The
countdown to the Christmas break is officially on. At the Library, we have a
few recommendations for our followers this yuletide period. From holiday crafts
to classic Christmas films and dark wintry tales, visit us before Friday to
borrow a seasonal resource.
Hercule
Poirot’s Christmas by
Agatha Christie
You
can’t beat a good Christmas murder mystery and from the Queen of Crime herself
comes this little gem. It is Christmas Eve. The Lee family reunion is shattered
by a deafening crash of furniture, followed by a high-pitched wailing scream.
Upstairs, the tyrannical Simeon Lee lies dead in a pool of blood. But when
Hercule Poirot, who is staying in the village with a friend for Christmas,
offers to assist, he finds an atmosphere not of mourning but of mutual
suspicion. It seems everyone had their own reason to hate the old man… Great
reading!Mrs G
Love
Actually vs Die Hard
My favourite Christmas films are linked by the late, great Alan Rickman. Whether
he was hamming it up as exceptional thief and erstwhile terrorist Hans Gruber
in Die Hard, or breaking Emma Thompson’s heart in Love Actually,
Alan could do no wrong! Debate rages over whether Die Hard is a
Christmas film, because it features loads of explosions and Bruce Willis as a
wise-cracking sweaty-vested cop walking over broken glass to stop the
above-mentioned terrorist. Of course it’s a Christmas film! It takes place
during Christmas Eve, the action starts at an office Christmas party, it
features acts of sacrifice and redemption, and the soundtrack includes several
Christmas songs, notably Christmas in Hollis by Run DMC. Love
Actually is easier to sell as a Christmas film, in that it’s a romantic
comedy featuring several inter-linked love stories set during the Christmas
season. It has been called (harshly in my opinion) ‘an indigestible Christmas
pudding’ and the Washington Post said its sentimentality had been applied with
a trowel. Yes, it’s schmaltzy and improbable and the humour is typical Curtis -
twee and middle class. But it features moments of real pathos, notably Emma
Thompson’s character discovering her husband’s infidelity and Laura Linney’s
character sacrificing happiness for the sake of her brother. Besides, I like
schmaltz and gooey comedy at Christmas! My ideal viewing is a nice bit of
sentimentality in the afternoon, followed by lots of explosions, wisecracks and
some ‘yippee-ki-yay’ in the evening…or should that be the other way round? Mrs O
The
Girl Who Saved Christmas
by Matt Haig
It
is little surprise that this festive read has surpassed its intended audience
of young readers. This is a book that can be enjoyed by all. Matt Haig often
shares stories (fiction and non-fiction) of light and hope in the darkest of
times. This book is no exception. Readers follow the stories of Amelia Wishart
and Father Christmas, and watch as their lives collide when faced with hardship
and disaster. Expect spectacular characters set in two very different worlds:
Mr Creeper’s Victorian workhouse and the magical but troll ridden Elfhelm.
Christmas is under threat, but Amelia shows us that where there is hope, there
is always a way. Miss G
A
Christmas Carol
by Charles Dickens
My
favourite festive read is A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. This book leads
you through the dark and narrow Victorian city streets in the icy path of
Ebenezer Scrooge: a miserly old money-lender with a heart as cold as the
chilled winter wind that whistles through this classic cautionary Christmas
tale. The gothic descriptions and ghostly imagery that take you on this journey
make the redemptive ending feel all the brighter. Snuggle up in the warm on a
dark winter’s eve with this one and feel the Christmas spirit glow. Ms J
From
everyone here at the Library, we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy
New Year!