Reviewing books about Christmas, both fiction and nonfiction, new and old. Looking for a fun Christmas read? I can help you find it, whether you’re into the history of 20th century Christmas traditions or you love a good Christmas murder, or you're looking for that perfect picture book for your granddaughter. I read them all!
Christmas Book Review Episode 18
Santa’s Daughter, Superheroes, and the Evergleam
Show Notes:
Christmas Past episode with my interview
Christmas Past episode of Two Truths and a Lie
Books (and other print media) discussed in this episode:
Christmas with the Superheroes 1 and 2 (try eBay)
Paul Dini’s Jingle Belle (try eBay for this one also)
Santa Claus Magazine Issue One
The Evergleam Book: 60th Anniversary DeLuxe Edition (sold out but check www.evergleambook.com)
Carrie Mercer can be reached at [email protected]
Instagram—there are many photos for this episode—for the show is at https://www.instagram.com/ChristmasBookReview/
If you’d like to throw a couple bucks my way to help with the costs of doing the podcast, go to my Ko-Fi page at https://ko-fi.com/christmasbookreview
If you’d like become a Patreon supporter and get a Christmas goodie, you can do
so at patreon.com/ChristmasBookReview
Thanks for listening!
Christmas Book Review Episode 17
Marley the Miserable and Lyle the Crocodile
Show Notes:
Meg and Jo –8/10
Marley’s Ghost – 7/10
Miss Marley – 9/10
Lyle at Christmas 8/10
Carrie Mercer can be reached at [email protected]
Instagram—there are photos for this episode—for the show is at https://www.instagram.com/ChristmasBookReview/
If you’d like to throw a couple bucks my way to help with the costs of doing the podcast, go to my Ko-Fi page at https://ko-fi.com/christmasbookreview
If you’d like become a Patreon supporter and get a Christmas goodie, you can do
so at patreon.com/ChristmasBookReview
Thanks for listening!
Christmas Book Review Episode 16:
Ingalls, Tugboats, and Helping Your Neighbors
Show notes:
The Carpenter’s Gift 9/10
The Christmas Tugboat 10/10
Christmas Stories 8/10
Dasher 7/10
I also mentioned Red and Lulu, also by this author, which I reviewed in episode 7
Carrie Mercer can be reached at [email protected]
Instagram—there are photos for this episode—for the show is at https://www.instagram.com/ChristmasBookReview/
If you’d like to support the show and get a Christmas goodie, you can do
Christmas Book Review Episode 15:
Ghosts Wishes Dreams and Yarn
Show notes:
Dream Soul 8/10
There is one other book by Laurence Yep about this same family, the Lees, and it comes chronologically before this book, and is called The Star Fisher.
55 Christmas Balls To Knit 8/10
Mr. Dickens and His Carol 10/10
The Story of Holly and Ivy 8/10
Here's the link to the tv special version of The Story of Holly and Ivy, on YouTube:
The Wish That Changed Christmas tv special
Carrie Mercer can be reached at [email protected]
Instagram for the show is at https://www.instagram.com/ChristmasBookReview/
If you’d like to support the show and get a Christmas goodie, you can do
Episode14: Werewolves Hazardous Dukes and Christmas Letters
Books reviewed in this episode:
Marley 9/10 novel
Wolfsbane and Mistletoe 9/10 short stories
Evergreen Tidings from the Baumgartners 8/10 novel
How The Dukes Stole Christmas: A Christmas Romance Anthology 8/10
Christmas Podcasts mentioned in this episode:
Sleigh Bells and Mistletoe Christmas
Book Giveaway! Want to win a new hardback copy of the novel Marley? Just leave me a review and then email to let me know and tell me where (a link would be great!), and I’ll enter you into the drawing! I’ll be giving this one away in the next episode, so you have until February 10th-ish 2020!
Carrie Mercer can be reached at [email protected]
Instagram for the show is at https://www.instagram.com/ChristmasBookReview/
If you’d like to support the show and get a Christmas goodie, you can do
Episode 13: Witches, Hospitals, and Christmas Rap
Books reviewed in this episode:
Grandpa’s Witched-Up Christmas 8/10
The Drummer Boy 8/10
Geronimo Stilton: Christmas Catastrophe 8/10
Deck the Halls, We’re Off The Walls 8/10
Holly Claus: The Christmas Princess 8/10
Podcasts mentioned in this episode:
Carrie Mercer can be reached at [email protected]
Instagram for the show is at https://www.instagram.com/ChristmasBookReview/
If you’d like to support the show and get a Christmas goodie, you can now do so at patreon.com/ChristmasBookReview
Sent from my iPad
Episode 12: King Moonracer on An Ice Floe
Books reviewed in this episode:
Back To Christmas middle grade fiction 8/10
Holly Blues adult mystery 8/10
The Island of Misfit Toys kids graphic novel 7/10
The Queen and The First Christmas Tree non-fiction picture book 9/10; in the description of this book I mention how Queen Charlotte put more helpers and nurses into hospitals for pregnant women so that more "children would survive childbirth" but I meant to say so that more WOMEN would survive childbirth. Oopsie.
The Night Before Christmas adult novella 7/10
African American Christmas Stories collection of poetry and fiction 7/10; in the description of the story "Three Men and A Woman" I mention Ella being from "Southern Carolina"--yeah, I made up a new state! Actually it's South Carolina. Also, in my description of that story, I quote a passage in which the N word is used for a black person (Jerry) and I just say N so it might be confusing. What I quoted was "and the N___ be burned alive at the stake."
Carrie Mercer can be reached at [email protected]
Instagram for the show is at https://www.instagram.com/ChristmasBookReview/
If you’d like to support the show and get a Christmas goodie, you can now do so at patreon.com/ChristmasBookReview
Thanks to everyone who wrote to me and entered my first book giveaway, I loved hearing from you all, and I’ll have another giveaway soon!
Episode 11: Krampus, Cookies, and Cross Stitch
Books Reviewed in this Episode:
A World of Cookies for Santa: Follow Santa’s Tasty Trip Around the World 8/10
The Last Christmas 7.5/10
Krampus:Shadow of Saint Nicholas 9/10
The Magic of Christmas to Cross Stitch: French charm for your stitchwork 9/10
Other Books Mentioned in this Episode:
I mentioned the Snow Maiden Snegurochka in A World of Cookies being in a Connie Willis story I reviewed in an earlier episode. Oopsie, I lied! It wasn’t Connie Willis, it was Seanan McGuire and the story was Fresh as the New-Fallen Snow, and it was in the book of short stories Hark the Herald Angels Scream, which I reviewed in episode 2.
Podcast mentioned in this episode:
MY FIRST GIVEAWAY! To celebrate reaching double digit episodes, I’m giving away a brand-new copy of the book The Myths That Stole Christmas: Seven Misconceptions That Hijacked the Holiday (and how we can take it back), by David Kyle Johnson. Just send me an email at [email protected] and maybe tell me a book you’ve read that you heard about on this podcast. That’s it! Thanks! The drawing will be open until Halloween—October 31st, 2019.
Carrie Mercer can be reached at [email protected]
Instagram for the show is at https://www.instagram.com/ChristmasBookReview/
If you’d like to support the show and get a Christmas goodie, you can now do so at patreon.com/ChristmasBookReview
Episode. 10: LEGOs, Old Dogs, and Expectations
The LEGO Christmas Ornaments Book Volume 2 7/10
Old Dog Cora and The Christmas Tree 8/10
The Christmas Extravaganza Hotel 8/10
Yes, Virginia, There is A Santa Claus 6/10
The Road To Ever After 10/10
The Adults 7/10
Podcast mentioned in this episode:
MY FIRST GIVEAWAY! To celebrate reaching double digit episodes, I’m giving away a brand-new copy of the book The Myths That Stole Christmas: Seven Misconceptions That Hijacked the Holiday (and how we can take it back), by David Kyle Johnson. Just send me an email at [email protected] and maybe tell me a book you’ve read that you heard about on this podcast. That’s it! Thanks! The drawing will be open until Halloween—October 31st, 2019.
Thanks for listening!
Carrie Mercer can be reached at [email protected]
There’s now an instagram for the show at https://www.instagram.com/ChristmasBookReview/
If you’d like to support the show and get a Christmas goodie, you can now do so at patreon.com/ChristmasBookReview
Episode 9: Toy Nostalgia and Christmas Cinema
Show Notes:
Books reviewed in this episode:
Have Yourself A Movie Little Christmas 10/10
Under the Tree: The Toys and Treats that Made Christmas Special 1930-1970 8/10
Pick A Pine Tree 9/10
Podcasts mentioned in this episode:
(some of) Alonso Duralde’s film podcasts:
Carrie Mercer can be reached at [email protected]
There’s now an instagram for the show at https://www.instagram.com/ChristmasBookReview/
If you’d like to support the show and get a Christmas goodie, you can now do so at patreon.com/ChristmasBookReview
Episode 8: Gandalf, Apple Trees and Junking in Savannah
Show notes
Santa Sold Shrooms 6/10
ok, whoops. I said the Sami are a "nomadic reindeer tribe." Doh! Nope, they are people, not reindeer. They herd reindeer. And are nomadic. Mouth got ahead of brain.
Murder Under the Mistletoe 6.5/10
The Christmas Cat 9/10
Apple Tree Christmas 10/10
Christmas Bliss 7/10
Carrie Mercer can be reached at [email protected]
There’s now an instragram for the show at https://www.instagram.com/ChristmasBookReview/
If you’d like to support the show and get a Christmas goodie, you can now do so at patreon.com/ChristmasBookReview
Your feedback is valuable to us. Should you encounter any bugs, glitches, lack of functionality or other problems, please email us on [email protected] or join Moon.FM Telegram Group where you can talk directly to the dev team who are happy to answer any queries.