I am ALMOST ready for Christmas. Jams are done (by the skin of my teeth they all sealed properly), shopping is done, and now all that’s left is the mountain of wrapping and packaging to do.
We’re crazy in my family about the wrapping. Everyone has a theme each year, and it’s possible to tell who gave you the gift without looking at the card at all. My aunt goes for funky, natural, and shiny, in browns and blacks for the main bits, but with the strangest and most delightful ribbons attached, everything from lacy glitter orange to natural stuff printed with reindeer. She hand-makes her tags, too. My sister usually sticks with white craft paper, but goes CRAZY on the bows. She also usually has some sort of natural topper wedged between. Last year was maroon, the year before was blue and sparkly. My mom goes all out festival with novelty prints of which no two are the same, and large tags that give you a clue as to what’s inside, if you can figure out who it’s from (a drill from “Norm,” a cookbook from “Julia”). I am usually a craft paper girl like my sister, but the colors change. Last year was white paper, and brown ribbon printed with “Merry Christmas” in red. The year before was red paper, black baker’s twine, and mini clothespins with trees attached. The year before that was brown paper with red and white bows. I usually have the wrapping before I have the presents.
Not so this year. I have no wrapping paper yet, and I’m not sure what everything will end up looking like. This is the first time ever that I’m so late. I’ll be heading out tonight to figure out what I can find. Whatever else happens, I’m pretty sure I’ll end up with gigantic red bows, though. In velvet, if possible.
In other news, I have been doing this thing called 750 words where you write 750 words a day and it gives you prizes and puts your writing through an analyzer just for fun when you’ve finished. I’ve been noticing that I clock major introvert when I’m writing about life. But when I write fiction, it tracks as extroverted. I don’t know what that says about me or my work. It probably says something, though. Anyway, I thought it worth noting.
I hope your Christmas is shaping up to be as good as mine seems to be.
by Grace Burrowes: This is a collection of 3 Christmas novels that were all collected into one e-book. They’re all full length (!!!) and very well done with plenty of Christmas goodness in with the romance goodness. I LOVED the first one, and am in the middle of the second. Best part is that they’re super-cheap right now. You can’t beat the bargain, and the 3 novels will keep you occupied until Christmas comes at this point.
by Eloisa James: I always love James’ stuff. I don’t quite know why, but as soon as you delve into that first chapter you just know you’re in the hands of a master. That was more evident to me after reading all the bad books before this one – it visibly felt like a relief to read the first paragraph. The beginning of the book and the end are all the Christmas you could desire, but the rest of it takes place outside the season. Still a fun romp and an excellent novel.
by Lisa Kleypas: The story moved quickly and the ending felt too unfinished, but otherwise the book was excellent. Modern, so be warned.
by Lisa Kleypas: I mean, it features the trope where the guy keeps going even after the girl has said no. And it does it repeatedly. But otherwise this book was excellent, with Christmas tree decorating, some Dickens, and a well done story line.
by Mary Balogh: A collection of 5 novellas. They’re all good, but I’m not really sure why they decided to put all of these together. In a lot of cases, the stories are so similar that they sort of blended into one another for me without distinction. I would read The Best Gift and Playing House, and then forget the other 3.
by Jenny Hale: I found myself cringing so often at the writing, and at the main character’s attitude toward things. Like, your life isn’t complete unless you can have children and that’s your only aim in life? Give me a break, kid. Interactions between her and the hero also felt awkward and forced a lot of the time. I did finish it in short order, so that’s saying something about the story arc itself, I think. But I would skip this one in favor of something less maddening. Also a modern tale.
Casey E. Hamilton 