Christmas Stories

When I think of Christmas stories, the first that comes to mind is A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. You probably thought of that one too, right? In recent years I’ve started reading mystery and romance stories set around Christmas. They are usually a bit on the cozy side and they have helped to get me in the holiday spirit. But to my delight, I discovered that ghost stories are not just for the spooky season but also the Christmas season!

Last year while browsing at an indie bookstore I picked up How Fear Departed the Long Gallery by E.F. Benson. After reading the introduction which mentioned that Christmas ghost stories were once a tradition during the Victorian era and remained popular during the early 20th century, I thought how can I not make this a part of my own Christmas Eve tradition?

So last year while waiting to open presents, I enjoyed the spooky story and illustrations. If you are still looking for some festive reading, and with time being in short supply due to all the festivities, check out Seth’s Christmas Ghost stories published by Biblioasis. These small books would make really nice stocking stuffers too!

This year I have The Crown Derby Plate by Marjorie Bowen ready to be read. Isn’t the cover great?

Let me know if you are reading any holiday-themed novels or if you have some holiday reading traditions you are looking forward to this year.