It’s beginning to book a lot like Christmas!

A Christmas Carol? Bah Humbug!

Unless you’ve been living under a rock it’s almost certain you’ve heard of Charles Dickens and one of his most famous novels, A Christmas Carol. Considering it was written in the 1800s it amazingly remains a much loved book, as well as having been adapted into films and stage productions.It is clear there is a magic about the novel which has immortalised it, in spite of the passage of time.

However, for those who have been living under a rock, the story follows Scrooge, a rude, uncompassionate character who is visited by the ghosts of Christmas past, Christmas present and the ghost of Christmas yet to come.

The novel so clearly depicts the warmth and beauty of Christmas while showing the deprivation of those who are not as lucky, a masterful juxtaposition through description. In much the same way, Dickens contrasts the character of Scrooge at the beginning to the character at the end in a believable manner, allowing us to slowly but surely come onto his side.

Ultimately, it is a talented narration of redemption, humanity and poverty, which will really take you on a journey with Scrooge as he becomes a changed man. Usually these themes tend to be heavy when explored by authors, yet the compelling character of Scrooge and vivid descriptions, together with the setting of a “cold, bleak, biting Christmas Eve” mean you are transported into this Christmas classic eager to know how Scrooge will change.

There’s no doubt that delving into this classic will provide you with a warm ‘Christmassy’ feeling you can’t get anywhere else (except maybe eating Christmas pudding…unfortunately that will come to end, whereas you can keep rereading this!)

                                             Karishma Jobanputra

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The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

They say that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but let’s be honest, if you’re unwrapping something from your stocking on Christmas morning, it helps if it looks great- it’s always awkward when you have to try and pretend to look excited over a present you know you’ll shove on a shelf and never look at again. This is just one reason why The Sky is Everywhere makes a perfect stocking filler- its various covers, which all try and depict ‘the sky’ in some way, captivate the reader even before the first page has been turned.

Essentially, this is the story of a girl in love, and everyone knows that Christmas is without a doubt the perfect time to curl up on the sofa and indulge in a slushy romance, accompanied by lots of blankets and lots of chocolate. But there’s something that sets this book apart from other boy-meets-girl chick flicks which fly off the shelves around this time of year. The protagonist Lennie is grieving for her sister, and Nelson’s sensitive yet honest exploration of dealing with grief means the book is also incredibly moving. Not only is Lennie heartbroken and crazily in love, she also writes poems, many of which can be found within the book itself- this seamless combination of poetry and prose means The Sky is Everywhere also has something to offer for anyone, literature fanatics in particular, looking for something slightly different from their Christmas reads this year.

What’s more, since ‘tis the season to be jolly, and all that, a Christmas book should really have some comic elements, so Lennie’s amusing and eccentric family (to say the least) add to the list of reasons why this book is great for the festive season.

Emma Jones

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The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: Finding Christmas at the back of a wardrobe

he adventures of the Penvensie children in CS Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe have been a part of many childhoods, not to mention Christmases, including my own. For me, the book never fails to fill me with the Christmas spirit. With its snow-covered forests and mountains, the land of Narnia appears to be the perfect Christmas setting, until Mr Tumnus informs you that in Narnia it is in fact ‘always winter and never Christmas’. As a child, this was probably one of the most upsetting things I had ever read. To me, winter was synonymous with Christmas, and without the latter, the former was pretty dismal.

Even now as an arts student and having to read more novels than I’d care to count, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is still a book that I can engross myself in, especially at Christmas. Reading it for the first time ten years ago, I loved it for the fairy-tale characters and was envious of the Penvensie children’s great adventure. Now, I appreciate a lot more the powerful element of escapism; the desire of the children to remove themselves from the reality of war into the safer world of fantasy. Christmas is the time when I get to escape the seemingly never-ending pile of course books, and Narnia always seems like the perfect place to go.

Jessica Walker

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How the Grinch Stole Christmas

cross-media phenomenon, Dr Seuss’ 1957 How The Grinch Stole Christmas provides both a cutting critique of the commercialisation of Christmas (‘Pop guns! And bicycles! Roller skates! Drums! Checkerboards! Tricycles! Popcorn! And plums!’) and an eminently readable, entertaining, funny and well-crafted children’s story.

Often voted into the Top 100 Children’s Book, the focus of the story is the eponymous Grinch, a cold-hearted and bitter recluse whose dislike of Christmas causes himself and his only friend, his dog Max, to attempt to disrupt the festivities. Dressing up as Santa, with Max as his reindeer, the Grinch steals presents, Christmas trees and food. When he realises the distress that his actions have caused to the inhabitants of Whoville, the town his cave dwelling overlooks, he has a very typical Christmas-morality realisation moment. Despite being the cause of all the problems in the first place, the reformed Grinch, after returning all of his ill-gotten possessions is accepted into the hearts of Whoville and even invited to cut the roast beast (what subtle wordplay), quite the honour indeed!

Since its publication, the Grinch has taken a place in the Christmas canon, spawning films, most famous of which is the 2000 adaption with Jim Carrey exquisitely odd in the title role, as well as a musical version on Broadway and even inspiring an episode of Glee.

Despite its age, Dr Seuss’ festive masterpiece remains perfect for children looking for a heart-warming and beautifully illustrated story, as well as teenagers and adults attempting to recapture some of the lost innocence of youth. So if you find yourself feeling a bit blue this Christmas period, struggling to enjoy the festivities of the season, take a look at How The Grinch Stole Christmas and feel your Christmas cheer come rushing back.

Richard Brown

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The Princess Bride – Snowdrops and Buttercups.

hristmas would not be the same without reading William Goldman’s brilliant fairy-tale novel The Princess Bride. No matter how old you are, Westley’s iconic response “As you wish” to Buttercup’s never-ending demands will never fail to put a smile on your face. At Christmas there is nothing I love better than snuggling down next to the Christmas tree with a warm hot chocolate and immersing myself in the world of Florin; a world of princesses, pirates, giants, fire-swamps and true love.

The novel begins with a father reading the story of the Princess Bride to his son who is sick in bed. The narrative then launches into the tale of lovers Westley and Buttercup as they fight to be together. Any fairy-tale fans like me, will adore heroic Westley as he faces torture and even death itself to be with the one he loves. There’s also the lovable gentle giant, Fezzik, who will always make me laugh, and the revenge-seeking Spaniard Inigo whose heart wrenching past will move you to tears. This story has something for everyone – who doesn’t love reading a romantic fantasy novel at Christmas?

With its witty narrative and magical fairy-tale setting, this story cannot fail to warm the cockles of any scrooge’s heart. So when the winter frost sets in, curl up by the fire and enter Goldman’s enchanting world.

Lauren Howard

Philip Pullman’s Northern Lights – Satisfy your inner daemon this Christmas

Christmas is the one time of year when your imagination can run wild and you can indulge in a fantastic novel for hours on end; whether it’s re-reading old favourites or discovering new ones. For me, Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without reading Philip Pullman’s Northern Lights. From the cover to its final page, Northern Lights is the ultimate Christmas novel. Whether you’re eight or eighteen your Christmas can still become an unforgettable adventure by delving into the exciting and magical world of Lyra Belacqua. Northern Lights tells the tale of feisty orphan Lyra and her daemon Pantalaimon. When I first finished the book as a child, I spent the rest of the Christmas holidays imagining I had my own daemon who darted around the house! Winter in Britain can look bleak, especially for students with a mountain of essays or reports to write, but curling up with a good book is an unbeatable way of escaping back to childhood and rediscovering the magic of Christmas. The icy mountains, armoured polar bears and not to mention the magical dust, is still one of the archetypal winter adventures which dominate holiday reading.

Northern Lights remains one of my all-time favourite Christmas reads: a tale of bravery, heroism, magic, science, friendship and family, it’s a must-read this Christmas!

Lauren Howard