What Did You Do This Christmas?

While millions around the world where busy celebrating Christmas, I spent most of the day alone reading and researching. Strange isn't it? Well, I wasn't the only one that skipped Christmas, so don't think I'm a weirdo.

Well, my research found this article on Christmas Classic Books which I decided to share on this blog. If you've read them, your comments about them could motivate others to read them.

Here they are:

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens - Hands down, "A Christmas Carol" is the most popular Christmas classic, ever. Charles Dickens skillfully examines the spirit of Christmas. The main character, Ebenezer Scrooge, is haunted by three spirits: The Ghost of Christmas Past, The Ghost of Christmas Present and The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come.

Skipping Christmas by John Grisham - In this book, Luther and Nora Krank decided to skip Christmas and embark on a nice cruise instead. Their mission is simple: To avoid Christmas. They have had it with the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping. Author John Grisham, well known for works such as "A Time to Kill" and "The Firm" proves that he is also very skillful at holiday satire.

Murder for Christmas: 26 Tales of Seasonal Malice by Gahan Wilson - Tales of malice and murder are written by authors Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers and others. This mystery presents an eerie "twist" to the usual yuletide joy. Mysteries make for good reading year-round.

High Heels and Holidays by Kasey Michaels - A romantic Christmas turns into a murderous Christmas. Death threats replace pretty ornaments and gift-wrapped packages. It's a story about several authors scrambling to solve a seemingly unsolvable case.

Christmas Beginning by Anne Perry - Start the holiday with a mystery. Olivia Costain is dead and an intense murder investigation ensues. The original Christmas story meets with murder and mystery.

Gaston, the Green-Nosed Alligator by James Rice - This story retells the traditional tale of Santa and his reindeer-driven sleigh - but these reindeer are replaced by flying alligators. This unorthodox Christmas takes place in Louisiana.

How The Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss - Dr. Seuss is a literary legend in children's fiction. Despite the plot of the Grinch to steal Christmas, this tale has a happy ending. The Grinch has stolen the hearts of children. It was turned into a film directed by Ron Howard with Jim Carrey as "Grinch" in 2000 and won an Oscar the following year.

Peanuts: A Charlie Brown Christmas by Charles M. Schulz - A story to be read over and over again, Charlie Brown's Christmas is endearing. Children never tire of its cute characters and funny prose. Charles M. Schulz, writer and creator, charms us all. The TV animated version was directed by Bill Melendez.

The Christmas Story by Cathy Ann Johnson - The Books of Matthew and Luke help relate the story of the first Christmas ever. The birth of Jesus is celebrated among angels, animals and shepherds. Also you can read A Christmas Story by Jean Shepherd, the book that inspired the hilarious classic 1984 film directed by Bob Clark.

The Night Before Christmas (A Visit From St. Nicholas) by Clement Clarke Moore - A classic poem that has been passed from adult to child. It is one of the most popular tales ever told, and one of the most memorized stanzas in the world. First published in 1823, the legend of St. Nicholas and his eight reindeer lives on in our memories.

Update: You might also want to watch The Nightmare Before Christmas, a 1993 film produced by Tim Burton and directed by Henry Selick which follows Jack Skellington, the leader of a holiday-themed world known as Halloween Town, who becomes bored of his repetitive lifestyle and eventually stumbles upon the world of Christmas Town; interested in the new world's culture, Jack attempts to combine the two holidays, with unexpectedly disastrous results.

So if you have skipped Christmas like me why not relax and enjoy reading any of these books or watch the films with family and friends this season.