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There’s nothing quite like curling up in front of a crackling fire with a good book during the Christmas holidays – for me, it’s the perfect way to embrace the magic of the season.
With all the hustle and bustle that the season tends to entail, it can prove tricky to choose the perfect reading material for those quiet nights at home – something to really capture the essence of this time of the year.
I’ve put together a list of some of my favourite books to read around Christmas-time. Some are timeless classics, along with a few modern gems - hopefully, something for everyone in the family. Grab yourself a warm drink, turn on the Christmas tree lights, and read on for some inspiration.
Let’s dive into my Top 10 Christmas books of all time:
By Charles Dickens
The tradition of telling ghost stories around the Yule period goes back many centuries, and reached its peak in the Victorian times, when Dickens published his many works. Probably the most famous of Charles Dickens’ Christmas Stories, A Christmas Carol tells the tale of Ebenezer Scrooge – a spiteful and unhappy businessman, with a distinct lack of Christmas spirit. As the tale goes, on Christmas Eve, he is visited by the visions of three Ghosts of Christmas: Past, Present and Yet-To-Come. During the course of the night, the journeys he is taken on all weave together to help him discover the joy of Christmas once again.
If you prefer a lighter read, the tale has been condensed and re-written many times over the years, so you’ll always be able to find a style of this story that suits you and your family.
By Louisa May Alcott
Little Women opens on Christmas Eve, with the famous line ‘”Christmas won’t be Christmas without any presents…”, and the first part of the tale concludes around the Christmas period as well. There are also themes of warmth and charity running through the book, with the sisters deciding to give up their Christmas breakfast to an impoverished local family in the early chapters. Similarly to A Christmas Carol, Little Women has been abridged for younger readers throughout the years - so all the family can enjoy this timeless classic at their own pace this Christmas.
By J.R.R. Tolkien
When his eldest son was three, Tolkien began creating and sending him annual letters as though from Father Christmas himself. Each envelope was postmarked from the North Pole and contained wondrous tales of the goings-on of his various companions – Karhu, the clumsy polar bear and Ilbereth, the elf. Tolkien continued the tradition for many years as his family grew and his children eventually grew into teenagers, then adults.
This heartwarming title, reprinted in many different editions over the years, encapsulates all the magic of Christmas in the inimitable style of J. R.R. Tolkien- with his letters and drawings featuring in full-colour facsimile. An absolute joy to read – 10/10!
By Raymond Briggs
Up there with Briggs’ most well-known creations, the Snowman is a staple in many homes over the festive season. Perhaps best known as the star of the 1982 film, he features on our screens throughout December each year. However, the film - and its orchestral soundtrack - is based on a picture book of the same name, first published in 1978. The book itself is wordless, set out in a comic-book strip style, with Briggs’ coloured-pencil drawings telling the story of the boy (named James in the film) and the Snowman - from snowy-day creation through to the end of their adventure. The film is mostly faithful to the original book, but if you are looking to read something with a bit more substance – the story has been expanded and developed into prose form by the superb storyteller Michael Morpurgo. This version gives James’ story depth and background - it really brings the whole tale to life. For a cosy Christmas evening read, I would recommend Morpurgo’s version, with the musical score by Howard Blake playing in the background. Without a doubt, this is my idea of ultimate Christmas-time relaxation.
By Hans Christian Andersen
I am a little reluctant to include this tale in my list of top Christmas tales – as it’s one of the saddest tales I ever remember reading as a child - but it definitely made an impact.
Set on a bitter New Year’s Eve, The Little Match Girl tells of a young girl who wanders the freezing streets, having failed to make a single penny selling her matches. Most of the townsfolk are tucked up in their homes sitting down to sumptuous meals, warmed by their crackling fires and sharing gifts together. The little girl, alone, strikes her matches to warm herself, and begins to see visions that warm her heart, if not her frail body.
For me, it’s a poignant tale that serves as a reminder of the widely accepted, but lesser-remembered ‘true’ meaning of Christmas – compassion and readiness to help those who are less fortunate. A perfect message for this time of year.
By John Grisham
Skipping Christmas is a deviation from Grisham’s usual style. It follows the Krank family, who decide to skip Christmas altogether - just for one year. No tree, no lights, no stress. Flipping the usual Christmas narrative, this funny and fast-paced tale tells of the couple’s escapades in attempting to avoid the Christmas season completely. Easily read in just a few hours, this novella provided the inspiration for the 2004 film Christmas With The Kranks. It’s the perfect light amusement for anyone needing a quick break from the chaos of the holidays.
By Agatha Christie
Hercule Poirot’s Christmas is a classic locked-room mystery, originally penned in 1938. Opening on Christmas Eve, it tells of a traditional English Christmas - with a bubbling undercurrent of greed, vengeance and bitterness. Agatha Christie wrote this story with extra violence after her brother-in-law complained that her murders were getting “too refined”. For those who prefer something a little more light-hearted, try her short story The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding – which focuses on a stolen ruby hidden inside a Christmas pud.
By Jessica Harrison
Around Christmas-time each year, I like to get stuck into a treasury of short stories with a seasonal theme. The Penguin Book of Christmas Stories is a great example, published in the iconic decorative Penguin Classics binding in 2022.
Lose yourself in a world of Christmas, as imagined by some of the world’s greatest storywriters. This comprehensive collection of tales allows for dipping in and out when a free ten minutes arises. Authors such as Shirley Jackson, Dylan Thomas and Truman Capote have their stories featured, and the stories span settings as diverse as Rio, Paris & New York to the dark and mysterious Nordic forests.
By Orlando Weeks
Written in 2017 by Orlando Weeks, former frontman of the Maccabees, The Gritterman is an illustrated story for adults. It focuses on an aging gritterman working alone through the winter nights, as the rest of the world sleeps. Exploring themes of loneliness and isolation, it is a moving tale following the protagonist working through his last season of gritting before retirement - a quiet and poignant celebration of the unsung heroes who work throughout the holidays. Seek out the 10-track companion album and read alongside, for a fully immersive experience.
By Stephen Moss
For an interesting and engaging non-fiction read, I have selected The Twelve Birds of Christmas. Written by naturalist Stephen Moss, the book uses the classic ‘Twelve Days of Christmas’ carol as a framework. It weaves history and culture with field anecdotes, to create a compelling narrative around birds including swans, partridges, geese and more. If wrapping up warm and immersing yourself in winter nature speaks of Christmas to you, this is the perfect cosy read to curl up with after a cold day out wandering.
As the winter nights draw in, there’s truly no better time to get lost in a good book. I hope a few of these options on my list might make for appealing reading this holiday season.
It was tough to choose my Top 10 best Christmas books of all time, so here are some honourable mentions that didn’t quite make it onto the list:
If you’re looking for a festive book for children, you may want to take a look at our guide to the best Christmas books for kids.
Here’s to many comfy hours spent between the pages this December, and wishing you all the very best that the season has to offer. Happy reading!
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