Simply hoping..

11/12/2014

...that you can suggest some ideas for grown-up Christmas reading? Maybe Karen over at Cornflower Books will have some?

I'm prompted to think about this by Julia's comment yesterday. She says that the magic of Christmas for her is seeing her grandchildren's delight in all the preparations and in them being told stories. As she's not going to be with them this year I wondered if she has enough of the child in her to do it all anyway, just for herself. I can easily think of grown-up decorations (lots of candles), heirloom china if you have such a thing and have not just given it to your daughters as I have, food and drink (alcohol!), but I was a bit stumped when it came to stories.

Audio books might be nice. I've never tried them - have you? Nice being read to.

Christmas At Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons comes to mind.

Any more ideas?

I'm also hoping the storms abate as I set off on a 250 mile journey to York tomorrow (add another 80 miles if the ferry isn't running

This last photograph might qualify for Thirteen Ways Of Looking At Rain - Five.

Looking closely.

I like the tiny reflections of the red gate.

Perhaps you might have time while I am away to browse Simply Christmas (see sidebar). There are a lot of posts in this category, about keeping it simple, making ice candles, and about children's Christmas books....

Hoping you have a good weekend.

14 Comments

Jane Williamson

11/12/2014 09:00:09 am

Hope your journey was not too difficult. I will look out for you this weekend as I walk the streets of York looking for presents which have been inspired by your blog! Definitely no stuff and a trip to Carluccios at Fenwicks. Audio books are such a treat and a gift token to Audible books is perfect. Alan Bennett reading Winnie the Pooh or Wind in the Willows is just wonderful.

Freda

16/12/2014 03:58:52 am

I looked for you too! Thanks for the book tips Jane.

Lucille

11/12/2014 03:46:17 pm

My reading reverts to childhood at Christmas. Alison Uttley's The Country Child always comes out. I hope that drive wasn't too stressful. I'm contemplating a shorter drive than yours today, but it's not looking very nice for packing and unpacking the car. I hope to find a quiet moment to look through your Christmas posts.

Freda

16/12/2014 04:00:43 am

We got lovely weather after all. I hope you did too. I shall look up Alison Uttley who is new to me. Thank you.

Swissrose link

11/12/2014 05:16:22 pm

Ooh, we listen to lots of audiobooks (mainly from Audible, these days) and find it very cosy in winter :) Quality varies, depending on the reader, too. Sometimes you can listen to a sample to see if you'll "get on" with the reader, highly recommended! Length also very varied - from barely over an hour to 30 or more hours… good value for money.
As for Christmas stories, I always liked Jostein Gaarder's Christmas one, which we read to the kids daily in Advent when they were a bit older. I think you might enjoy that!
I'm sure there are others but nothing comes to mind immediately.

Freda

16/12/2014 04:02:15 am

Thank you so much for your tips Swiss Rose!

cath

11/12/2014 11:52:27 pm

I second Jostein Gaarder, albeit it's best started at the beginning of Advent in my experience too. Wiil think some more about Christmas books.

Read this morning and because you entered my thoughts I copy it here:

The Way of Art

It seems to me that
paralleling the paths of action, devotion, etc.,
there is a path called art
and that the sages of the East would recognize
Faulkner, Edward Hopper, Beethoven, William Carlos Williams
and address them as equals.
It's a matter of attention and discipline, isn't it?--
combined with a certain God-given ability.
It's what you're willing to go through, willing to give, isn't it?
It's the willingness to be a window
through which others can see
all the way out to infinity
and all the way back to themselves.

(Albert Huffstickler, Why I Write in Coffee houses and Diners: Selected Poems)

Hope you had a safe journey.

Freda

16/12/2014 04:03:54 am

Why thank you Cath - I love this poem. Another writer new to me!

cath

17/12/2014 12:05:59 am

New to me too. He came to me through my mailbox in my dialy subscription to www.ayearofbeinghere.com

kristieinbc link

12/12/2014 02:12:43 am

I hope you had a safe and uneventful journey. It's interesting you asked for a grown-up book for Christmas. I had never really thought about it before, but all the Christmas books I enjoy are children's stories. I highly recommend Audible. I've had a subscription with them for years.

Freda

16/12/2014 04:06:44 am

I can see I must give this a try. You may like Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey...I love it and read it each winter. We had a lovely journey in unexpected sunshine..

elaine link

12/12/2014 06:08:53 am

I like to read Susan Hill's Christmas Collection every year - it's funny from one year to the next I can never remember the stories and yet I have read them dozens of times. Strange. Have a good trip.

Freda

16/12/2014 04:07:41 am

I'm like that with Snow Child! We had a great trip thank you - I hope you enjoy London as much.

swissrose link

16/12/2014 07:07:14 pm

I've just noticed that Jane Brocket over at Yarnstorm Press has some Christmas reading suggestions… at least, for atmosphere.

Simply hoping..

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