Holiday Books to Read & Movies to Watch

A list of hidden gems for book lovers

Photo by Andreea Radu on Unsplash

The holidays are full of traditions. Many of us have favorite books that we read every year during the holidays (Little Women anyone?) and there are movies that we must watch in order for it to feel like Christmas. I mean, is it even the holidays if you don’t watch White Christmas while you are decorating the tree?

As fun as those traditions are, they can get a little boring. I’m not recommending that you throw out your beloved favorites, but why not infuse a little adventure into your holidays and try something new? I’ve gathered a few of my favorite things to read and watch, maybe they’ll be new to you?

Holiday Reads

Letters from Father Christmas by J.R.R, Tolkien

This isn’t just for lovers of Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings books. It’s a collection of letters that he wrote for his children, claiming they were from Father Christmas. They are fantastical letters filled with stories from the North Pole that you never heard. There are humorous elves and a clumsy polar bear and all manner of goings on. This collection is tender when read remembering that Tolkien wrote these letters for his children, never imagining that they would one day be published. He also includes wonderful drawings in these labors of love. This is a book you and your children will treasure.

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivy

If you aren’t in the mood for a Christmas book, but still want to read something wintry, this is the book for you. Based on the fairy tale, The Snow Queen, this story of a childless couple who begin to believe that the child that shows up at their isolated cabin door is actually a snow child come to life. It’s a great story, filled with beautiful writing, and one that will keep you wondering if the couple has cabin fever or if the child really is magical. I don’t consider myself a huge fantasy book fan, but this story kept me engaged until the very end.

The Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan

Do you just need something light in the midst of the craziness of the holidays? This book is perfect. It’s a romance, set in a struggling bookshop in Edinburgh, Scotland. This book is formulaic but just what you need if you want to curl up with a book and read about dusty books, shop windows with Christmas dollhouses and train set displays, and loads of descriptions of tea and holiday treats.

Calm Christmas by Beth Kempton

I usually start my holidays by rereading Beth Kempton’s book Calm Christmas. It’s non-fiction and filled with tips for planning for a holiday season that’s more intentional and less frazzled.

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Holiday Movies

Fanny and Alexander

This 1982 Swedish movie by Ingmar Bergman was the first foreign film I ever watched. I was twelve years old and it opened my eyes to the joys of movies outside the typical Hollywood fare. It’s the story of two children’s lives as they find their way through the trials and tribulations of their large, theatrical family’s dramas. The Christmas scenes are feast for the eyes and there’s plenty of snow.

Feast of the Seven Fishes

I watched this one last week in a fit of boredom and instantly feel in love. It’s the story of what happens when a working class, Italian-Catholic boy brings an affluent, Protestant girl to his family’s Christmas Eve dinner. I grew up in Ohio, surrounded by my own working class, Irish-Catholic family, and the depiction of a loud, loving, family felt very much a like homecoming. Just be warned, all the talk about food is going to make you very hungry. The movie was based on a graphic novel by Robert Tinnell.

The Family Stone

If you like Nancy Meyers movies, this one will deliver interior sets that will make you happy, although the story line is a bit strange. Everett Stone brings his uptight girlfriend home for the holidays to introduce her to his judgemental family before he proposes to her and chaos ensues. While I don’t love the plot line, I watch it every year just because I love Everett’s mother’s kitchen.

What are your favorite books and movies to watch during the holiday season?

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Big News….

I’m so excited to announce that I have an essay, Stitch Meditations, in the latest issue of Taproot Magazine. You can find issues online and select stores. I hope you’ll pick up a copy. The magazine is one of my favorites and I’m so proud to be part of it.

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At the check-out desk….

I just wanted to let you know that The Cozy Library will be on holiday until January 2024. I want to wish you and your loved ones the happiest and healthiest of holidays and I can’t wait to see you back here, amongst the stacks, once the new year dawns. Thank you for supporting me this year. You are the best!

Happy Holidays,