December books

There aren’t just “Advent calendar” books; there are Christmas books, too.

At the risk of some of you disappearing off in disgust, I have to tell you that some years ago I really enjoyed Rosamunde Pilcher’s Winter Solstice. A bit old-fashioned and romantic, but a very comforting and satisfying build-up to Christmas, which I read in more or less real time.

Adele Geras knows how to comfort, too. Silent snow, secret snow is a Christmas house party, all snowed in. If I knew how to write fiction, I could have written it myself. I get worried about Adele, because sometimes we seem to share the same daydreams. Maybe I can adopt her as my older sister.

More Adele and Christmas with Hester’s Story. Another sort of house party, albeit a working party, and lots of secrets and intrigue. But it would have made a perfect Christmas read, had the book not come out in January a few years ago. Talk about bad timing.

It’s too late for this year, but I’d be grateful for suggestions for future December reading. As it’s Christmas, cosiness and romance are more than welcome. Something soothing for when your family is screaming among the mince pies.