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Friday, 20 December 2013

What are you reading for Christmas?

As you can see LitPig is pondering on what to start with for our Christmas reading. We need to finish The Snow Child (by Eowyn Ivey) first and then these are the books we've put aside for the break:

The Bad Mother's Handbook - Kate Long (have saved this especially for Christmas)
Breathing Lessons - Anne Tyler (Love her writing)
The curious incident of the dog in the night - Mark Haddon
Girl with a pearl earring - Tracy Chevalier (read many years ago and now need to read for first week back on MA in Jan)
Twisted sheets - collection of prize-winning short stories by Jo Derrick (on my kindle - want to find out why Jo keeps beating the Indoor Writer in competitions...)
Hysteria 2 - anthology of the winning stories from this year's Hysteria competition (sorry, this is yet another plug for the Indoor Writer, as she has a story in here too). Looking forward to dipping into this as the 2012 collection was superb.


We're taking a bit of a writing break over Christmas to recharge the creative batteries, but there will be lots of reading, some walking and a good deal of consumption going on instead. But we do have a special pre-Christmas guest here on Monday 23rd December, so please pop back to meet a lovely writer who was successful in the Bridport prize this year.

Writing chum and teacake champion, Wendy, is joining a blog chain on 23rd December. Make sure you visit her to learn some of her writing secrets. And then please pop back here on 30th December when we pick up the chain.

What are you reading for Christmas? 
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18 comments:

  1. Kate20 December 2013 at 02:22

    Honoured to be in there! And in such august company. Hope you enjoy TBMH, and don't forget, if you like it, there's a sequel called Bad Mothers United.
    Merry Christmas
    x

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    1. TracyFells20 December 2013 at 02:31

      Thanks for popping by, Kate. It's been a challenge to keep this one back. Loved 'Before she was mine' - read it in one afternoon, so really looking forward to TBMH!

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  2. Wendy's Writing20 December 2013 at 03:31

    I have read all the novels you mention except The Bad Mother's handbook and can recommend them all. Are you enjoying The Snow Child? I've just finished it. Look forward to meeting your guest on Monday, Tracy.

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    1. TracyFells20 December 2013 at 03:56

      I'm finding The Snow Child lovely, but a bit of a slow read. It's taking me a while to really get into it. Hope it has a happy ending too!

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  3. Jo20 December 2013 at 04:30

    I love Christmas reading! I'm also flattered to be on your list. I'm currently reading Gone With The Wind for the first time. I also have Writing A First Novel - Reflections on a Journey edited by Karen Stevens. I have asked for a few books as presents, too.

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    1. TracyFells20 December 2013 at 07:30

      I know Karen Stevens - she has just lectured on my first module at Chichester. Perhaps I should have read her book! Never read Gone with the wind - isn't it huge. Jo? Should keep you busy over Xmas!

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  4. Helen Yendall20 December 2013 at 06:10

    I am currently ploughing my way through 'Wolf Hall' (went to see it at the RSC last week and we're seeing 'Bring Up The Bodies' tonight, so I was trying to get a head start.. but failed). It's not the easiest, most thrilling read I've ever had, so I will probably turn to something a little 'lighter', shall we say, for my Christmas reading!

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    1. TracyFells20 December 2013 at 07:32

      Didn't know they had dramatised Wolf Hall or Bring up the bodies, Helen. I have to confess to being a Mantel fan - Bring up the bodies kept me engrossed last Xmas! But I know she's a bit like marmite - you either love her writing or hate it...

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  5. Rosemary Gemmell20 December 2013 at 06:40

    I absolutely loved The Snow Child, Tracy - read it during the summer. Also enjoy Tracy Chevalier's books. I'm trying to catch up on some kindle reading at the moment!

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    1. TracyFells20 December 2013 at 07:34

      Must admit I love Tracy Chevalier, Rosemary, and Girl with the pearl was my first. Another writer recommended her latest The Last Runaway - so that's another to go on the list! I find I completely forget what I have on the kindle - it's like having a hidden bookshelf.

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  6. Julia Thorley20 December 2013 at 08:20

    Thanks for all your lovely posts this year. I'm going to try to keep away from t'internet over Christmas - see you on the other side!

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    1. TracyFells21 December 2013 at 03:54

      That's a good idea, Julia. I may try a FB/twitter free Xmas :)

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  7. Karen20 December 2013 at 10:50

    I loved The Snow Child too - perfect for this time of year :o) I'm currently reading Diane Setterfield's Bellman and Black - spooky!

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    1. TracyFells21 December 2013 at 03:55

      I'm really getting into The Snow Child now, Karen. Haven't come across the book you mention, but I'm planning to listen to R4 ghost stories - they are airing some crackers over Xmas by Dickens (The Signalman) etc

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  8. Veronica Bright20 December 2013 at 12:47

    I, too, love Ann Tyler's books. She understands people so well. A beautiful short book to read at Christmas is Lanterns in the Snow by Susan Hill. I'll be opening up Alice Munro's latest Dear Life, whenever I can - not easy with 5 relatives staying and 16 for the day on Boxing Day.

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    1. TracyFells21 December 2013 at 03:58

      I think her characterisation is genius, Veronica. Also love Susan Hill - think I read A small hand last year - atmospheric and spooky. You are going to be busy - see if you can sneak off of for a read when the family are sleeping off the lunch :)

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  9. Patsy21 December 2013 at 00:42

    I've read The Curious Incident and Pearl Ear Ring - enjoyed them both.

    I'll be reading my kindle over Christmas (yeah, I know that's not quite what you meant)

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    1. TracyFells21 December 2013 at 03:59

      I think the kindle still counts as reading, Patsy. I like to switch between paper and kindle - actually find I can't read off the screen for hours.

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