Confessions of a Serial Reader – The Ones with Holiday Books
>> Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Holiday themed entries in ongoing series are something that’s probably more common in cozy mysteries or non crime fiction type series. I’m always a little confused when the next book in a series is clearly holiday themed. Do I read it now or do I wait to read it between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day?
I’ve never targeted a lot of holiday books for my November and December reading. I usually pick up one or two but that’s about it. I tend to seek out the next book in any given series whenever I have an urge to revisit that set of familiar characters and setting. Whether or not the book fits in the same season in which I’m reading it is not something I even think about. On the other hand, reading a Christmas themed book in the middle of the summer always seems a little ‘off’ to me. I usually just go ahead and read the book and sometimes it gives me the urge to listen to Christmas music in July but let’s let that be our little secret, OK?
Here are a few of my current series that feature a holiday entry somewhere along the way:
China Bayles by Susan Wittig Albert
Mistletoe Man takes place at Christmastime and the holiday preparations are more of a backdrop than an integral part of the story. I read this one on a beach in Mexico in March.
Holly Blues looks like another one that is set during the Christmas season. I haven’t read this one yet.
Aunt Dimity by Nancy Atherton
Aunt Dimity’s Christmas has a pretty strong Christmas with family theme. I did read this on in December last year. A fairly predictable Christmas parable but enjoyable.
Elm Creek Quilts by Jennifer Chiaverini
The Christmas Quilt is another one that I haven’t read yet. This is a series I haven’t revisited for a long time but need to get back to. I’ve got several to read before I get to this one.
Serge Storms by Tim Dorsey
When Elves Attack is another one that I’m several books away from getting to any time soon, but I have to say that Serge Storms at Christmastime is something I’m looking forward to reading no matter what time of year I end up reading it. It may or may not be a true part of the series. The whole chronology of the series is rather vague anyway so I’m guessing it may work as a standalone.
Cedar Cove by Debbie Macomber
Macomber loves Christmas books so there are a couple in this series.
A Cedar Cove Christmas isn’t a true entry in the series but it’s an additional holiday book that fits squarly between the 8th and 9th books and introduces storylines continued in later books. I did read this one around Christmas a few years ago just because I knew it would be a feel good kind of book.
1225 Christmas Tree Lane is the final book in the series and is a fitting end to it in appropriate predictable mostly happy endings. I read this one in October and it definitely put me in a pre-holiday season mood.
Eve Dallas by J.D. Robb
Holiday in Death takes place at Christmastime, but I read this so long ago (pre-blogging days) that I don’t remember much detail.
Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear
Among the Mad takes place between Christmas Eve 1931 and New Year’s Day 1932. The holiday season is important to the story because it is such a difficult time for war veterans.
I’m sure I missed some but these are the ones I know of from the series I’m currently reading.
What are your thoughts on holiday themed series books? Do you try to read them around the holidays or does it not matter to you? What are some other holiday entries in series that I’ve missed?
No stars – I couldn’t even finish it
1 star – I didn’t like it but I managed to finish it.
2 stars – It was OK. Not good, but seriously just OK.
3 stars - I liked it. I didn’t think it was great, but I thought it was good entertainment.
4 stars – I really liked it. I really think you might like it too.
5 stars – It was amazing. I’d recommend this to just about anyone.
6 comments:
Jane Haddam has at least one Christmas-themed book. And after that, my mind just went blank. I'll be checking back to see what others suggest. I don't read Christmas or holiday books but it's fun to read mysteries that have a holiday theme.
Reading AMONG THE MAD in the spring didn't bother me, but it felt more like a book that just happened to be set at Christmastime, rather than a Christmas book. I'm not sure I could read something with a Christmasy cover any month other than November or December (not that I really ever read them anyway).
So glad to find you! I searched for an image for my blog about China Bayles' mysteries and took one of yours. That you live in Portland, OR brought me back, esp. since you have a book blog! I'm originally from Bellingham, WA, though we lived in Corvallis for four years while my husband went to grad school at OSU. My two favorite mystery writers are Jacqueline Winspear and Louise Penny, and so I know I'll like your recommendations.
This is a great idea for a post! J.D. Robb also has the novella Midnight in Death. :)
I'm not much of a seasonal reader, although I usually read at least a couple (depends on the year and the mood, I guess). Christmas mysteries have totally disappointed me. Maybe because I expect a Christmas story to be heartwarming? But, if you just treat them like another entry in a series, I'll bet they're more enjoyable. I'd find it weird reading one in the summer, definitely. LOL
Beth F: I rarely read other holiday books, but sometimes I enjoy the ones in my series.
Jen: I agree about Among the Mad - the season was just a background for the story. It's always a little odd when I land on a holiday book in the summer.
Jan: Welcome!! so glad you stopped by. It does sound like we've got a lot in common.
Kailana: Thanks - it was a fun post to put together. I've seen some of the JD Robb holiday stuff in anthologies, but haven't read any of those.
Bookfool: Yeah - most Christmas mysteries aren't exactly heartwarming, are they? It is a bit odd to read them when I'm at the beach though.
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