What to read about Christmas
Whether you’re sentimental or snarky about the holiday, there’s a book here for you
CHRISTMAS CAN be a trying subject for writers. The saccharine frivolities, rampant materialism and regimented cheerfulness do not naturally lead to the creation of great works of art. Many books about the holiday itself fall into the category of stocking-filler–the literary equivalent of a pair of socks. But others acutely satirise Christmas’s excesses or movingly convey its capacity to inspire beauty and grace. The six books we recommend here, whether soft-hearted or Scrooge-like, brim with curiosity and wit. They promise to entertain readers long after the Boxing Day leftovers have entered the freezer.
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