From A Christmas Carol to How the Grinch Stole Christmas and The Night Before Christmas, we know what you read last Christmas. But apart from old favourites, there are also modern Christmas classics which will give you plenty of bliss under the mistletoe.
The Stupidest Angel
Christopher Moore – Orbit
The explanatory sub-heading for The Stupidest Angel says that the book is a “heartwarming tale of Christmas terror”. While that doesn’t exactly bode well, this book will simmer then warm you up. Moore’s book tells of an angel named Raziel, who is sent to earth to help a boy who had witnessed the death of a man dressed as Father Christmas. In his attempt to bring Father Christmas back to life, Raziel awakes an army of hungry zombies.
The Ecco Book of Christmas Stories
Edited by Alberto Manguel – Ecco Press
Just like Christmas, this book continues to give and give. Packing 23 Christmas stories by a selection of acclaimed authors, The Ecco Book of Christmas Stories includes The Turkey Season by Alice Munro, Christmas is a Sad Season for the Poor by John Cheever and The Leaf-Sweeper by Muriel Spark.
The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus
Lyman Frank Baum
Running Press
Have you ever wondered how Father Christmas actually became Father Christmas? No, it wasn’t a simple matter of growing a beard and putting on a red and white suit. According to Lyman Frank Baum, it all started when, having been raised by a lioness and a wood nymph, Father Christmas moved to the village of Hohaho with his cat Blinky.
Holidays On Ice
David Sedaris
Back Bay Books
The world of David Sedaris is a mad one. And during Christmas, it is even more so. Holidays On Ice features six short stories, including the diaries of a Macy’s elf. Other stories tell of the difficulties of explaining the concept of the Easter bunny to the French and what to do when you have been locked out in a snowstorm. If you’re running low on Christmas cheer, this book will have you guffawing in seconds.