Christmas Playlist... More Like Christmas Reading List!

By Chiara Hampton and Karolina Zentrichova

There is much to look forward to during the holiday season: family gatherings, carols, the consumption of spiced desserts, and (gloriously) time to read. If you are struggling to create a reading list for the upcoming break, avail yourself of the suggestions compiled below. Although some relate more explicitly to Christmas than others (see #1), each book should hopefully prove a worthy companion on those cold winter days when venturing outside becomes a near impossibility.  

A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens

Whether you are a devout fan of the film adaptation or completely new to the universe of A Christmas Carol, this celebrated novella is an impeccable choice for the holiday season. Dickens’ work is a classic short enough to read in a sitting or two, preferably while cocooned in an armchair and ingesting copious amounts of hot chocolate. The story of Ebenezer Scrooge imparts a straightforward yet impactful moral message which perfectly encapsulates the importance of joy and family bonds. For any enthusiast of Christmas, skipping A Christmas Carol is near heresy...

Idaho - Emily Ruskovich

Ruskovich’s debut novel is a psychological thriller with a twist: it’s precise lack thereof. You won’t find many dramatic plot reveals or high-octane character confrontations in this text. Idaho’s eerie, melancholic and (on occasion) heartwarming tone is created almost exclusively through the atmosphere: isolated mountains, silent woods and several characters facing a strange combination of amnesia and painful memories. This novel might seem an odd choice for the joyful holiday season, but its meditation on places, the significance of the past, and the ways in which we collect memories provides excellent food for thought as many of us return home for the holidays. Perhaps because the novel’s setting is a version of the author’s birthplace, descriptions of the rural landscape flow naturally and lovingly, irrespective of their macabre undertones. Ruskovich’s latent personal connection with the state of Idaho infuses the novel with a melancholic familiarity that may remind you of your own relationship with the place you call home.

The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe – C. S. Lewis

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis is perfect for the Christmas season for a lot of reasons.  For one, the holidays usually come with a fair amount of nostalgia and what better way to indulge some nostalgia than a favourite book from your childhood. Most of us are familiar with the story of the four Pevensie siblings who have great adventures in the fantastic land of Narnia. While people may not always make the association, both the story and Christmas also have a deep and irrefutable link to the Christian tradition: Lewis was a devout Christian and the book and indeed the whole Chronicles of Narnia series as a whole can be read as a Christian allegory. This makes The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe a particularly fitting read during the holiday season.

Dubliners – James Joyce

While the holiday season is often associated with an abundance of free time, the number of family events and work parties can leave the best of us exhausted. A short story collection is an ideal holiday read, as you can easily pick it up and put it down, leaving you with plenty of time to recover from your food coma or hangover. While there are plenty of Christmas-themed collections for you to choose between, it can also be nice to get away from all the holiday craziness. James Joyce’s short story collection Dubliners immediately established him as one of the greatest short story writers of all time and it has remained a defining work of the genre to this day, with each story providing a close look at a range of (more or less) ordinary residents of Dublin during moments of realization.

Whether you use reading to get yourself in the holiday spirit or as an escape from the whole whirlwind, there is a book out there that will fulfil all of your Christmas wishes. If you can’t decide what to reach for next, this is your reminder that The Inkwell’s newest issue was just released - find it online or pick up a physical copy to admire its beauty up close.

Last, but not by any means least, have a fantastic break and Christmas! We’ll be back in the New Year with loads more tips, events and creative suggestions, but, until then make the most of having a truly relaxing time!