4 Holiday Books to Read in December
None were written by Charles Dickens, either.
One thing about me is that I will always enjoy something seasonal and festive. As soon as December rolls around, I start poking around for holiday books that will get me in the mood for Christmas trees and twinkle lights just as much as the Hallmark channel does, and that’s where this list comes in. Over the years, I’ve collected a few books that I come back to year after year because they just feel like a warm hug. My general criteria is no ye olde English that makes it impossible to read (you know who I mean). I’d like to laugh a little bit, and it has to pair nicely with laying around to read all day. We’ll get to the books that inspire productivity and whatnot next year, you know?
If you’re looking for something to read this month that feels like A Christmas Story in book format, I’ve got you covered.
This is my number one favorite book to read in December and I sincerely hope you love it as much as I do! It’s December 1964 and 10 year old Felix is just trying to make it through the 5th grade Christmas pageant at his Catholic parochial school complete with rigid nuns, a singular cool father and Felix’s nemesis, Rosalie Twerski. His family adds to the hilarious cast, and you’ll laugh a lot as you read this number. It’s a glorious blast from the past and while the story is completely different, the nostalgic feel is very much similar to A Christmas Story. If you’re into that, you’ll like this one.
Speaking of laughs, nobody does it better than David Sedaris. This collection of essays includes The Santa Land Diaries, which is the essay that catapulted David Sedaris’ writing career, so you know it’s a good one. The premise? He’s hired to play a mall elf in a Macy’s Santa Land and it’s stressful and hilarious and people are insane, so things go sideways quickly. Each piece in this collection is great, but Santa Land is definitely the standout. And not to be all influencer-y and say “watch til the end!” - but the last line of The Santa Land Diaries is literally the best.
Taking a slight left turn, because this is not Christmasy, but it is on brand seasonally because after the lights come down in January, it’s still dark outside. And it’s cold and the dopamine of the holidays tapers off quickly. Winter is tough for me, but this book encourages us to take a freaking self aware look around and notice how everything in nature powers down to rest and recover in winter. Are we not just animals, too? Look, the sun is out for five minutes a day in December. Maybe we’re not supposed to be operating at July productivity levels? This book changed my perspective on winter entirely and last year I was able to embrace the season, recognizing it as the season to bank some sleep, chill out a little bit, and enjoy the cozy. Everything in its time, you know?
No review here just yet - I haven’t read this one but it’s high on my TBR list this month. For various reasons, four friends develop a tradition to gather together for the holidays and as we do, getting older is coming with some growing pains. Could this be the last year of the Christmas Orphans Club? I remember being with my friends daily in my twenties, and how that tapered off as we grew up, got married and started families. Or grew up, got jobs, and moved away. Or some combined version of that. It’s been a while for me, but I’m excited to read this story of friendship that resonates with that time in my life.