Festive Reading

1. The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore
2. How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr Seuss
3. The Snowman by Raymond Briggs
4. The Jolly Christmas Postman by Janet Ahlberg
5. The Nutcracker by E.T.A. Hoffman

For adults two books are perennial bestsellers: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and The Hogfather by Terry Pratchett – two master storytellers but with rather different takes on the spirit of Christmas and both really great reads that will make you feel good.

The most requested fiction genre in the shop is crime and thrillers, there is always some new and Christmas specific as well as old favourites in the charts. These are the five most popular books our customers have asked us for so far:

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1. The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding by Agatha Christie
2. Hercule Poirot’s Christmas by Agatha Christie
3. The Christmas Appeal by Janice Hallet
4. Silent Nights: Christmas Mysteries (British Library Crime Classics)
5. Murder on the Christmas Express by Alexandra Benedict

The other popular book genre which comes into its own at Christmas is romance. Here are five Christmas romances by local writers chosen by romance author Pernille Hughes from Amersham Owned:

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        1. Christmas Secrets in the Scottish Highlands by Donna Ashcroft

        2. Christmas Castle in Scotland by Julie Caplin.

        3. The Twelve Wishes of Christmas by Ruby Basu

        4. Notting Hill in the Snow by Jules Wake

        5. Covent Garden in the Snow by Jules Wake

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My own favourite books are stories that have Christmas in the background but whose colour magic reflect what this season is all about:

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1. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
2. The Box of Delights by John Masefield
3. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
4. The Dark Is Rising by Susan Cooper
5. Moominland Midwinter by Tove Jansson

Whatever you choose to read I hope it brings you warmth and joy this season. There’s nothing like a good book!"