Schlagwort: Christmas

The Christmas Bookshop – Jenny Colgan

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AuthorJenny Colgan
PublisherLittle, Brown Book Group
Date1 November 2022
EditionPaperback
Pages355
LanguageEnglish
ISBN-13978-0751584226

“Every time the bell dinged, Mr. McCredie would glance up in wonder and surprise, and Carmen would smile secretly to herself and make sure the lovely books were somewhere adults could pick them up and admire them.” (Quotation page 77)

Content

When her mother calls her in August, asking if she will come home for Christmas, Carmen June Hogan, nearly thirty years old, definitely is not ready to discuss a family meeting in Edinburgh at her sister’s new house. There is a simple reason: while her older sister Sofia is a successful lawyer, married, pregnant with her forth child, Carmen still works in the local department store, and compared to Sofia she always feels low. However, just three days later everything has changed, the store is going to close forever and Carmen has lost her job. Sofia of all people has found a new job for Carmen. Edinburgh is busy and shimmering in November, with every shop preparing for Christmas time. All shops but one: an ancient bookshop, owned by eccentric old Mr. McCredie. Without a Christmas miracle, he will lose the shop by January. Could it be Carmen to make this miracle come true and save the bookshop?

Theme and Genre

This Christmas novel is about family, friendship, love, and the charming, vivid Victoria Street in the Old Town of Edinburgh, with colorful shops preparing for the Christmas season and a scent of cinnamon on the air.

Characters

The characters are empathetically developed, their thoughts and acting believable and they all are likeable and entertaining.

Plot and Writing

The story takes place during November and December in Edinburgh and is chronologically told. Especially the everyday chaos and confusion with Carmen and the bookshop in the heart of the events, her ideas and first achievements, but also the cohesion of all shop-owners, visitors and clients are atmospheric and very entertaining to read. At this special time of the year, there is also some magic in the air, which might be useful and needed. I have read novels of Jenny Colgan before and she is one of my favorite authors, when I want cozy, delightful and very British, but this one was going to be my favorite from the very first page.

Conclusion

A perfect, enjoyable Christmas-read, heart-warming, funny and romantic.

Novel, Reviews, Romance , ,

Ghostly Winter Tales: A Fourth Collection of Classic Ghost Stories for Christmas

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Author23 classical authors
PublisherBlack Heath Editions
EditorsB.M. Croker, Dick Donovan,
Fergus Hume, W.J. Wintle
Date11 November 2018
EditionKindle Edition
Pages235 (print version)
LanguageEnglish
ASINB07KFHWRL8

“It was about a fortnight before Christmas, when the days were at their shortest and darkest.” (Quotation page 129, from “Christmas Eve at Beach House” by Eliza Lynn Linton)

Content, Theme and Genre

This fourth collection of Classic Ghost Stories contains twenty-three stories by different authors, written in the nineteenth and early twentieth century. All stories take place during foggy winter days and dark winter nights around Christmas, where guests are invited to celebrate happy, festive Christmas days and New Years Eve in the beautiful manors and old country houses of their hosts. At this time of the year everything can happen, ghosts are to be seen, mostly unfriendly, and some of the invited guests might listen amused to the stories about haunted houses and rooms, definitely not believing in such supernatural things, and then may awake or not awake one morning, just having experienced otherwise, without any logical and possible explanation. “Much still remains obscure and cannot now be cleared up; for the only man who could perhaps throw further light on it is no longer with us.” (Quotation page 215, from “The Black Cat” by W. J. Wintle). Very interesting for me was the story “The Christmas Eve Vigil” by James Bowker, as I know the theme of the ghostly procession of figures towards a church, revealing the faces of the persons going to die during the following year, from a famous theatre play, “Der Müller und sein Kind”, written 1830 by the German writer Ernst Raupach.

Conclusion

A perfect collection for gripping, enjoyable reading hours during dark winter evenings.  

Reviews, Short Stories , , , , , , ,

The Christmas Wish – Tilly Tennant

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AuthorTilly Tennant
PublisherSphere
Date28 November 2019
EditionPaperback
Pages352
LanguageEnglish
ISBN-13978-0751578010

“Then stop second-guessing all the time and learn to live for the moment. You won’t see any of these people again after this week so who cares what they think?” (Page 174)

Content

Three years ago, Esme Greenwood had left for London, to live with her fiancée Warren. Three months ago she found out that he is married and went back to stay with her grandmother Mathilde at Thimble Cottage in Little Dove Morton, a small village. Soon it will be Christmas when grandmother Mathilde suddenly dies. This makes it easy for Warren to persuade her to come back to him. However, there are still two tickets for a Christmas week in Lapland, her Christmas present from her grandmother, but over-controlling, egoistic Warren refuses. Therefore, one day, when Warrren has left for work, she just packs her suitcase and takes a cab to the airport. Lapland, the place of her childhood dreams, is waiting, together with a fantastic scenery, lots of snow, Santa’s village and some surprises too.

Theme and Genre

A heartwarming, typical Christmas romance, which takes place in Lapland.

Characters

Esme is likeable and witty, but when it comes to Warren, she still believes his promises, and still struggles to understand that Warren definitely is not good for her.

Plot and Writing

The story is romantic, with amazing portrayals of Lapland, Rovaniemi, the Northers lights and traditional Christmas festivities. The main part are the days in Lapland, Esme making new friends with other single travelers, and enjoying spectacular experiences of nature and romantic Christmas sceneries. But there are many, in my opinion too many, pages about Esme thinking about Warren, how much he needs her, still finding new excuses for his behavior and feeling guilty, again insecure and worthless, and this began to annoy me a bit, dimming the Christmassy, enjoyable mood of the story.

Conclusion

An entertaining, romantic Christmas read with lively and impressive descriptions of Lapland in December, but a sometimes-annoying heroine.

Reviews, Romance , , ,

Christmas on the Little Cornish Isles: The Driftwood Inn – Phillipa Ashley

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AuthorPhillipa Ashley
PublisherAvon
Date18 September 2017
EditionKindle
Pages402 (print version)
LanguageEnglish
ASINB074M2H758

“Every piece of tinsel, tree decoration and Santa/snowman/robin ornament they had had been dragged out of storage and used to adorn the rooms, private and public.” (Quotation page 229)

Content

Maisie Samson, forty years old on New Years Eve, which will be soon, is back at the family owned The Driftwood Inn on Gull Island, a small, quiet island, part of the Isles of Scilly. Used to work in a pub, she is now going to help her parents and taking over Driftwood inn. One year ago, everything had been very different, together with Keegan, their baby would be born in summer, but then she lost her baby and Keegan left her too. Business in winter is not easy at Gull Island, cold, rainy, all tourists have left and the staff to. Therefore, when charming Patrick McKinnon from Melbourne asks for a job until March, he seems the perfect solution, almost heaven-sent for Gull Island. Romance is in the air, but also a secret around Patrick.

Theme and Genre

A romantic, seasonal story that takes place on a small Cornish Island around Christmas. Book one of a series of three.

Characters

The characters are likeable, caring, and show a wide range of different persons living on such a small island, trying to make ends meet to earn a living.

Plot and Writing

The main character of the story is Maisie and this is a funny, cozy story about friendship, love, but also problems in a small community, living on a quiet island. Most of all it is a story about the magical Christmas time, and people who know how to come together and celebrate. Not all events are joyful because not everybody wants to keep a tourism that is related to nature and the beauty of this small Cornish island, but to go for modern, sophisticated, expanded tourism. Repeated hints about Patrick’s secret are obviously written to bring more suspense in the storyline, in my opinion not necessary in this kind of pleasant Christmassy story.

Conclusion

A cosy, enjoyable story, likeable characters, lots of Christmas spirit, perfect reading for dark winter evenings around Christmas time.

Reviews, Romance , , , ,

The Christmas Lights – Karen Swan

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AuthorKaren Swan
PublisherPan Main Market Edition
Date1 November 2018
EditionPaperback
Pages480
LanguageEnglish
ISBN-13978-1509838080

“You need to know that your worst moment can turn out to be your best. In every life, there is a defining moment of surrender where you must make a choice to let Destiny happen.” (Quotation page 421)

Content

Just from a scuba expedition on Upolu Island, Samoa, Bo Laxley and her boyfriend Zac Austen now arrive in Alesund, Norway, to pass December and a romantic Christmas in a rural farmhouse, hidden in the breathtaking nature of the fjord. Sharing their free-spirited, exciting life as “Wanderlusters” with more than nine million followers, every step is documented by their own photographer and manager Lenny, and now also Anna Rem, marketing head of Ridge Riders, the famous clothing brand sponsoring their stay in Norway. The price for this dream-come-true life is missing every possibility of privacy and private moments, but with Christmas coming nearer and the more Bo thinks about her daily life, she begins to doubt, if the price could be too high.

Theme and Genre

This Christmas story is about modern Social media, influencers, bringing their personal lives into the public, family, love, hidden secrets, heartbreak and, of course, about Christmas.

Characters

Bo knows that their followers need exciting, perfect pictures of her perfect days with her perfect boyfriend Zac and therefore every step of their risky trekking and climbing tours has to be well documented and immediately shared. As she longs for some privacy, Zac just does not understand her, he is happy with exactly how it is. Their host Signy, ninety-six-years old, after three years in Oslo, when she was young, had come back and never left again. In her opinion, there could be no life richer than hers, surrounded by the breathtaking beautiful nature.

Plot and Writing

The plot switches between two different storylines. The main story takes place in December 2018; meanwhile Signy’s story is set in summer 1936. The vivid description of spectacular Norwegian fjord landscape accompanies both strands. This book is an almost perfect Christmas read, full of love, snow, dark winter days and secrets hidden in a far away and nearer past. There are enough twists to keep the story interesting, but then Karen Swan in my opinion wanted too much, maybe searching for still more different themes and deepness, she brings not only one, but more hidden past dramas into the lifes of her main figures, and for me the story lost some plausibility and feels too intentionally constructed.

Conclusion

Enjoyable Christmas read, making us dream of romantic winter-days, hidden in the beautiful, snow-covered nature of Geirangerfjord.   

Reviews, Romance , ,

One Wish in Manhattan – Mandy Baggot

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AuthorMandy Baggot
PublisherBookouture
Date2 October 2015
EditionKindle edition
Pages490 (print version)
LanguageEnglish
ASINB013GSVDBW

“In just a few days, she and Angel would be leaving it all behind and travelling thousands of miles across the ocean for Christmas in the Big Apple. Minus temperatures in double figures and streets full of Santas, Michael Bublé music and candy canes.” (Quotation page 12)

Content

Haley Walker lives in Salisbury. Her dream was to become a designer with her own creations, but now, with twenty-eight years, she is a single mother and has just quit her job at a dry-cleaning firm. Her brother Dean, who lives in New York, has invited her and her nine-year-old daughter Angel for Christmas time.

Oliver Drummond of Drummond Global offices has never been fond of strategizing; he is a creator and makes things done.

When Haley and Oliver meet, the charismatic billionaire plays his usual “make a wish game”. Not at all impressed by his money, Haley tells him the secret wish of Angel, to meet her father, whom Haley ten years ago had met in New York, but after one night lost contact. Could Angel’s wish in magical, Christmassy New York come true?

Theme and Genre

This is a romantic, magical Christmas story about family, loss, friendship, love, and the hope and joy of Christmas, when wishes might come true.

Characters

All characters are loveable in their different ways, and special. Who would not like Angel, a funny, sometimes cheeky nine years old, who loves books and never leaves the house without her encyclopedia.

Plot and Writing

The story takes place at Christmas time in New York and has everything readers are looking for in a Christmas novel. Lively descriptions of festively decorated New York, snow-covered Manhattan, impressing skyscrapers, perfectly complete a plot, which shows the right balance between thoughtful and funny scenes.

Conclusion

A magical, cozy, heartwarming Christmas read, perfect for cuddling up in your armchair during this special time of the year.

Reviews, Romance , , , ,

Calling Mrs Christmas – Carole Matthews

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AuthorCarole Matthews
PublisherSphere
Date24 October 2013
EditionPaperback
Pages480
LanguageEnglish
ISBN-13978-0751545586

“When I think of all the things I’ve forced myself to do in the last few weeks, I’m just adoring the new, creative me!” (Quotation page 59)

Content

Cassie Smith has been redundant for almost a year now and with Christmas soon coming around she is worried how to get into the happy Christmas spirit when money is so short. Watching adverts on how to celebrate Christmas, she has the perfect idea: there must be people who needed help with all this and who are able to pay for the services rendered. Soon “Calling Mrs. Christmas” is going to be a huge success, many bookings coming in, including lots of baking done by her sister Gaby. When her most important client, the millionaire Carter Randall, invites her to accompany him and his to children on the trip to Lapland, she had organized for them, how could she say no?

Theme and Genre

A romantic Christmas fiction, this story mostly is about all the things needed for an almost perfect Christmas. The main topics are family, friendship, love, and choices that could change a life.

Characters

Cassie Smith loves all the Christmas preparations and is happy with her new business, which would make her a likeable person. On the other hand, she takes on far too much, as she is taken away by her new business. She also takes the help of Jim Maddison, her loving partner since five years, a nice guy who cares a lot, for granted.

Plot and Writing

The story takes place in Hemel Hempstead, during December, the few weeks before Christmas and is told by Cassie as first-person narrator. We read about her new work, the people she meets, about decorating trees, wrapping hundreds of presents, organizing parties and about the amazing Northern Lights in Lapland. There are funny parts, but also situations that make you think about, as Jim works as officer at the Bovingdale Young Offenders‘ Unit. Then, unfortunately, the story changes into something unrealistic, unbelievable, something near modern Cinderella.

Conclusion

Christmas fiction with some lengths, beginning with an entertaining plot that makes us thoughtful too. What follows are twists leading the story of Cassie into something near a modern Cinderella idea, for me too far from reality, almost losing the cozy touch of Christmassy magic, readers look for in a romantic Christmas novel.

Reviews, Romance , ,

Covent Garden in the Snow – Jules Wake

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AuthorJules Wake
PublisherOne More Chapter
Date20 October 2017
EditionKindle
Pages481 (print version)
LanguageEnglish
ASINB06XRFWHRZ

“From the end of November onwards, stepping out into Covent Garden is magical and as soon as December first hits, it’s positively enchanting.” (Citation page 167)

Content

Mathilde „Tilly“ Hunter loves her work as a make-up artist at London Metropolitan Opera and she is very talented and really qualified for her job.  But to get the career advancement she is hoping for, she needs to be familiar with modern technologies and computers und the new smart, attractive IT director Marcus Walker, who does not feel the vivid magic of the theatre world, has to train her. How could they work together successfully, when Tilly is just joking about her definitely missing computer-gen and for her the old card system is still perfect enough to manage the inventory? Then her life is near to shattering and she has to grow up, open her eyes to her problems and take things seriously.

Theme and Genre

This romantic Christmas novel is about family, friendship, love and life, and about beautiful London during Christmas time when Covent Garden, smelling of cinnamon and mulled wine, if full of lights and joy. An important theme is working with a leading opera company, opera, ballet, artists and the support team behind any performance on stage.  

Characters

The characters are well described, loveable and understandable, and the development of artistic, sassy, but always caring Tilly makes her even more likeable.

Plot and Writing

Tilly, the first-person narrator, tells the story. It takes place in London in the weeks before Christmas. The beautiful, festive atmosphere with snow slowly covering London, as well as the buzzling flair of theatre performances, are described in such a colorful and lively way that, while reading, the related pictures and feeling spring immediately to mind. The mixture between thoughtful and funny scenes guaranties pleasurable reading.

Conclusion

A funny, interesting and heartwarming Christmas story, the perfect read for a relaxed festive season.

Novel, Reviews, Romance , , ,

The Christmas Cookie Club – Ann Pearlman

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AuthorAnn Pearlman
PublisherSimon & Schuster UK
Date18 March 2010
EditionKindle
Pages292 (print version)
LanguageEnglish
ISBN-13B007990B54

“And maybe love is, ultimately, the best we get. It doesn’t solve everything, but in spite of it all, it’s the most significant thing we have.” (Quotation pos. 3554)

Content

Since sixteen years they meet on the first Monday of December, twelve women, close friends, and members of the cookie club. Marnie is the head cookie bitch. Every member brings thirteen batches of homemade cookies, a dozen in every package, one for every member and one for the local hospice. They eat, drink, dance and celebrate together, sharing not only their cookies and recipes, but also their story, something important that had happened during the year and inspired their choice of this year’s prepared cookie.

Theme and Genre

This book is about cookies, different ingredients and lifelong experiences of falling in love, separating, family, children, disappointment, loss, sorrow, but also about new chances and hope. However, most of all it is about female friendship.

Characters

Twelve different, grown-up women and each one is special, believable and far from perfect. They care and support each other.

Plot and Writing

The story takes place for just one evening in Marnie´s house. Marnie is the first-person-narrator and she and the cookie club are like a frame, which includes the twelve chapters, each one for one member, her receipt, her story and information about one special baking ingredient. Therefore, we are reading kind of twelve different short stories, not one continuous storyline, which for me was different from what I expected.

Conclusion

A story including twelve different stories about lifelong female friendship, about personal destinies and this special yearly meeting of the cookie club. A quiet, thoughtful, but not really Christmassy book that could not completely grip and convince me.

Novel, Reviews , , ,

The Holiday Swap – Zara Stoneley

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AuthorZara Stoneley
PublisherOne More Chapter
Date2 September 2016
EditionKindle
Pages338 (print version)
LanguageEnglish
ASINB01DT37Z5W

“She got out of the car, tugged at her suitcase and tried not to grin, because that wouldn’t be fair. She was finally doing it. Finally going.” (Quotation page 52)

Content

Daisy Fischer is happy with her life, her little cottage near Tippermere and her animals. Until her long-term boyfriend Jimmy proposes and she has to admit to herself that she wants more from her life than just stay in the English countryside between house and pub. Florence Cortes, grown up in Tippermere, lives in a comfortable, beautiful apartment in Barcelona, and writes for a magazine, she owns together with her partner Oli, who is also her boyfriend. But one moment changes everything.

Daisy and Florence need a break from their usual life and swap house – for Daisy this means December in sunny, vivid, amazing Barcelona and Florence is looking forward to be back in England, with snow and traditional Christmas preparations. Soon they find out that this Christmas has some surprises waiting for them.

Theme and Genre

This feel good romance is about changes, what-ifs, friendship, Barcelona and rural England, Christmas and love.

Characters

The characters of the story are witty and loveable with their special attitudes.

Plot and Writing

The story develops between England and Barcelona, takes alternating looks how Florence copes with the animals, an enormous dog, horse and hens, the snow, ice and presumptuous Hugo, who used to tease her when they had been children and now is her neighbor. Daisy loves Barcelona, the sunny beach and the vibrant streets from the very first moment. Moreover, there is charming Javier who shows her his Barcelona with breathtaking views and places.

Conclusion

A cozy, funny, heartwarming Christmas read, perfect to relax in a comfortable reading chair and enjoy.

Reviews, Romance ,

Weihnachten in der kleinen Bücherei – Amanda Kissel

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AutorAmanda Kissel
Verlag BoD-Books on Demand
Erscheinungsdatum 4. November 2020
FormatTaschenbuch
Seiten454
SpracheDeutsch
ISBN-13978-3752630114

„Dieses Mal habe ich dir einen Weihnachtsroman mitgebracht. Er ist ein bisschen kitschig, aber das braucht man in dieser Jahreszeit, oder?“ (Zitat Pos. 3346)

Inhalt

Obwohl Corinna Mohr schon lange merkt, dass sich ihre Ehe nach fünfzehn Jahren irgendwo im Alltag verloren hat, ist es ein Schock für sie, als ihr Mann Heiko sie Anfang November verlässt, um mit der jüngeren Simona ein neues gemeinsames Leben zu beginnen. Auch für die gemeinsame Tochter Annika, dreizehn Jahre alt, hat er keine Zeit mehr, also beschließt diese, dass eine besonders intensive, fröhlich-festliche Vorweihnachtszeit die beste Lösung gegen traurige Gedanken ist. Ab sofort wird eingekauft, geschmückt und Kekse gebacken. Von Tante Martha bekommt sie deren altes Rezeptbuch und findet darin neben dem Rezept für Zimtsterne eine Fotografie. Damit hat dieses Weihnachtsfest ein neues Motto „Mission: Save Aunty Martha’s Christmas”.

Thema und Genre

Dieser romantische Frauen- und Wohlfühlroman handelt, wie der Titel schon sagt, von Weihnachten und der kleinen Stadtbücherei in Waldbronn. Vor allem jedoch geht es um Familie, Zuwendung, Schicksal und die Liebe.

Charaktere

Es sind sympathische Figuren, die wir in diesem Roman treffen. Corinna und ihre Schwester Tabea mit ihrem Lebensgefährten Raphael, die alle im alten Haus der Familie wohnen, und die lesebegeisterte alte Großtante Martha im Altenheim. Lorenz Thaler, der charmante Apotheker aus dem Nachbarort Tannenbach, unterstützt Corinna und Annika bei der Suche nach Tante Marthas Jugendliebe.

Handlung und Schreibstil

Die Geschichte spielt in den Monaten November und Dezember. Die Tage sind gefüllt mit Weihnachtsvorbereitungen, es wird reichlich geschmückt, gerne und gut gegessen, vor allem Zimtkekse, in der Bücherei bietet Corinna Vorlesestunden für die Kleinsten an. Leider spielen Bücher und die Bücherei, anders als von mir auf Grund des Titels erwartet, nur eine kleine Nebenrolle in der Handlung. Die Sprache mit den Schilderungen der festlich geschmückten Häuser, Weihnachtsmarkt, Schneefall, ist leicht und locker zu lesen. Auch wenn es von allem etwas zu viel ist, zu viel bunte Weihnachtsdekoration, zu viel bunte Zuckerglasur auf zu vielen Zimtkeksen, so passt es in diesem Fall, denn, wie Corinna sagt, „ein bisschen kitschig braucht man in dieser Jahreszeit“.

Fazit

Ein romantischer Weihnachtsroman für entspannte, vergnügte Lesestunden.

Rezensionen, Romantik , , , , , , ,

Englein, Mord und Christbaumkugel: Kriminelle Weihnachten – Manfred Baumann

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AutorManfred Baumann
Verlag Gmeiner-Verlag
Erscheinungsdatum 7. Oktober 2020
FormatTaschenbuch
Seiten252 Seiten
SpracheDeutsch
ISBN-13978-3839227114

„Ich bin garantiert nicht als ständig einsatzbereiter Kripochef hier, versuchte er sich zu beruhigen. Offenbar will das Kind in mir sich von diesem Zauber ringsum berühren lassen.“ (Zitat Pos. 95)

Inhalt

Es sind drei Geschichten aus dem weihnachtlichen Salzburg und Umgebung und sie haben eines gemeinsam: die schöne, fröhliche Weihnachtsstimmung wird durch eine sehr böse Tat gestört. Im Mittelpunkt steht jeweils ein Mitglied des Ermittlungsteams von Kommissar Merana: den ersten Fall untersucht Kommissar Merana, den zweiten Fall bearbeitet Chefinspektorin Carola Salman und für den dritten Fall ist Abteilungsinspektor Otmar Braunberger zuständig.

Thema und Genre

Dieser weihnachtliche Kriminalroman mit Regionalbezug spielt in Stadt und Land Salzburg. Stimmungsvolle Schilderungen von Weihnachtsmärkten und interessantes Wissen über die traditionellen Bräuche wie Glöckler, Herbergsuche und Krippenspiele ergänzen die mörderischen Ereignisse.

Handlung und Schreibstil

Süßer die Glocken nie bimmeln

Durch die Fenster der Orangerie des Schlosses Hellbrunn leuchtet der weihnachtlich geschmückte Park. Doch der Mann, der in der Mitte des Raumes liegt, kann sich daran nicht mehr erfreuen und mitten im stimmungsvollen Glöcklerlauf ertönt ein schriller Schrei. Gerade noch hatte Kommissar Merana entspannt Weihnachtslieder mitgesummt, doch nun ist er im Dienst.  

„Eine wenigstens halbwegs erfolgversprechende Spur sah anders aus. Eine solche war bisher weit und breit nicht auszumachen. (Zitat Pos. 451)

Englein, Mord und Christbaumkugel

Notburga Englein ist Privatdetektivin und als ihr die Stelle als Warenhausdetektivin im mega-spleshigen Einkaufszentrum angeboten wird, sagt sie sofort zu. Dem freundlichen Manager ist ihr Name aufgefallen und er ist überzeugt, sie passt gut in das vorweihnachtliche Team. Doch plötzlich ist Englein die Hauptverdächtige in einem Mordfall und Chefinspektorin Carola ermittelt.

„Es war auch zu absurd. Vor nicht einmal einer Stunde hatte sie mit ihrer Tochter Weihnachtslieder geträllert und entzückende Zeichnungen in einem Bilderbuch bewundert – und jetzt stand sie einer Verdächtigen gegenüber, die ausgerechnet Englein hieß.“ (Zitat Pos. 1283)

Wer klopfet an?

Eine kleine Nachtschwalbe, die sich eigentlich im Herbst auf den Weg nach Afrika hätte machen sollen, wird durch eine Gruppe Anglöckler aufgestört. Singend machen sie in den Abendstunden dieses ersten Anglöckler-Donnerstags die Runde zu den einzelnen Höfen. Doch in einem der Anwesen werden sie nicht so erwartet, wie es üblich war. Hier hatte bereits jemand angeklopft, doch es wurde kein Herbergslied gesungen.

„Allerorts eine festliche, friedliche Stimmung. Freude auf allen Seiten. Nur er muss sich mit einem brutalen Mord beschäftigen. (Zitat Pos. 1941)

Fazit

Dieses Buch mit drei weihnachtlichen Kriminalfällen, die in der schönen Stadt Salzburg und Umgebung spielen, führte mich zurück in meine Kindheit in Salzburg und sofort habe ich mich an die beschriebenen Bräuche erinnert und die Lieder kenne ich immer noch. Ein sympathisches Ermittlerteam und treffend und humorvoll geschilderte Hauptfiguren ergänzen die Kriminalfälle und ihre Hintergründe zu einem unterhaltsamen, angenehmen vorweihnachtlichen Leseerlebnis.

Kriminalroman, Rezensionen , , , , ,

Spectres in the Snow: A Third Collection of Classic Ghost Stories for Christmas

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Author21 authors
PublisherBlack Heath Editions
Date9 September 2016
EditionKindle
Pages391 pages (print)
LanguageEnglish
ASINB01LW9TVHI

“Haunted or no, there was something so uncanny in the appearance of the old gables, fast rottering to ruin, that even in the crepuscular light and early evening, persons would hurry by it with a shudder, while later at night, many would go a long way round rather than pass its weather-worn walls.” (Quotation pos. 337 “The Phantom Riders” by Ernest R. Suffling)

Theme and Content

A collection of ghost stories set in the Victorian and Edwardian time. Written by different authors, these twenty-one old gothic tales too are multifaceted, but always gripping and spooky. The reader meets phantom riders, haunted houses and haunted rooms, the dead sexton, Mr. Morgan in Australia who always hurries home before it gets dark, and a friendly ghost who helps his descendants and real true stories about eerie appearances with no logical explanation. Mysterious things happen in these nights around Christmas, where the snow is falling and shadows might be not only shadows but also something else.  

Conclusion

This selection of traditional ghost stories, written in the poetic language of the olden times, is a perfect read for the dark winter nights around Christmas time.

Gothic, Reviews, Short Stories , , ,

Vierundzwanzig Türen – Klaus Modick

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AutorKlaus Modick
Verlag KiWi-Taschenbuch
Erscheinungsdatum 4. Oktober 2018
FormatTaschenbuch
Seiten256
SpracheDeutsch
ISBN-13978-3462051063

„Vielleicht lag es an der klaren, klirrenden Kälte dieses Morgens, dessen Licht rosig durch die Dämmerung brach und die Baumschatten als Hieroglyphenschrift auf mich zufallen ließ, daß bestimmte Momente meiner Kindheit in mir wach wurden.“ (Zitat Seite 22)

Inhalt

IIn der Vorweihnachtszeit eines modernen Haushalts mit zwei Töchtern im Teenageralter versucht der Erzähler, etwas von der besinnlichen Ruhe der Weihnachten seiner Kinderzeit in die Gegenwart zu bringen. Genau dies passiert, als seine Frau Stacy einen Adventskalender mit ungewöhnlichen Zeichnungen nach Hause bringt, den ihr ein alter Mann geschenkt hatte. Die Bilder erzählen eine Geschichte von Weihnachten in der frühen Nachkriegszeit, als der Handel auf dem Schwarzmarkt für viele Menschen der einzige Weg war zu überleben.

Thema und Genre

In diesem Roman geht es um Weihnachten einst und heute, um Hilfsbereitschaft und Familie.

Handlung und Schreibstil

Der Autor erzählt abwechselnd zwei Geschichten, die parallel in zwei unterschiedlichen Zeiten stattfinden. Einerseits berichtet der Ich-Erzähler der Gegenwart von den Alltagserlebnissen, die in unserer Zeit untrennbar mit der Vorweihnachtszeit verbunden sind. Das tägliche Öffnen des Türchens auf dem Adventskalender öffnet in ihm jedoch auch eine Erinnerung an die Weihnachten seiner Kindheit in den fünfziger Jahren, die er seiner Familie schildert. Gleichzeitig erzählen diese Bilder die Geschichte von drei jungen Männern, die sich durch den Diebstahl von zwei Gemälden und Eintausch auf dem Schwarzmarkt Heizmaterial und Lebensmittel für das kommende Weihnachtsfest finanzieren wollen. Gekonnt verbindet er diese Geschichten zu einem weihnachtlichen Ganzen. Ich schätze den Autor für seine poetische, wunderbar schildernde Sprache, die auch diesen Roman zu einem Lesevergnügen macht.

Fazit

Eine poetische Weihnachtsgeschichte, verbunden durch Erinnerungen, Hoffnung und den Zauber dieser besonderen Zeit.

Rezensionen, Roman , , ,

Geschichten zur Weihnachtszeit – Selma Lagerlöf

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AutorSelma Lagerlöf
Verlag Langen-Müller
Erscheinungsdatum 15. Oktober 2019
FormatGebundene Ausgabe
Seiten208
SpracheDeutsch
ISBN-13978-3784434841

„Und siehe, wie er nun an der Stelle vorbeikam, wo er die kahlen Wurzelknollen eingepflanzt hatte, da sah er, daß üppige grüne Stengel daraus emporgesproßt waren, die schöne Blumen mit silberweißen Blüten trugen.“ (Zitat Seite 104)

Inhalt und Thema

Die bekannte Autorin und Nobelpreisträgerin öffnet dem Leser mit diesen zwölf Geschichten eine Welt der alten nordischen Sagen und Legenden rund um Weihnachten.

Es geht um das Bewahren der Traditionen ihrer Heimat für spätere Generationen, um Geborgenheit, Glaube, Mitgefühl, Religion, aber auch um Schuld und Sühne.

Schon in der ersten Geschichte, „Der Weihnachtsgast“, treffen wir Figuren aus ihrem Roman Gösta Berling wieder, eine andere Geschichte erklärt den Luciatag und die sehr poetische Geschichte „Die Legende von der Christrose“ handelt von einem besonderen Garten, der  nur in der Weihnachtsnacht mitten im Wald zu sehen ist. Alle Geschichten haben einen christlich-religiösen Bezug.

Fazit

Eine Sammlung von besinnlichen Geschichten, die Ende des 19. und Anfang des 20. Jahrhunderts entstanden sind und die sprachlich und inhaltlich diese Zeit für den Leser fühlbar und erlebbar machen.

Erzählungen, Rezensionen , , , , ,

A Child’s Christmas in Wales – Dylan Thomas

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AuthorDylan Thomas
IllustratorTrina Schart Hyman
PublisherHoliday House
Date17 October 2017
EditionHardcover
Pages48
LanguageEnglish
ISBN-13978-0823438709

“It was always snowing at Christmas. December, in my memory, is white as Lapland, though there were no reindeers.” (Citation page 8)

Content, Theme and Genre

The well-known Welsh poet Dylan Thomas writes about the traditional Christmas days of his childhood with the family celebrating together and the fun children had.

This is a book about Christmas that makes grown-ups dream and still will be enjoyed by children of any age. The illustrations by Trina Schart Hyman make this book a delightful gem, to be read every year again and again.

Conclusion

A beautifully illustrated story about the joy of traditional Christmas days for readers of every age.

Novel, Reviews , ,

Weihnachtshaus – Zsuzsa Bánk

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AutorZsuzsa Bánk
Verlag edition chrismon
Erscheinungsdatum 1. September 2018
FormatGebundene Ausgabe
Seiten112
SpracheDeutsch
ISBN-13978-3960381518

„Lilli hat damals gesagt, Weihnachten kann nichts dafür, dass alles so gekommen ist, die Kinder können auch nichts dafür, also lass uns feiern, lass uns Weihnachten feiern.“ (Zitat Seite 53)

Inhalt

Vor drei Jahren, am 6. Dezember, hatten sie das Café Lilli eröffnet. Lilli, die ihre Tochter Claire alleine großgezogen hat und die Ich-Erzählerin, deren Ehemann Clemens vor einigen Jahren plötzlich verstorben ist und die nun alleine für ihre beiden Kinder Luis und Elsa sorgt. Sie haben einen gemeinsamen Traum: ein altes, verfallenes Haus im Odenwald, das sie vor Jahren gekauft haben und dort wollen sie irgendwann alle gemeinsam Weihnachten feiern. Noch steht das Haus ohne Dach und ohne Fenster da. Doch in diesem Advent bringt Lillis Vater einen Gast mit ins Café, den Amerikaner Bill. Gerade wieder ruhten die Arbeiten am Haus, Kälte und Bodenfrost. „There’s gotta be a way, Lilli“, sagt Bill, er werde sich um das Haus kümmern.

Thema und Genre

In dieser Geschichte geht es um die bedingungslose Freundschaft zwischen zwei Frauen, um Trauer und Verlust, um Familie und Kinder. Weihnachten ist hier das Symbol für Aufbruch, Träume und Ziele.

Charaktere

Die Ich-Erzählerin, Mutter von zwei Kindern, vermisst ihren früh verstorbenen Ehemann Clemens auch noch nach Jahren. Sie hat Schwierigkeiten, seinen Tod zu akzeptieren. Verlust und Trauer sind ihre Hauptthemen. Das alte Haus im Odenwald bedeutet Hoffnung für sie. Lilli ist die Seele des Cafés und sorgt dafür, dass sich ihre Freundin nicht zu sehr vor dem Leben verschließt.

Handlung und Schreibstil

Die Geschichte spielt in der Adventszeit und wird durch Rückblicke in Form von Erinnerungen ergänzt. Inhaltlich lässt sie sich mit einem Tagebuch vergleichen, in dem die Ich-Erzählerin die kleinen täglichen Erlebnisse aufschreibt, ihre Erinnerungen und die Sehnsucht nach ihrem verstorbenen Mann Clemens. Die Sprache ist etwas atemlos, man muss sich daran gewöhnen, sie zieht die Leser voran, obwohl man sich lieber Zeit nehmen möchte, die Sätze zu genießen.

Fazit

Das Weihnachtshaus steht für einen Zukunftstraum, ist ein Symbol für Freundschaft, Hoffnung und dafür, dass das Leben auch nach einem schweren Verlust weitergeht. Auch wenn die Handlung vorwiegend im Advent spielt, ist es in meinen Augen genau genommen ein poetisches Tagebuch einer Ich-Erzählerin und keine Weihnachtsgeschichte.

Rezensionen, Roman , , ,

Der Wolf am Fenster: Eine Weihnachtsgeschichte – Elli H. Radinger

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AutorElli H. Radinger
Verlag Aufbau Taschenbuch
Erscheinungsdatum 21. September 2015
FormatTaschenbuch
Seiten160
SpracheDeutsch
ISBN-13978-3746631691

„Beaver Creek Cabin, südlich von Bozeman, nahe West Yellowstone. Nur mit dem Schneemobil erreichbar. Erbaut um 1900. Ofen, Bett, Matratze, Tisch, Stuhl. Kein Strom oder Wasser. Sehr rustikal. (Zitat Seite 59)

Inhalt

Bald ist Weihnachten und Lindsay Griffin, eine New Yorker Journalistin, hofft auf einen Antrag ihres Freundes Dan Newman. Doch der junge, erfolgreiche Anwalt hat völlig andere Zukunftspläne. Lindsay benötigt dringend Ruhe und Zeit zum Nachdenken und bucht spontan eine einfache, einsame Blockhütte bei West Yellowstone. Am Morgen ihres ersten Tages in der Wildnis trifft sie auf einen großen, schwarzen Wolf, der ihre Hilfe braucht. Brian Johnson, ein Ranger des Forrest Service, hatte ihr am Vortag die Cabin und die Umgebung erklärt, wo es eine alte Rangerstation mit einem Funkgerät für Notfälle gibt. Genau das braucht sie jetzt.

Thema und Genre

In dieser magischen Weihnachtsgeschichte geht es um das Leben in der Natur und vor allem um Wölfe, ihr Verhalten und das teilweise Unverständnis der Menschen. Natürlich ist auch die Liebe ein Thema.

Charaktere

Lindsay muss gerade ihre Zukunft neu planen, sie ist enttäuscht, traurig, aber dennoch positiv und nicht verbittert. Rasch hat sie ihre Angst vor Wölfen überwunden und wird sofort aktiv, als sie die Situation erkennt. Der Wolf wiederum hat gute Gründe, die Menschen zu meiden. Sein feiner Geruchssinn unterscheidet sofort zwischen dunkel, das bedeutet böse, und hell. Lindsay riecht für ihn hell.

Handlung und Schreibstil

Die Geschichte wird aus zwei unterschiedlichen Blickwinkeln abwechselnd erzählt, einerseits die Geschichte von Lindsay und Brian und andererseits die Geschichte des jungen Wolfes. Weitere Details erfährt der Leser durch Rückblicke in Form von Erinnerungen der einzelnen Protagonisten. Die Handlung selbst dauert nur wenige Tage.

Fazit

Eine magische, leise Weihnachtsgeschichte für verträumte Lesestunden.

Rezensionen, Romantik , , ,

Winter Ghosts: Classic Ghost Stories for Christmas – Charles Dickens, Elizabeth Gaskell and others

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AuthorCharles Dickens, Elizabeth Gaskell and others
PublisherBlack Heath Editions
Date18 September 2014
EditionKindle
Pages378 (print version)
LanguageEnglish
ASINB00NQA0K1U

“As for me, I know very well that when I read him of a dark night, I am obliged to creep to bed without shutting ny book, and without daring to look behind me.” (Quotation from “The Dead Man’s Story”, pos. 1056)

“We talked on an extraordinary variety of subjects, I distinctly recollect a long argument on mushrooms-mushrooms, murders, racing, cholera; from cholera we came to sudden death, from sudden death to churchyards, and from churchyards, it was naturally but a step to ghosts.” (Quotation from “Number Ninety”, pos. 3878)

Content

The Phantom Coach by Amelia B Edwards

The Ghost of Christmas Eve by J.M. Barrie

The Governess’s Story by Amyas Northcote

The Story of the Goblins Who Stole a Sexton by Charles Dickens

The Dead Man’s Story by James Hain Friswell

Bone to His Bone by E.G. Swain

Jerry Bundler by W.W. Jacobs

The Old Nurse’s Story by Elizabeth Gaskell

Thurlow’s Christmas Story by John Kendrick Bangs

The Story of a Disappearance and an Appearance by M.R. James

The Real and the Counterfeit by Louisa Baldwin

Mustapha by S. Baring-Gould

Wolverden Tower by Grant Allen

Number Ninety by B.M. Croker

The Great Staircase at Landover Hall by Frank Stockton

A Strange Christmas Game by Charlotte Riddell

What Was He? by Theo Gift

The Brazen Cross by H.B. Marriott Watson

The Beeston Ghost by John Swaffield Orton

Theme and Genre

A collection of classic Victorian and Edwardian ghost stories about inexplicable, supernatural, spooky experiences, written by different authors.

Conclusion

A perfect collection for dark winter evenings, giving you spine-tingling feelings. Very different stories and different writing styles make this book a thrilling, enjoyable reading.

Gothic, Reviews, Short Stories , , ,
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