christie, Mary Higgins Clark, Robert Louis Stevenson, Ed McBain, and many, MANY more, plus categories ranging from traditional to scary, there’s a mystery for everyone!

Emma: The 13th Gift: A True Story of a Christmas Miracle by Joanne Huist Smith is the true story of Joanne and her 3 children grieving the unexpected loss of their husband/father. Joanne doesn’t want to even think about celebrating Christmas when little gifts start appearing on their doorstep. Each day during the twelve days before Christmas someone leaves small presents. Random acts of kindness by “True Friends” help bring this family together at Christmas time. A wonderful story.

Carol: Silent Night: a Lady Julia Christmas Novella by Deanna Raybourn was a quick little read that gave me the perfect excuse to spend a bit of time with the clever Julia and her hunky partner in investigating and love, Nicholas Brisbane. Julia and Brisbane go to Bellmont Abbey to spend Christmas with Julia’s eccentric family and as usual, it’s chaos. Family and animals are everywhere, and Julia and Brisbane barely can have a moment together. Also per usual, trouble follows the two. This time, it’s in the form of missing jewels and a ghost haunting. But don’t worry, Julia will get to the bottom of the strange happenings before the Holidays have ended.

Dori: Jane and the Twelve Days of Christmas, the 12th in Stephanie Barron’s Jane Austen mystery series, features Jane as an amateur sleuth. While she, her sister and her mother are visiting their brother’s family for the holiday season, they are invited to spend the holidays at the house of a local wealthy couple. Relieved and excited to be away from the dour, cold and non-celebratory home of their brother, they are enjoying a lovely holiday with visitors from afar, when someone is murdered. Jane’s novelist skills are ideal for the task at hand: to discover the murderer in their midst!

Lauren: In Hercule Poirot’s Christmas, Agatha Christie’s famous Belgian detective is at it again, tested to solve the grisly Christmas Eve murder of family patriarch Simeon Lee. Lee has gathered his family at his home for Christmas, bringing together estranged siblings and a granddaughter no one has met before under the guise of togetherness for the holidays. It quickly becomes clear that Lee has other motives—he dangles his will in front of his children and hints that he may be making changes, relishing in taunting everyone with his mind games. When he is brutally murdered in his bedchamber the list of suspects is eerily short and consisting largely of his own family. This is a fun, quick read that departs from the usual saccharine Christmas book.

Stacey: Petunia’s Christmas by Roger Duvoisin may look like a simple picture book but for me it is one of my most treasured holiday stories, ever. I read all XX pages in just a few minutes, and then I spent hours remembering all the times I’d read this book -this very copy!- in the past. Ah, childhood memories of Christmas… Petunia is a goose who falls in love with a gander named Charles. While Petunia is a beloved pet, Charles is being fattened up to be someone’s Christmas dinner. Petunia is determined to free Charles -and live happily ever after- but first she has to figure out how to make that happen. (It *is* a Christmas story so don’t worry too much, okay?)

Next year (weird to think about that, right?) we’ll start off nice and smooth with some Gentle Reads. If you want to read along with us, look for a charming, easy going story that focuses on the everyday joys and sorrows in small groups of people. Enjoy!

— Stacey

Jolly Ol’Holiday Stories!

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From Thanksgiving until New Year’s Day -there’s nothing but holidays! And so we celebrate all these various festivities by reading books! (Aw, come on -we’re librarians! It’s what we do!) There’s more variety to the Holiday Story than you’d imagine. Would you like proof? Well here it is:

Megan: The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum is an enchanting account of the magical life of Santa Claus. Abandoned as an infant and raised by forest nymphs, Claus led a charmed life. As a young man he felt a responsibility to join his fellow mortals and he soon found his calling entertaining and caring for children. This desire to help children quickly became a full time occupation that required the help of his magical immortal family and soon the sleigh-riding jolly man with a sack full of toys became famous around the world. This is a charming Christmas story that will remind readers young and old that Christmas is a magical time of year.

Chris The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans tells the story of a young family, Richard and Keri Evans and daughter Jenna, who move into a mansion to act as caretakers for its owner, MaryAnne Parkin. It’s a very warm, cozy story of people caring for people. And along the way, each benefits in practical and spiritual ways—the widow enjoys having people around and sharing her home; the family enjoys Parkin’s companionship and a lovely place to live. Perhaps the most important thing is the lesson that Richard learns. I felt this book read like a Hallmark Christmas movie, which always get me in the holiday spirit, and sure enough it was, in 1995.

Carol: I read The Mitford Snowmen by Jan Karon. Though there’s not much of a plot, this was a cute little book that tells about a snowman-building contest in Mitford that occurs right in the middle of a busy snowy day. Because it’s a contest, the townspeople all try to one-up each other, trying to build the best snowmen to win the prize, free donuts. Eventually, though, they are all having so much fun that they don’t care about winning…and the mayor decides to buy everyone donuts! The moral I took away from this short book was not to be too busy during the holiday season that you can’t have a little fun. The illustrations of snowmen are pretty darn cute as well.

Emma: The Other Wise Man was written by Henry van Dyke in 1896. It is the story of Artaban, the fourth Magi. Artaban planned to travel to Bethlehem with Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar to bring gifts to baby Jesus. (He had a sapphire, ruby, and pearl to give.) Artaban was detained when he stopped to help someone and missed traveling with the other magi. He spends the next 33 years on a life-long quest to find Jesus and uses the gems to help others along the way. Artaban finally sees Jesus at his crucifixion and bemoans the fact that he had not found him earlier. As Artaban lies dying he has a vision and hears these words from Jesus, “Verily I say unto thee, Inasmuch as thou hast done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, thou hast done it unto me.”

Ann: The Dogs of Christmas by W. Bruce Cameron is just the right mix of schmaltz and puppy-love to make a winning Christmas book. Josh’s neighbor abandons a dog at his house. Although Josh knows nothing about dogs, he certainly recognizes that this one, Lucy, is going to have puppies! Soon, with six dogs, Josh feels very overwhelmed. When he calls the local animal shelter for help with the puppies, Josh meets Kerri, and soon realizes he’s fallen for both Kerri and the dogs in his care. You will love these Lucy and her little puppies just as much as Josh does!

Steve: Pearl Harbor Christmas: A World at War, December 1941, by Stanley Weintraub, will delight history buffs who want to be engaged in the political and military maneuverings of Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill during the holiday season of 1941. The book is light on the Christmas part, but the holidays do present themselves in the background of the detailed meetings and parties of these two giants.

Dori: In The Mischief of the Mistletoe: a Pink Carnation Christmas by Lauren Willig, Arabella Dempsey has recently returned to her home in Bath, accepting a position as a teacher at Miss Climpson’s Select Seminary for Young Ladies. A Christmas pudding with a secret message brings her to the attention of Reginald “Turnip” Fitzhugh, a blundering but kind aristocrat, who is visiting his sister at the school. Together, they try to decipher the message, culminating in a 12-day Christmas celebration at the grand estate of the Dukes of Dovedale and threats to Arabella’s safety. With a dose of romance, mysterious spies, humor aplenty and even a cameo from Jane Austen, this Regency novel is a perfect holiday treat.

Stacey: Silent Night by Robert B. Parker and Helen Brann features all the key characters of a classic Spenser novel with entertaining holiday elements. When a young boy approaches Spenser for help on behalf of a man who runs a shelter for homeless boys, Spenser finds more than just troubled teens lurking around the place. But there’s not much Hawk and Spenser can’t put to rights and in the end, a lovely gathering of family and new friends feels just right. A great, fast-paced and entertaining mystery that has a nice touch of holiday cheer.

And to start the new year off on the right foot? We’ll be discussing narrative non-fiction! If you want to read along with us -and who wouldn’t?!- then you’ll want to find a book that tells a true story but in an engaging prose style! Some popular examples would be: Unbroken by Lauren Hillenbrand or The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson, or just check out our list from the last discussion!

Have a wonderful holiday season!

– Stacey

Holiday Cheer -in print form!

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I wouldn’t mind keeping some of the more traditional signs of winter -like wind chill factor and snow days- far into the future. But! I do like the sparkly lights, the amazing treats, and the cheerful “howdy-doos” that start up right about now. And of course -the stories! Those cheesy Christmas books and movies that show us allll the different ways we can be jolly yet *still* learn an important life lesson? Love ‘em!! Don’t worry though, I realize not everyone shares my interest in the shmaltz of the season… So here come a variety of books -and opinions- from our latest genre discussion.

Carol: In retaliation of how materialistic the Holidays have become, I looked back in time for the true meaning of Christmas and reread O. Henry’s classic short story “The Gift of the Magi.” Probably familiar to most, it was originally published in the New York Sunday World in 1905. Readers meet James and Della Young, a young married couple who, despite their meager income, have each resolved to give one another an elegant gift on Christmas Eve. Della sells her beautiful long, cherished hair in order to buy a platinum fob chain for Jim’s treasured antique gold watch. However, Jim has pawned his treasured pocket watch to purchase jeweled tortoiseshell combs for Della’s lovely hair. When the two exchange their gifts, they recognize the irony of their sacrifices, put their gifts away for better days, and realized that what truly is precious is not something we can buy or sell.

Rosemary: A Christmas Garland by Anne Perry is the 2012 edition of her holiday mystery series. This story is particularly compelling and thoughtful. The setting is India in the 1850s and it is during a time of violent rebellion against the British. John Tallis, a young medical orderly, is arrested for the murder of a fellow guard when his only crime was that he had no witness to verify his whereabouts during the time of the murder. Another young British soldier, Lieutenant Victor Narraway, is given the daunting task of defending Tallis in a hastily arranged trial. Their commanders want a quick resolution to the murder, which is causing a great deal of unrest within the garrison. Narraway is told that he doesn’t need to put much effort into the defense. He is sure Tallis is innocent and, in the short time allotted to him, takes his defense of Tallis very seriously. Narraway is touched by a young widow of a soldier and her children. He sees the pure goodness in them and this inspires him to seek justice for Tallis.

Megan: Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan is the story of how one teen embarks on a mission to meet her one true love. Lily loves everything about the Christmas season, but her holiday spirits are dampened when her parents decide to spend Christmas alone in Fiji. Her older brother devices a clever plan to keep her occupied and help her find Mr. Right. She hides a notebook full of challenges on shelf at her favorite book store. Her dares are accepted and she and her mystery man begin an intimate, yet anonymous friendship. Wonderful characters, a unique treasure hunt, and the charm of New York City at Christmastime will certainly put readers in the holiday spirit.

Emma: The people of Harmony, Indiana expect a certain routine to their Christmas Eve service at Harmony Friends Meeting House. It includes the reading of the Christmas gospel, the singing of a few carols followed by fresh-from-the-oven angel cookies and milk. This year eccentric Dale Hinshaw arranges a different sort of celebration, a progressive nativity scene involving the whole town. There is much fanfare and lots of cookies and hot chocolate are enjoyed, but the message of Christmas is lost for most people. Later that night Pastor Sam Gardner and an elderly parishioner find each other back at church where the two reflect on the Christmas gospel and enjoy cookies together. Christmas in Harmony by Phillip Gulley is a sweet story of friends, family, and tradition.

Dori: In Marion Babson’s Twelve Deaths of Christmas, the residents of a London boardinghouse have no idea that a killer is living among them. As a series of heinous crimes are committed in the days leading up to Christmas, baffling the local police, alternating chapters reveal the killer’s voice, madness and motives, divulging more to the reader than the police know. Any of the diverse lodgers could be the killer, from the artist/housekeeper to a retired major or a Middle Eastern student. Little do they know, however, that as they prepare for a communal Christmas dinner, the killer prepares to kill them all. This fast read is a cozy murder mystery perfect for the holidays!

Steve: The Shepherd, the Angel, and Walter the Christmas Miracle Dog, by Dave Barry, is a cute and funny story about junior high student Doug Barnes. Doug, his family, and his fellow students are preparing for Christmas in 1960 Asquont, NY. Things are a bit tense in the Barnes family, as Frank the family dog has been sick since Thanksgiving. In addition, the children have been practicing for the annual Christmas pageant at St. John’s Episcopal Church, whose attic is filled with bat droppings. Things get pretty crazy as an event involving the attic, and another dog, Walter, really brings things together!

Ann: The Cat Who Came Back for Christmas by Julia Romp is the story of how a cat changed a family’s life. It is also a single mother’s story of her struggles raising an autistic child. George, Julia’s son, is frequently withdrawn and uncommunicative. Then a stray cat, which George names Ben (but sometimes calls Benny Boo or Baboo), comes into their life. George becomes animated, and begins talking to Ben and about Ben in his little “cat voice.” His mother, Julia decides to communicate with George in her own little cat voice, and for the first time, the two of them are having conversations. George and Ben the cat are inseparable. George begins doing better in school and in his relationships with other children too. Then one day Ben disappears. It’s not really giving anything away to say that this is a heartwarming story with a happy Christmas time ending.

Julie: If you’re looking for a little suspense to go with your spiced nog, try December Dread by Jess Lourey. It’s the eighth in a series featuring Mira James, a librarian/reporter solving murders in her small town. This time, a serial killer is targeting women who use an online dating service and who also happen to fit Mira’s description. This is more of a cozy mystery with dashes of humor for a cold winter’s night.

Stacey: If you’re looking for a Downton Abbey-esque holiday story, then you’re looking for The Walnut Tree by Charles Todd! In July of 1914, Lady Elspeth Douglas is caught in Paris when war is declared. While attempting to book passage back home to the British Isles, Elspeth finds herself helping wounded soldiers stranded along the roadway. Training as a nurse would be frowned upon by her guardian -if she told him her plans. Wartime hardships, difficult life choices, and a sweet Christmas celebration make this a book to treasure -maybe as a new Christmas tradition!

Next year -crazy! right?- we’ll start off with a heated discussion of Literary Fiction! (Okay, probably not a heated discussion per se… maybe if we could achieve lively? Then it’d be a job well done, all around!) If you want to join in, find yourself a book that is a prize winner, shows a distinctive writing style, and focuses on the characters more than the plot. Experimental, technically challenging, and subtle details help define this category. Enjoy!

— Stacey

It’s a Holly Jolly Holiday Story!

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As much as I like chocolate, I’m not a big fan of drinking hot chocolate. I think it’s got something to do with the gritty sludge that is often left at the bottom of the mug. On the other hand, the marshmalows you can put on top? That’s a bit of a draw… What does this have to do with our recent book group discussion? Well, we talked about holiday stories and what goes better with a nice wintery, holiday tale than a big mug of hot cocoa?! Not everyone likes this “genre,” but that’s okay right? Again, it’s similar to the hot chocolate thing, where many people love their cocoa -but not all of us do… So let’s see what was selected -and you can decide for yourself what would be in your mug if you were reading that very same book!

Rosemary: A Christmas Homecoming by Anne Perry is her ninth Christmas mystery. These stories are suspenseful and rather dark considering their holiday themes, but each one is perfection in its own small way. Caroline and Joshua Fielding must spend the Christmas holidays with the wealthy Netheridge family in remote Whitby in Yorkshire. Joshua is to produce a play written by the Netheridge daughter based upon the story of Dracula. The days leading up to the production are full of contention and then a horrible act of violence occurs. Will Caroline be able to solve the crime before the dawn of Christmas day?

Julie: Steven Hornby’s first novel, Secrets of a Christmas Box, explores the secret world of Christmas tree ornaments. These Tree-Dwellers come to life every year after sleeping away the non-holiday season in the Christmas box. Apparently the author had intended it originally to be a screenplay and it might have fared better in that format.

Ann: In The Chocolate Snowman Murders by JoAnna Carl, (9th in the “chocoholic” mysteries series) the main character is Lee McKinney, a transplanted Texan in western Michigan, who manages her aunt’s chocolate shop. The town of Warner Pier is getting ready for WinterFest, a Christmastime festival designed to help promote winter tourism in the town along Lake Michigan. Lee is on the planning committee, and is asked to pick up the out of town judge who’s coming to town to judge the art exhibit that’s part of the festival. But on the way home from the airport, the guy is not only drunk and obnoxious, but begins pawing at Lee in the truck. She dumps him at a motel while she drives home and tries to compose herself. But when the guy is found murdered in his room the next day, Lee is under suspicion. Carl’s books fall somewhere between cozy and medium-boiled, and also give the reader a good sense of place of the western Michigan resort towns like Saugatuck and Grand Haven, after which Warner Pier is modeled.

Megan: The Snow Globe by Sheila Roberts is a cozy Christmas story about three best friends, each in need of a miracle. Kylie Gray is newly single and unemployed when she purchases the antique snow globe that will change their lives. According the shop owner, the snow globe was a gift to a German toymaker would had lost his wife and son. One day that woman came into his shop, mended his broken heart, and changed his life forever. Since then the globe has been passed down, always finding a person in need. Kylie is hopeful that this gift to herself will provide the miracle that she needs. This is a sweet, predictable story about friendship, family, and true love. If that type of story is not your cup of tea, you may enjoy Marvel’s Zombies Christmas Carol, adapted by Jim McCann and illustrated by David Baldeon and Jeremy Treece. In this graphic adaptation of Dickens’ classic story, there is no Christmas in London because the Hungry Death has devastated the city. Mankind’s only hope for salvation rests on the shoulders of the bitter miser, Ebenezer Scrooge. On Christmas Eve Scrooge is visited by three spirits who reveal to Scrooge the role he played in causing the Hungry Death and its devastating consequences. He awakens on Christmas Day inspired and resolved to change his ways and put the undead to rest. The illustrations are at once horrific and fascinating and the story remains quite true to the original, despite the unique zombie twist.

Emma: The Christmas Sweater by Glenn Beck is a story of forgiveness and second chances. 12-year-old Eddie feels he deserves a bicycle for Christmas even if money is tight since his dad died. His gift is a homemade red sweater. Eddie hates his new sweater, throws it on the floor and basically pouts all day spoiling the holiday for his mother and grandparents. What follows next is a dream which is too real for Eddie. On the way home from his grandparents house, there is a car accident and his mother is killed. Eddie is forced to live with his grandparents, hating it and eventually running away. A neighbor helps Eddie see the error in his choices. When Eddie wakes up he gets another chance to celebrate Christmas this time on December 26th. He is happy, content, and thankful for his family.

Carol: I am Half-Sick of Shadows by Alan Bradley is the fourth in a series starring precocious 11-year-old Flavia de Luce. It’s nearly Christmas in post WWII England when our chemistry and poison-obsessed young sleuth decides she’ll trap Saint Nick while he’s delivering gifts–and prove his existence to her two sisters. All of her plans are put on the back (Bunsen) burner when a film crew comes to make a movie at her family’s estate Buckshaw. When a movie star on set turns up murdered, the fearless Flavia, who is herself among the suspects, throws herself headlong into the investigation. Always a delightful series, this one is made even more merry by the Christmas-time setting.

Janet: The Perfect Love Song by Patti Callahan Henry centers on the lives and careers of two couples. Brothers Jack and Jimmy are musicians who lead a nomadic life with their band in order to perform to live audiences. Their absence is difficult for Kara (Jack’s fiancée) and Charlotte (Jimmy’s first real love). As a Christmas gift for Charlotte Jimmy writes a love song for her which is renamed “A Christmas Song” by their overly eager agent which audiences across the country love. With this song Jimmy, as a solo act, hits the big time. His popularity as a performer keeps him on the road longer which jeopardizes his relationships with his loved ones. After much soul-searching Jimmy realizes the next step he must take.

Steve: Skipping Christmas, by John Grisham, is a nice quick read for the holidays. At the onset, we see Luther and Nora Krank dropping off their only child, Blair, at the airport as she is set to embark on a Peace Corps trip to Peru. Blair is fresh out of grad school and this is the first year she will not be home for Christmas. Unable to sleep that night, Luther, an accountant, tallies up the previous Christmas’ expenses, and seething at the high cost, $6100, conjures up a plan to skip Christmas and instead escape with his wife on a Caribbean cruise. He manages to convince his wife to go along with this, and thus the shenanigans begin. The Kranks live on a nice suburban street, along with nosey neighbors and their do-what-I-do mentality. The neighbors are not happy to hear that the Kranks will be skipping Christmas, how dare they! But the Kranks stand their ground, that is until Christmas Eve, the day before their cruise is to set sail, when Blair calls from the airport with news that she is surprising them by coming home for Christmas! Not only that, she is bringing her new fiancé, a Peruvian who has never experienced an American Christmas. It ends up that without their neighbors’ help, they will not able to pull things together and everyone comes to the rescue. There’s nothing earth shattering here, but in the end Luther sees the importance of Christmas activities and neighbors and even ends up giving his cruise tickets to his nemesis across the street. The book does raise an interesting question of “What if” you skipped all the Christmas hoopla and stripped things down to the basics, would it make for a more, or less pleasant, holiday?

Dori: The Gift: A Novel by Pete Hamill is a semi-autobiographical coming of age novella about a young sailor on leave from boot camp who comes home to spend Christmas with his Irish Catholic family in Brooklyn, New York before he’s shipped off to Korea. He’s hoping that he can win back the affection of his high school sweetheart and longing to get to know his hard drinking, emotionally absent father. Hamill perfectly captures the claustrophic, poor, yet supportive neighborhood and young Pete’s dreams of a different life. Lyrical and bittersweet, this novella is a gem.

Stacey: The Miracle on 34th Street by Valentine Davies was written as a novella to accompany the release of the movie in the spring of 1947. This is one of those classic stories that will never feel out-of-date as the underlying idea is timeless and universal: if you believe in the good of others and follow your heart, you’ll find what makes you happiest in the end. Doris, a single mom and dedicated career woman, is raising her daughter Susan with no illusions about life, but their new neighbor Fred thinks it’s a little sad to have no sense of wonder about the world. When Kris Kringle becomes Macy’s seasonal Santa, it gives everyone an opportunity to see the magic in their world.

Shockingly, we’re following up our Holiday tales with Horror! (I should mention that we pick the genres at random, or is that stating the obvious now?) So if you want to start 2012 off on the same reading page as our book group, you’ll want to find a book that has been written to frighten the reader, with supernatural or occult elements to make it different from standard suspense fiction. There are subgenres in this category that range from comic horror to demonic possession to historical horror to haunted houses, so there should be something out there somewhere that will appeal to just about everyone, right? Right! Have a wonderful Holiday Season, filled with good books of all kinds!

— Stacey

All Hallow’s Read! (aka Happy Halloween!)

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Happy day full of black cats, pretty bats, and tasty candy! Oh, and also: Good spooky reading! I love this idea so much that I need to talk about it more than once! Mr. Neil Gaiman is an established fan of libraries (thank you! Mr. Gaiman!) and we like him back, but he reached a new level of cool with the idea of All Hallow’s Read! There are all sorts of fun extras including: a printable bookmark -swoon!, gift tags and book drop stickers, but the kicker of the site must be the super handy round-up of book recommendations! I do love me a list!

Of course you can make a list of your own using The Reading Room! Just do a little search using the descriptor Halloween or horror or magic, but my favorite search might be superstitions, which brings up a list of 13 titles… no lie! Or send us a Reader’s Request form and we’ll choose three titles -just for you!

I know! It’s hard to handle this much fun, isn’t it? But let’s do our best to try! Enjoy the day my friends!

— Stacey

 

Ho, Ho, Holiday Stories!

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Is there any other time of year when it’s not just okay (but maybe expected?) to go looking for a fabulously sappy, happy story? I think not! But just because I enjoy these books, it doesn’t mean everyone does. It’s like Cadbury Eggs in that only come out in time for Easter. I love the sugary, colored “egg yolk” in the middle of the chocolate egg, but I know they don’t appeal to everyone. That’s good since it leaves more for me! (Both books and Cadbury Eggs!) And how did I come to discover this truth you might wonder? For the second year in a row, our genre book discussion group has dished the dirt on Holiday stories and both times I’ve heard the rumor that some people around the table don’t see the appeal. But there was a good discussion and an interesting mix of sappy, suspenseful, and humorous, so I suspect there’s an excellent chance all readers will find a book that will appeal to their reading tastes! Now wouldn’t you like to know what we read? Here they come:

Emma: An Amish Christmas by Cynthia Keller is the story of the Hobart family living the American dream in Charlotte, North Carolina. Life is good until James is fired and loses all of the family’s savings with a risky investment. After losing their home, the family’s only option is to move in with the Meg’s parents. On the way to New York there is a car accident, and an Amish family takes them in until repairs are complete. James, Meg and their children experience a simpler daily life and begin to realize “stuff” doesn’t make them happy. This is an enjoyable Christmas story with a close look into the life of the Amish.

Donna: Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor by Lisa Kleypas. This appealing, contemporary romance is a perfect holiday treat filled with laughter, love, a few tears and a happy ending for all. With the sudden death of his sister, Mark Nolan is forced to provide a new home for his six-year-old niece, Holly. He gets help from Maggie Collins, a young widow who owns the local toy store. Together, these three lonely souls try to add love and happiness again to their lives.

Rosemary: Christmas Mourning by Margaret Maron is the 16th in her Judge Deborah Knott mystery series. Even though Christmas is quickly approaching, Deputy Dwight Bryant, Deborah’s husband, is faced with the investigation of a single car crash that killed a popular high school girl. To add to the community’s grief, two young brothers are found shot to death just days after the accident. Dwight finds many more questions than answers as he tries to piece together the reasons for the crash and shootings. This series is so appealing because Deborah comes from a huge North Carolina family, and they are a constant presence in her life. Their shared affection adds a warm glow to their many holiday traditions.

Carol: In Santa Cruise: A Holiday Mystery at Sea by mother/daughter duo Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark, Lottery winner Alvirah Meehan and her husband Willy invite investigator Regan Reilly and husband, Jack, head of the NYPD Major Case Squad along on an all-expenses-paid cruise right after Christmas. This “Santa cruise” is a publicity stunt to generate buzz about a new ship, the Royal Mermaid, as she sets out on her maiden voyage. Also on board is a mystery fan convention celebrating a “ghost of honor,” as well as ten men who donated time playing Santa Claus, looking to rest up after the season. The Christmas tranquility soon vanishes when two Santa suits disappear from a locked room, a storm develops, and an attempt is made on a passenger’s life. Trusty amateur sleuth Alvirah is on board and must solve this quick-to-read, but light-on-plot caper.

Evelyn: Under the Mistletoe combines two Christmas romances. The first one is Bluebird Winter by Linda Howard. It’s Christmas Eve and Kathleen Fields is alone and in premature labor. Struggling to drive herself to the hospital in an Arkansas blizzard, she loses control and lands in a ditch. Derek Talifero is driving back to Houston when he sees a car in the ditch and stops to help. Kathleen’s prayers have been answered—Derek is a pediatrician and is able to get her back home and deliver her daughter safely. Derek arranges for Kathleen to come to Houston and stay in his home so she can be near her daughter in the Neonatal unit. Soon Kathleen and Derek find their love for small baby turns into a love for each other. Naughty or Nice by Stephanie Bond. When the Chandelier Hotel in San Francisco is purchased by a national chain, they are told to toe the corporate line. Current manager Cindy Warren’s family has a long history of working for the hotel–her great-grandfather built it. To survive, the hotel has found a niche by attracting unusual conventions—like the Klingons. Checking into The Chandelier‘s reluctance to fit the corporate image, headquarters sends out its top hatchet man Eric Quinn Stanton. Eric checks into the hotel under an assumed name and promptly gets involved in its quirkiness, and with Cindy, too. What will happen when she finds out his real identity? Full of laughs and lots of love, this story will warm your heart.

Julie: A Chesapeake Shores Christmas by Sherryl Woods is the fourth in a series that is a light read, good for getting away from holiday stress and finding a happy ending. Megan left her husband, Mick, years earlier because he was too controlling and ignored the family, immersing himself in work. She has slowly been reconnecting with her ex, believing he has changed and is ready for another chance at love, but complications, including the vehement opposition of her youngest son, may mean they don’t make it back to the altar.

Megan: In the beautifully illustrated book Auntie Claus by Elise Primavera, Sophie Kringle is curious about her Aunt’s mysterious annual business trip that keeps her away from home in the months before Christmas. Sophie stows away in Auntie Claus’ luggage and finds herself at the North Pole. Sophie finally learns her aunt’s true identity and saves her little brother from the Bad Boys and Girls List. This is a sweet and magical book that readers of all ages will enjoy.

Janet: Promise Me by Richard Paul Evans is a highly readable book. The story line centers on Beth Cardall, a single mother whose life suddenly falls apart. Her husband dies from cancer, Charlotte, her 6-year-old daughter is suffering from symptoms that have not been accurately diagnosed and Beth’s job does not provide enough money. When Beth meets a man who is too good to be true this story takes a strange turn that the reader will either love or hate.

Ann: A Highland Christmas by M.C. Beaton. Police Constable Hamish Macbeth is feeling a bit forlorn just before Christmas. His former girlfriend has moved away, his other family members are off on a trip they won, and some people in his hometown of Lochdubh in the Scottish Highlands frown on what they view as the pagan ritual of Christmas. But Hamish soon has two cases to worry about. A grouchy old woman insists her cat Smokey has been stolen, and the Christmas lights and tree from a neighboring town are missing. Through his investigations, Hamish finds ways to spread some Christmas cheer through the village. A humorous cozy mystery that’s not too sweet, and not too tart, but just right.

Dori: In The Fat Man: a Tale of North Pole Noir by Ken Harmon, Gumdrop Coal, head of Santa’s Coal Patrol, has been fired and framed for murder. Who in Kringletown is guilty? Is it Candy Cane, who’s looking to replace Santa, the Misfit Mafia, a group of toys who are sick and tired of their exiled life, or Rosebud Jubilee, star reporter and femme fatale? This holiday mystery is a recipe for humor and holiday puns mixed together and spiced with the perfect Christmas lesson.

Stacey: Busy Body by M.C. Beaton is the twenty-first book in the Agatha Raisin series and it’s as much fun to read as all the ones that came before! This time around, Agatha is drawn into solving the murder of John Sunday, a Safety Inspector who was really just a mean bully and totally lacked any Christmas spirit. While Agatha searches for the killer she’s also looking for a little romance (of course!), a little recognition from the police department, and maybe a little more control over the office drama. This might not be high on the Christmas sappy meter, but it’s an easy, fun read for busy time of the year!

And so this brings a close to our Genre Book Discussions for the year 2010 -but don’t be sad! Start looking forward to our Genre Book Discussion 2011 style and our kick-off genre… fantasy! Isn’t that fantastic? If you want to read along with us again, here’s what you’ll want to be looking for: a book that has strong elements of magic, a plot that emphasizes a mental or physical journey, and stresses human virtues through acts of courage, sacrifice or kindness. Not a bad way to start a year, yes?

— Stacey

Another Holiday book to add…

DonnaLeave a comment

   I wasn’t able to attend the Holiday book discussion but I wanted to share the holiday book that I recently finished. Be prepared…it’s a crier but it is also filled with faith, love, friendship, laughs and wonderful memories along with the tears that may flow by the end of the story. This is a beautiful story that I will add to my collection to treasure. Isn’t that what a great Holiday book should be? This one is perfect to share…the Christmas Cake by Lynne Hinton, a sequel to her earlier book, The Friendship Cake.

published in 2000. (I laughed and cried through that one too and have looked since then for another book by this author featuring these wonderful women.)

     The four members of the Women’s Guild of the Hope Springs Community Church are once again planning to make a new cookbook with a Christmas cake recipe contest. However, no one is in a festive mood since Margaret’s cancer has returned. To try to cheer everyone up, Beatrice plans an impromptu journey for Margaret and the others to visit to visit her hometown in Texas and their friend and former pastor, Charlotte Stewart, who now runs a battered women’s shelter in Texas. This story once again confirms that true friendship is one of the best gifts of all to give!

 Season’s readings!       ~ Donna

 

Happy Holidays! books…

staceyLeave a comment

Oh, we’re rebels here at Rocky River Public Library! We’ve created our own genre: holiday books! I’m not sure this was our most shocking or boundary stretching discussion, but it was still darn helpful. It’s like reading an extra ten books all at once and that’s pretty handy for the time pressed librarian! In all honesty, not everyone in our group loves to read holiday stories but I think we all left the discussion feeling in a festive spirit and now we’d like to share that spirit with you…

Janet: Home for Christmas by Andrew Greely. Petey Pat Kane and Mariana Pelligrino have loved each other since grade school. Their first date was a double date for their senior prom. Petey Pat was the driver when his car was hit by another car. The couple in the back seat was killed. Troubled by guilt Petey Pat ran away and served three tours of duty in Iraq. During his last deployment he was severely injured and believed to be dead. During this time he went to heaven and learned from God that the purpose of his life was to love and protect Mariana. Petey Pat returned to life and soon married Mariana on Christmas Eve.

Chris: A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote captures the spirit of the holiday in simpler, gentler times. It’s 1930 and seven-year-old Buddy and his eccentric 60-year-old cousin, Sook, share touching moments as they enjoy their annual traditions: baking fruitcakes, chopping down the tree and decorating it with handmade ornaments, making gifts, and surprising one another on Christmas morning. What really sets this book apart is the wonderful writing; the details and images put forth by this masterful author are unforgettable. A heart-warming read for all ages.

Dori: Merry, Merry Ghost by Carolyn Hart. Bailey Ruth Raeburn, a fashionable and spirited ghost, is sent by Heaven’s Department of Good Intentions back to her hometown of Adelaide, Oklahoma during the Christmas season. Her mission is to protect a young boy who has shown up on his wealthy grandmother’s doorstep, angering her other family members who begin to realize that he threatens their inheritance. When the elderly woman is shockingly murdered, Bailey Ruth takes it upon herself to help find the killer.

Rosemary:  Tidings of Comfort and Joy: A Tender Story of Love, Loss, and Redemption by T. Davis Bunn is an old-fashioned, inspirational Christmas tale. An aging grandmother shares a very personal and special memory with her dear granddaughter. When Grandmother Emily was a young woman she gave her heart to a pilot and followed him all the way to England during WWII. He was not the gentleman he pretended to be and abandoned her in England. This is the story of how Emily crafted a new life by giving of herself to others.

Ann: A Christmas Blizzard by Garrison Keillor. James Sparrow, rich Chicago entrepreneur, wants nothing more than to spend Christmas (a holiday he detests) in Hawaii, but instead is stranded in a North Dakota snowstorm. An over the top black comedy filled with quirky humor and a talking wolf.

Julie: A Christmas Beginning by Anne Perry takes Superintendent Runcorn (from the Inspector Monk books) out of London and into the wild beauty of northwest Wales. The quiet of his Christmas holiday is disrupted by a most unfortunate turn of events – murder. A well-crafted tale perfect for a cold winter’s eve by a roaring fire.

Emma: Christmas in Harmony by Philip Gulley suggests that some traditions should not be changed. Well-intentioned elder Dale Hinshaw talks Pastor Sam Gardner and the little Quaker congregation in Harmony into a progressive live nativity scene for Christmas Eve instead of the conventional service. The event becomes commercialized quickly and the Gospel meaning of Christmas is lost.

Megan: Ex-Mas by Kate Brian. To pay back her little brother for getting her grounded, Lila lets him believe Santa is in danger from global warming. Her plan to upset him backfires when Cooper and his friend Tyler take off for the North Pole to save Santa. Now Lila is stuck with her social outcast ex-boyfriend (Tyler’s older brother) on a roller-coaster road trip to find the boys before their parents find out they are missing.

Carol: Matchless by Gregory Maguire (author of Wicked) retells the story of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Match Girl.” In Maguire’s version, we also meet a young boy, Frederik and his mother, a seamstress to the Queen. They are poor and living in a fishing village and have only one match to help keep them warm on Christmas Eve. Frederik entertains himself by making a small town out of found object and populates the town with people made from his mother’s empty thread spools. This is his way of escaping the bleak reality of his life. One night he crosses paths with the little match girl, who unfortunately for her, has no escape from her depressing fate.  Christmas stories aren’t usually for me but this one had a great message in its beautifully illustrated packaging–while the living may yet find happiness, and the dead are not so far away.

Evelyn: Christmas Letters by Debbie Macomber. Debbie Macomber’s Christmas stories have the reputation for putting readers in the spirit of the season. Christmas Letters, written in 2006, is one of my favorites. Katherine “KO” O’Connor writes creative and cheery Christmas letters for people who aren’t up to the task themselves, making their lives seem more interesting, more humorous—even more dramatic. She often writes in a coffee shop where she happens upon Dr. Wynn Jeffries, the psychologist whose philosophy on child rearing called the “Free Child” method has turned her twin 5-year-old nieces into little monsters. Worse yet, Jeffries believes that children should not be exposed to the Santa “myth,” recommends that parents should “bury Santa under the sleigh.” When Katherine goes on a blind date with Jeffries hoping to change his beliefs, the battle for Santa begins with sparks flying. She wants to believe, and he views her letters as nothing but lies. As Christmas draws closer, they soon find they don’t want to stop arguing, or falling in love.

And I read: The Perfect Christmas by Debbie Macomber. This is the author’s current Christmas story and it delivers a nice dose of holiday cheer. Cassie Beaumont wants to get married and start her own family, but she’s not having much luck on her own. Dr. Simon Dobson, a matchmaker, could be the answer to her troubles but only if she can successfully complete the three tasks he’s given her. Will Simon find the perfect match for Cassie? Or could it be that Cassie finds Simon his perfect match? In fact, could it be her?

Ah, another satisfying book discussion and still more to look forward too. That’s a gift in and of itself! Next time? We’ll be reading narrative non-fiction. Or you can think of the genre as non-fiction books that read like fiction, if that helps?

And from us all: Have a wonderful holiday season everybody!

—Stacey