I Read Therefore I Am discussion

Every few months I'll choose a theme, we'll suggest books , vote on them and the winner will be our Seasonal Side Read.
There was a tie in our Spooky October vote so everyone can read either or both winners.

It's time to start thinking about our Christmassy read. So please can I have your nominations (2 each)for either a book set around Christmas time, a generally cheering and optimistic book or, as it's traditional to tell ghost stories at Christmas, a ghostly book.

Ok my first nomination is of course A Christmas Carol -Charles Dickens

Oh man - where is this year going??????
Grumbles about time flying over aside, I would like to nominate Lost Christmas by David Logan - I watched the adaptation on the telly either last year or the year before (it had Eddie Izzard in it) and it was lovely so fancy reading the book!

Also am seconding A Christmas Carol!!!

Tell me about it! I can't believe that we're nearly half way through October already.
Just read up on Lost Christmas - "It's A Wonderful Life meets modern Manchester" - sounds fab.

My 2nd choice is The Dark is Rising - the only book I read every year. It's about magic and the age old battle between good and evil (and it takes place over the 12 days of Christmas)

That sounds good - I've wanted to read that one for a while.

My 2nd nomination is ETA Hoffman's The Nutcracker, I saw the ballet earlier this year and it was amazing!

My nomination is the Hogfather by Terry Pratchett. I just love his books and DEATH, my favourite character, has a starring role in this one.

Brilliant idea! Was just thinking the other day that the discworld might be due for a re-read!

great suggestions ,been meaning to read some Terry Prachett for a while and the nutcracker for ever.

@Laurel. Did you see the traditional ballet of the Nutcracker or Matthew Bourne's version? I just adore Matthew Bourne's choreography and have now seen all of them. Loved every one!

It was the Scottish ballet company's version, the choreographer was Ashley Page - they set it set in 1920's Germany - loved the flapper dresses the women had for the party at the beginning! I'd never been to see a ballet before but I'll definitely go again sometime - will keep an eye for out for any Matthew Bourne one's.

Bourne is more like contemporary dance than traditional ballet and I prefer that. His ballets are very different although the score is the same. For example his Nutcracker is set in an orphanage with a horrible man and woman in charge, not at all like the traditional version.

Sounds interesting though - looking through the programme from The Nutcracker it looks like I missed his version of Sleeping Beauty when that was on earlier in the year, a bit gutted, it looked really gothic - did you catch it by any chance??

FANTASTIC!!!!!! I thought it was the best one yet, it was very dark and very gothic. The costumes were amazing. They are always on at the Theatre Royal in Newcastle but they are definitively worth travelling for. The problem is getting tickets as they sell out so fast. I'm a Friend of the Theatre so booking opens early for me but for Sleeping Beauty it was impossible to get through on the telephone so my sister went and queued to get them for a group of us.

Cool - am a bit jealous! I like anything dark and gothic and I love looking at costumes and set's as much as the dancing! Not that I get to the theatre very often - I always want to but never have the time/funds/time (sad face).

I've never been to a ballet - but I was fascinated by last years television series following a ballet company for a year.
I was amazed by how hard the dancers had to work and appalled at the way they were treated by the directors, choreographers etc.

Yeah I imagine it can be a bit harsh! I've only seen the one but am totally fascinated by the whole thing - will have to make time to see more.

Here's a quick re-cap of the nominations so far:

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Hogfather by Terry Pratchett
Lost Christmas by David Logan
The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper
The Nutcracker by ETA Hoffman

Plenty of time for any other nominations! I will leave it till after we finish our current Hallowe'en side reads before putting the poll up.

I know I've exceeded my quota but I've just thought of - A Child's Christmas in Wales - Dylan Thomas and 2 short stories - A Memory of Christmas - Truman Capote and The Gift of The Magi - O Henry.

I love the Capote one, it's a really sweet story. I'd really like to read A Child's Christmas in Wales as well.
I'm leaving it till November before putting the poll up so I might add these if we don't get any more nominations - does that sound ok??

Good idea -I'm going to send a Whats going on in November e-mail later this week - would you like me to mention that there's still time for nominations?

Yes please, that's a good idea. Thanks :)

I've put the poll up so nominations are closed for the Christmas side-read.

Looks like Hogfather is in the lead at the moment.... but still time to vote if you haven't yet!