During the holiday season, I always ration my holiday movie-watching until the week before Christmas because I know I'll spend a large chunk of my time with my family watching all our favorites. Whether that's newer favorites like Home Alone and Polar Express to classics like It's a Wonderful Life and A Christmas Carol, we watch them all! Below I've gathered a few books I know are beloved during the season and paired them with a novel that may fit your mood, if you too, want to make those holiday movie feelings linger past the two hours it takes to watch them.
It's a Wonderful Life
George Bailey has a rough night in this 1946 classic. He learns a valuable lesson about the value of his life after he learns what life is like for his town, friends, and family had he never been born. Samantha, the heroine of Lauren Oliver's Before I Fall, gets a similar second-chance as she relives the day she died over and over as she tries to figure out how to save herself. This novel is full of poignant lessons and drama and worth a tissue or two just like It's a Wonderful Life.
Home Alone
For grown ups looking to stop criminals like Kevin managed to save his home from the Wet Bandits, The Christmas Thief by Mary Higgins Clark will fit the bill. Private detective Regan Reilly is on the hunt for the ninety-foot tree that has been hijacked on its way to the Rockerfeller Center for the Christmas season. Maybe the Wet Bandits would have had better luck stealing the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree than the antics they got up to in their movies.
A Christmas Carol
Is it cheating to suggest you read A Christmas Carol to fully appreciate Ebenezor Scrooge's transformation? Maybe. If you're favorite part of Scrooge's night of terror and epiphany is when he's visited by the Ghost of Future aka Death, then you may enjoy Terry Pratchet's Hogfather. It'll certainly have you on Death's side as he tries to save Christmas, and the world, by stepping into the role of Santa.
Love, Actually
This is a holiday classic that is polarizing for many. But I can relate if it's one of your favorites—what's not to love? Sure, there's a lot of devastation but there's also Hugh Grant dancing. If you're looking for an anthology series, might I interest you in a holiday romance anthology... guaranteed with Happily Ever Afters for all? Try Burning Bright: Four Chanuka Love Stories or Once Upon a Holiday. These anthologies feature some fun voices in the romance genre and will give you a little taste of the holidays.
Die Hard
This one is another polarizing movie in its classification as a "Christmas" movie. However, since I know many people watch it during this season—and okay, okay, it does take place on Christmas—I've added it to the list. For a slight twist on the theme but will still have you saying "Yippee-ki-yay," try El Paso by Winston Groom. When a man's grandchildren are kidnapped in the Old West, there's only one person who can save them: Him. While the deserts and mountains of Mexico are more vast then Nakatomi Tower, this book will give you the cowboy vibe of John McClane.
What are some of your favorite holiday movies? Do you have any holiday traditions?
This blog post reflects the opinions of the author and does not necessarily represent the views of Brooklyn Public Library.
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