Monday, December 02, 2024

Christmas Books and Movies

It's the holiday season and I really enjoy Christmas novels and movies and so I decided to make a list of my favorites:

THE BOOKS


When I moved down to Florida in 2011 Burning Bright was one of the books I brought with me and I have it still (if I can locate where I placed it)  It's an anthology. Three stories set in Crescent Cove, VT.  And in each story a woman who is having trouble in her life around the holidays enters a candle shop and the candle each woman chooses has a certain magic to it which will lead to a happy ending.  Loved it.  And Magggie Shayne, Anne Stuart and Judith Arnold are very fine writers who will get you in the holiday spirit!


I keep telling myself I must read Fried Green Tomatoes and I will but in the meantime years ago I did read A Redbird Christmas which I highly recommend.  Time for a reread.


I purchased Christmas Witness Survival several weeks ago not knowing the author or what to expect.  But the plot interested me: 

Fleeing after discovering her fiancé is a murderer, Hailey Davenport thinks nowhere is safe this Christmas. Trusting another man is the last thing Hailey wants, but she reluctantly finds refuge in the back of Michael “Chap” Chapman’s truck. The security expert won’t let her face hired gunmen alone—even when danger follows them to his ranch" Goodreads

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this novel.  Hailey and Michael are characters with troubled pasts but they are well drawn and I really felt the chemistry between. them.  I intend to check out more books from Jane Choate and the Love Inspired Suspense series.

THE MOVIES


I saw A Town Without Christmas many years ago and what you want in a romantic film is chemistry and Patricia Heaton and Rick Roberts are wonderful together.  Also Peter Falk is very good as the angel who brings them together.  My only regret is that A Town Without Christmas doesn't get shown on TV anymore and that's a shame.


Discovered The Holly And The Ivy a few years ago when it was shown on Turner Classic Movies.  What a wonderful film with a great cast.  And the two aunts that arrive for the holidays are quite the pair!

No need to watch any other version of A Christmas Carol in my opinion.  The great actor Alistair Sim owns the role of Scrooge.  

Loved Prancer and Sam Elliot is so good as an apple farmer who is trying to raise his young daughter but he is struggling after the death of his wife.  And then over the holidays a reindeer arrives.

So those are my picks and if you want to share your favorite books and films for the holidays I would love to hear.

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10 comments:

  1. Susan DDecember 4, 2024 at 9:40 AM

    Well. I love the Holly and the Ivy, and for anyone who wants to watch it, it can be found here... https://pastordawn.com/2013/12/25/the-holly-and-the-ivy/

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    1. Kathy's CornerDecember 4, 2024 at 11:01 AM

      Thank you so much Susan amd I have checked out the link to the Holly and The Ivy and I plan to watch it tonight and I hope you have a very Merry Christmas!

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  2. Lark@LarkWritesDecember 5, 2024 at 6:39 AM

    Fun list. I don't really have a favorite Christmas book, but I do love to watch certain movies every December: Desk Set, While You Were Sleeping, If You Believe, the Muppets' Christmas Carol, and The Year Without a Santa Claus. Anna and the Apocalypse is fun, too, if you like musicals and zombies. ;D

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    1. Kathy's CornerDecember 6, 2024 at 4:03 AM

      I must check out the Christmas movies you mentioned Lark. It's great time of year for books and movies.

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  3. JaneGSDecember 5, 2024 at 1:38 PM

    I'm into Christmas books and movies this year as well. In fact, my next post will probably be all about this very subject.

    I absolutely love A Redbird Christmas--and yes, Fried Green Tomatoes is an excellent, much beloved book. I've read it maybe 3 times, and plan to reread again...someday.

    Burning Bright sounds good. I will look for it. I like the premise.

    Happy Holidays!

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    1. Kathy's CornerDecember 6, 2024 at 4:07 AM

      Happy Holidays Jane and I must reread A Redbird Christmas . It's been so long that the book will be almost like new to me and I enjoyed it so much the first time and I look forward to your list of favorites.

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  4. TracyKDecember 10, 2024 at 4:37 PM

    I don't know that I have a favorite Christmas book. Mr. Ive's Christmas by Oscar Hijuelos was good as was The Last Noel by Michael Malone and A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. I have read a lot of mysteries set around Christmas or with a Christmas theme but they usually don't feel really Christmassy.

    I do want to read A Redbird Christmas (and Fried Green Tomatoes) since you recommended them earlier.

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    1. Kathy's CornerDecember 11, 2024 at 8:31 AM

      Red Bird Christmas is a book to check out. Very heartwarming. I am going to try and squeeze in a Rex Stout Christnas story before the year ends. A Christmas Carol is certainly a classic and the 1951 film does it justice.

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  5. thecuecardDecember 11, 2024 at 6:57 AM

    Nice list! I don't think I've seen these so I will look for them. I'm particularly interested in the Fannie Flag book. Looks like a winner. You seem to like where you live now ... but I know NY is in your heart & DNA. I moved in 2010 across the country and you in 2011. It wasn't easy for me but it worked. Happy Holidays.

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    1. Kathy's CornerDecember 11, 2024 at 8:27 AM

      It's true NY will always be home. I moved to Florida because of family issues but every place has its good points and that's true of Florida as well. The Fannie Flagg book is very good I wanted to reread it but a few months hold on Libby. But I will put my order in.

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