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Christmas! 

It’s that time of year again! Dad climbs up on the roof to hang twinkle lights, Mom pulls out boxes upon boxes of decorations, and the malls seem to have never-ending lines at the checkout. The holidays are a time for cocktail parties, Santa Claus, the scent of pine, and those finals that determine the letter that will appear on a student’s transcript. It’s a time of family, of wrapping packages in bright, colorful wrapping paper, of giving to others in need, and of sitting by the fire with a cup of hot cocoa watching the snow fall outside….

I usually get through at least one good book each year when I go home to visit the family. My goal is usually to get two books in over the holiday, but I find more often than not that only one new book is completed since I re-read one particular book each year without hesitation. That book is…drum roll please…Pride and Prejudice. Yes, some of you may think that this is cliché, but I have come to symbolize it with my Christmas, and as I am one for tradition, this is one I don’t intend to break anytime soon. For those out there who don’t have that one book that they just can’t stand to go a year without reading, I have come up with a small list of books for whatever mood you happen to be in this season. Enjoy!

The Great Gatsby            By: F. Scott Fitzgerald

This book has it all, love, betrayal, suspense, and money set in the Jazz Age. I find each time I read it I go through all of the same emotions even though I know what is going to happen. 

Bossypants         By: Tina Fey

I mean, come on, the woman is hysterical. Any woman who can write a bunch of embarrassing moments of herself down, to address the haters who write her mean emails, and throw her daughter a Peter Pan themed birthday while also doing “30 Rock” and SNL on the same weekend, has my vote!

These Things Hidden       By: Heather Gudenkauf

I still have yet to fully come out of the shock I got from reading this book. Allison gets out of prison after 5 years to try and come back to her old life to make amends. Her sister, Brynn, wants nothing to do with her, her parents won’t talk to her, and Allison is just trying to figure out how to pick of the pieces of her life. There is more at stake than anyone realizes though. And secrets kept have the potential to change the lives of everyone forever.

The Weird Sisters              By: Eleanor Brown

Rose, Bean, and Cordy Andreas are three sisters who “love each other, but just don’t like each other very much.”All three venture back to the house they grew up in Barnwell when they become unlucky in life. This is a heartwarming story, full of struggles, lessons, and love. The three Andreas sisters find they must learn to like each other, while also learning to love themselves. 

One for the Money (Stephanie Plum series)         By: Janet Evanovich

This is a quick read, but will leave you wanting to go out and buy the next in the series. Don’t worry, you will definitely have plenty of reading material if you choose this series; the author has already written 19 books! The books follow a bounty hunter, Stephanie Plum, in New Jersey who seems to always find herself in trouble. Along with her nosy, hilarious family, a cop that she can’t seem to say “no” to, and friends in all corners of life, Stephanie never seems to have a dull moment!