London Met’s Student Blog will be sharing different Christmas ideas for you to explore, read, eat and wear for the next 12 days to put you in the right mood.
Christmas books
One of the best things to do during the holidays is to cosy up under a blanket with a hot drink and nice book. It’s a hard job to choose a good book, especially for the festive period, when you’re looking for a book to give you that warm fuzzy feeling. Well, London Met’s Student blog has tried its best to select some of the best festive must-reads and there’s something for everyone: from romance to fantasy, to a murder mystery, and they’re all themed around the winter season.
A Snow Garden and Other Stories by Rachel Joyce – A collection of seven short stories spun around Christmas; each one as funny, joyous, moving and memorable as the holidays should be.
Christmas at the Comfort Food Cafe by Debbie Johnson – Becca Fletcher has always hated Christmas. Now, she’s travelling to the Comfort Food Cafe to spend the festive season with her sister Laura and her family. Little does Becca know that the Comfort Food Cafe is like no other place. Perched on a snow-covered hill, it’s a place full of friendship where broken hearts can heal and new love can blossom.
Mistletoe and Murder by Robin Stevens – This is the fifth book from the Murder Most Unladylike Mysteries collection and follows Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong, who are spending the Christmas hols in snowy Cambridge. Two days before Christmas, there is a terrible accident. At least, it appears to be an accident – until the Detective Society look a little closer, and realise a murder has taken place. But can they catch the killer in time for Christmas Day?
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis – No need of an introduction, this is the first book from The Chronicles of Narnia. Although it was made into a major film, the book is always the better option and this one promises a magical Christmas.
The World According to Anna by Jostein Gaarder – The writer of Sophie’s World is back with another captivating story. When sixteen-year-old Anna begins receiving messages from another time, her parents take her to the doctor. But he can find nothing wrong with her. Anna is haunted by visions of the desolate world of 2082, where animals and plants have died out. The more Anna sees, the more she realises she must act to prevent the future in her visions becoming real. But can she act quickly enough?
The Gift of the Magi by O Henry – This beautiful, romantic story is seen as an American classic and a Christmas must-read. One dollar and eighty-seven cents are all the money Della has in the world to buy her beloved husband a Christmas present. She has nothing to sell except her only treasure – her long, beautiful brown hair. Set in New York at the turn of the twentieth century, this piece of literature tells the story of a young couple and the sacrifices each must make to buy the other a gift.
The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Anderson – One of the longest fairy tales by Anderson is a magical read for the festive season. It is a story about the strength and endurance of childhood friendship. Gerda's search for her playmate Kay, who was abducted by the Snow Queen and taken to her frozen palace, is a great story for every age.
