Hood's favourite festive reads to curl up with—just add hot chocolate
Christmas is the most magical time of the year, but between finding the perfect presents and working out the logistics of your big day feast, it’s essential to carve out some time to relax and unwind. And nothing sounds more appealing than curling up in an armchair, a mug of hot chocolate perched within reaching distance, and losing yourself in the pages of a festive-themed book. From traditional tomes to frivolous features, these are the Christmas books the Hood team love to leaf through every year.
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A Christmas Carol and Other Christmas Writings by Charles Dickens
No festive read round-up would be complete without A Christmas Carol, perhaps the best-loved piece of Christmas fiction. We particularly love this beautiful edition, which includes even more Dickens’ tales.
The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
Billy’s family doesn’t believe in Father Christmas, and he’s starting to have his doubts, too. That is until Christmas Eve when, in the middle of the night, he’s whisked away on a train bound for the North Pole. Yes, it’s a children’s book—a magical one at that.
The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey
Set in 1920s Alaska, The Snow Child is a poignant tale of love and loss, hope and heartbreak, affecting countless lives. A couple who long for a child are finally granted their wish, but is she what she seems? A breathtaking read.
Little Women by Louisa May Allcott
Originally published in two volumes, Christmas serves as the backdrop for some of the most memorable moments in Little Women. The story follows the lives of the four March sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy—and details their passage from childhood to womanhood.
Hercule Poirot’s Christmas by Agatha Christie
If you too are eagerly anticipating the release of Death on the Nile, get your Christie fix courtesy of Hercule Poirot’s Christmas. A merry little murder mystery that tasks the detective with investigating a family reunion that ends in bloodshed. An antidote to the sugar-coated viewing on TV.
Celebrations by Maya Angelou
Celebrations is a capsule of some of acclaimed poet Maya Angelou’s most legendary verses, including her poem Amazing Peace. With powerful and comforting messages woven throughout, this isn’t your typical Christmas prose. It will, however, give you hope.
A Country Christmas by Veronica Henry
Don’t let its quaint cover fool you; while there are undoubtedly wholesome moments in A Country Christmas, this book explores the lives, loves, and affairs of a family in a small village. If you’ve already read Henry’s Honeycote, you’ll immediately notice the similarities.
