The holiday season is all about reconnecting with your loved ones and making new memories. But there’s a time when silence becomes necessary for your well-being. For those who prefer to fill those in-between moments with stories that would transport us elsewhere, a well-crafted piece of literature surely tops the list of essential packing items for a stress-free holiday. Here, we have come up with a list of season-appropriate books that not only make for engrossing reads but also worthy Christmas gifts.
‘ONE DAY IN DECEMBER’ BY JOSIE SILVER
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If the coldness of winter gets you longing for the sun, pick up Josie Silver’s One Day in December. The heartwarming novel follows Laurie who finds the love of her life in the unlikeliest place: through the foggy bus window. This decade-spanning story tackles the themes of love, friendship, and heartbreak as the protagonist is ensnared in a love triangle when her best friend Sarah introduces her to her new boyfriend—Jack, the man she locks eyes with on the bus. Maybe this novel will convince you to take the leap when you see that cute guy on your commute to work.
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‘THE SNOWMAN’ BY JO NESBØ
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This one is for the thriller fans. Set in a bone-chilling Oslo, The Snowman takes off when a boy named Jonas discovers that his mother has gone missing. The only clue left is the pink scarf that he had gifted her for Christmas, wrapping around the neck of a snowman in his yard. Enter Inspector Harry Hole, the staple of Jo Nesbø’s crime novels. Suspecting a link between the missing woman and a suspicious letter he’s received, he manages to connect her disappearance with eleven others over the past 10 years, all vanished on the day of the first snow.
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‘HOGFATHER’ BY TERRY PRATCHETT
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The universe is thrown into pandemonium when the Hogfather is reported missing in action just before the Hogswatch festivity. Realising what is at stake, Death is forced to save the holiday by playing Santa. That said, he soon finds that his attempt is futile as the chaos around him does not seem to subside, which prompts his witch granddaughter Susan Sto Helit to take matters into her own hands. A dazzling addition to Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series, Hogfather is a must-read fantasy that blends dark satire with eccentric humour and pointed social commentary.
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‘A PSALM FOR THE WILD-BUILT’ BY BECKY CHAMBERS
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Nobody does science fiction quite like Becky Chambers. Weaving earnest conversations reflective of life moments and meanings in a steampunk setting, the acclaimed author has delivered a poignant sci-fi that makes for the perfect holiday read. A Psalm for the Wild-Built traces the nuances of progress and preservation as it places a robot named Mosscap in the path of monk-turned-tea-monk Sibling Dex, who leaves their community in the pursuit of purpose. The story kicks into an introspective gear when Mosscap inquires about human needs.
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‘ANXIOUS PEOPLE’ BY FREDRIK BACKMAN
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A botched attempt at robbery sees a group of people taken hostage at an open house. As anxiety mounts, these flawed individuals must find ways to work through their issues in order to process the event. If the plot line sounds vaguely familiar to you, chances are you have come across the book’s Swedish screen adaptation on Netflix. Using humour and empathy to illuminate unique yet deeply universal human conditions, Fredrik Backman’s Anxious People explores the themes that will boost your holiday spirit: connection, misunderstandings, and kindness.
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For more book recommendations, head here.
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