Is there anything better on a cold winter night than sitting in your favorite chair, hot drink in hand, maybe the glow of the Christmas tree illuminating the room, and opening up a great book? Summer reading is fun, but reading through the blustery days of December is the best.

Maybe it’s because I grew up in New York, but cold and cloudy days make me happy. Add in the holiday lights on the houses and trees, and I feel like my soul just sighs in contentment.

Setting the stage for some December reading

On these types of nights, I like curling up at the end of my couch with my feet up. I have a tray at my elbow with a sweet snack and hot tea or coffee. There’s a fireplace in my house this year, which looks cozy a few feet from my Christmas tree. I light candles that smell like vanilla or crisp winter snow.

Creating an environment that pleases my senses is almost as much fun as the books I read. Not to say that the stars always align and I get to create the perfect scene to settle in.

Some days, it’s me, a book, and the dentist’s waiting room. Or it’s me with my Kindle, bundled up on the patio while my husband works on an outdoor project with our mini helpers.

The surroundings don’t always matter because a good book will take you out of your day and put you right between the pages.

This month’s picks focus on the holiday season and the traditions that go along with it. Origin stories, whimsical letters, carol singing, and Dickens, I hope these books kick off your December just right. (Spoiler alert: these are revolving around Christmas because I am, surprise, a Christian, and this is a huge part of my December.)

So… here are my December reading list picks…

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Letters from Father Christmas by J.R.R Tolkien

Over the years, Tolkien wrote letters to his children in the guise of Father Christmas, detailing what had been happening over the course of the year since he had last visited their home with gifts. I love the idea of keeping the myth of Santa alive for children as long as possible by regaling them with tales of North Pole life.

 

 

Silent Night compiled by Barbour Publishing

Have you ever wondered where certain Christmas songs came from and what they might mean? I love carols, but have to admit that I really don’t get some of them (Good King Wenceslas, anyone?), so this book sounded like a great demystifier. Plus, with holiday parties coming up, I needed to refresh my useless trivia knowledge.

 

 

The First Christmas by Marcus J. Borg and John Dominic Crossan

As with the carols, I’m a sucker for an origin story. This one is a little more important than Jingle Bells though. Taking their analysis from the gospel itself, this is a detailed account of Jesus’ birth and the events leading up to it. I can’t think of a better month than December to delve deep into this subject.

 

 

The Christmas Stories of Charles Dickens by Charles Dickens

I know, I know, what about A Christmas Carol? You’re right, that is the quintessential holiday classic and worth reading this month. But since I’ve read the book before and plan to watch the movie, too, I thought I’d enjoy some of Dickens other works this season. If they pale in comparison, I know that Scrooge will be waiting.

 

 

The Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp

This book is comprised of 25 readings that explore the Jesse Tree and the lineage of Jesus. There is one for each day leading up to Christmas. It gives glimpses into the scripture that led us from the Old Testament and the promise of the coming Messiah to His long awaited birth. Like Advent, this is a great way to prepare our hearts and minds for the season.

 

You may notice that some of these books are a little shorter than usual. But I don’t want to miss out on reading when things get inevitably busy with home, friends, and church over the next few weeks.

In other December reading…

This is the end of my year-long Bible reading plan from Serving Joyfully and I’m honestly going to miss it. It kept me going and kept me accountable when things got crazy here. I just might have to start another one next year…

I am also still reading The Lifegiving Parent Experience. This has been a great reminder of what parenting should and could be like if we are intentional and wholehearted about it. The December chapter from The Lifegiving Home Experience is a beautiful reminder of the importance of home during the holidays.

Do you have any suggestions for me for next year? If you’d like to share your own December reading list or what you think of these books, follow me on Facebook or Instagram and let me know, or leave a comment below.

I hope you’ve enjoyed these shared reading lists as much as I have. I plan on doing something similar (but different) next year. So, stay tuned…

 

I hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Happy reading!

 

Want to start from the beginning? Check out My January Reading List Picks here.

 

[Disclaimer: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a commission, at no additional cost to you. All opinions are my own and I never recommend anything I haven’t used myself and loved.]