December TBR & recommendations ❄️ feat. a new all time favorite book

[@cherylgushard2581]

Oh my gosh….the Winternight Trilogy was so good! I love Russian folklore! 🪆🇷🇺🤍💙❤️

[@CarolynMarieReads]

Yessss so glad you love it too!

[@jamesduggan7200]

There's a well-known poem from Philip Larkin titled "Church Going" in which the narrator laments the loss of churches, imagining that now no one uses them they will become what? who knows? relics, discos? restaurants! At times it seems to me Christmas may be fated similarly and that saddens me. It's a joy seeing you enjoying the Season of Giving, and - of course - welcome home.

[@Sarah_Jean86]

Nice list! I love December and just the atmosphere. My big December read is Anna Karenina.❤

[@emac5121]

You have me convinced, I ordered the Winternight Trilogy!

[@CarolynMarieReads]

Yessssssss ☺️📖✨ I hope you enjoy it!

[@hannahh.7770]

I finished The Nutcracker last night! Definitely look at the evolution of the story, especially the ballet. I was a dancer at a Russian style company and the Russian Nutcracker is my personal favorite. Also, A Christmas Carol is a new favorite Christmas book for me🥰

[@CarolynMarieReads]

Amazing! I just finished reading it ☺️ I’ll definitely be looking into the evolution of the story. Oh wow! I’ll have to see if I can find a video of the Russian Nutcracker! Yes, A Christmas Carol is one of my favorites too 🥰

[@sanjastajdohar6684]

Welcome to the Winternight fandom

[@TaraHill-t1f]

I JUST finished the Winternight Trilogy! It blew me away!!! Obsessed! I agree about Jonathan Strange, I actually couldn’t finish it. I got bored 😅 My TBR this month is Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries 🥰 Thanks for the video!

[@kiczcock]

The only Nutcracker I know is the Barbie one 😂

[@CarolynMarieReads]

😆 It’s the best!

[@joelharris4399]

Christmas and folktales are like peas and carrots, they go hand in hand 🍻. Carolyn bingeing on books with royal colours, I see

[@earlt.1416]

You always have the best recs! I have read some of the books you say that are must reads and they have not disappointed! This is why i keep coming back to your videos because I know I can rely on your book suggestions everytime. Love your vids!!!!

[@CarolynMarieReads]

Aww I’m so glad my recommendations haven’t disappointed! ☺️📖✨ Your kindness means the world 🤍

[@miriam2526]

The Bear and the Nightingale is waiting for me, I'm reading it with another bookclub on Fable (such a great place, btw). Can't wait to start this now!

[@Danilyn_Livao]

Your December TBR is giving me so many great ideas! 🥰 Thanks for always sharing such great book ideas, Carolyn! ❤

[@CarolynMarieReads]

Aww I’m so glad to hear this! It’s truly one of my greatest pleasures ☺️📖✨

[@Danilyn_Livao]

​@@CarolynMarieReads You're welcome! I’m here for more of your excellent content! 😊

[@denisefreitas6727]

I've reread Little Women with you, Carolyn! I love this book so much! Thanks for the recs! ❤

[@CarolynMarieReads]

Yay! I’m so glad you love Little Women!!! Thank *you* for reading it with me ☺️📖✨

[@zinaberger8211]

I read little women earlier this year and it was beautiful writing. I'm reading pride and prejudice by Jane Austen

[@CarolynMarieReads]

Two AMAZING books!!!

[@brmbjor4230]

Oh great, you uploaded! Unfortunately I don't have time to watch all your videos, but every once in a while I get to tune in and always have a good time. You give off such a kind and warm vibe, so it's really nice to get to watch this one on a cozy sunday right now. I hope you have had a great december so far and I wish you all the best for the rest of 2024. Greetings from Germany :)

[@CarolynMarieReads]

I’m so glad you enjoy my videos ☺️ Your kind words warm my heart! My December has been lovely, and I hope yours has been too! Best wishes and Happy Holidays 🤍

[@swifty545]

Great video as always. One my favourite winter reads is The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey, inspired by a Russian fairy tale of the same name I believe. Think it's one you might really enjoy if not read already 😊🥶

[@danijelaostojic6182]

I wanted to recommend the same book! I've read it last winter and it's just perfect and I think Carolin would love it too.

[@CarolynMarieReads]

Thank you so much!!! I’ve been meaning to read The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey for years! I’m so glad you both recommend it ☺️ I’ll definitely prioritize getting my hands on a copy and reading it soon 📖❄️

[@martinelanglois3158]

It certainly doesn't feel Christmassy but I'm 138 pages in The Brothers Karamazov (French edition). If Leon Tolstoy were alive and getting a quarter each time you mentioned him, he'd be rich! 😂 (Love his writing as well) Have a great week! ❤📚

[@CarolynMarieReads]

It may not but Christmasy, but it’s a masterful book! He really would be 😂 You’re welcome, Tolstoy! Hahaha (So glad you love his writing too) 📖✨ I hope you’re having a great start to the week! 🥰

[@Blondie101010100]

Fabulous collection Carolyn. Very relaxing video. Merry Christmas to you and Leon 🎄🎅☃️💕

[@CarolynMarieReads]

Thank you so much ☺️🎄❄️✨ Merry Christmas!!!

[@geraldinegranger9186]

I just read Small Things Like These (Claire Keegan) based your previous recommendation. It was delightful and perfect for this time of year. Happy Christmas!

[@rnee1000]

Some of my December TBR: Intermezzo- Sally Rooney Remarkably Bright Creatures- Shelby Van Pelt Tomorrowx3 The Vegetarian

[@georgeparasol6939]

ahhh “the last leaf” is such a bittersweet story, i read it in my junior year of high school and loved it! quintessential o henry, it’s one of my favorite short stories, i hope you enjoy! :)

[@CarolynMarieReads]

So glad to hear this! Thank you :)

[@jmsl_910]

best ILLUSTRATED children's snowy book: The snowy day; the snowman (full-version; Strega Nona at Christmas (vibrant italian folktale)

[@Robin-c9p]

Ah - Hans Brinker...a childhood favourite that I return to every five years or so, when I want some very sentimental but also very cosy winter vibes. Very old fashioned, but charming. Other winter reads for me, that I return to again and again, are parts of - and all of some of - the "Little House" books, especially The Long Winter. And starting on Christmas Eve every year I read A Christmas Carol aloud - hamming it up with voices and everything, and crying buckets! It's my favourite Christmas tradition (depending on the state of my voice it can take a couple of days or a week - but I always finish on New Years Eve at the latest). 🎄👻

[@pittosia]

Ohh your recommendations are sooo similar to mine! For 2 years I have the "tradition" to read each December only one book from Katherine Arden trilogy... and this year there is the last one, waiting for me, WInter of the Witch. I absolutely adore these books! BTW one recommendation from me- this year I have discovered "The Haunting Season: Ghostly Tales for Long Winter Nights" - short, a bit spooky novels by 8 contemporary autors, which have vibes of Edgar Allan Poe, that was amazing! Love and thanks for a great video! Julia

[@noemrlt]

I’m currently reading Little Women and the Nutcracker and i’m having a wonderful time 🛷🧦 my next reads are Beartown (really excited to read this one), the Winter Spirits (an anthology of winter gothic shortstories) and of course the Winter of the Witch ! I'm so glad you liked the Bear and the Nightingale. I read it over Christmas last year and I remember reading it at every break during family dinners because I was so enchanted by Katherine Arden's writing! The Girl in the Tower is my favorite so far, as I found it explores the full potential of Vasya's character, making it an even more gripping read!

[@MariaMedeiros]

Wishing you an your family a very Merry Christmas! :)

[@LoriCremer]

I’m reading A Christmas Carol right now!

[@bujobyfilo]

So happy you finally read The bear and the nightingale! I finished the series this summer and it's so good from start to finish 😍

[@CarolynMarieReads]

Me too!! Ahhh I’m so happy to hear that ☺️📖✨

[@kurlykaitlyn]

Hi Carolyn 💗 definitely read Ethan Frome if you haven’t! It is tragic…. But tragically beautiful 😁 I hope to read Doctor Zhivago before the end of this year. I waited until it was colder outside 😂

[@janeturner9064]

I have The Wood at Midwinter on my TBR and I'm really looking forward to it. Merry Christmas!

[@CarolynMarieReads]

Wonderful! I hope you enjoy it ☺️ Merry Christmas ✨

[@shelleytaylor1778]

Yay! The Bear and the Nightengale is in my pile for this month. I’ve been waiting for winter to read it! Have you ever read Geraldine Brooks? She is one of my favorite authors and she wrote March, which imagines the experience of the March girls’ father who is away at war during Little Women. Also loved Piranesi and look forward to picking up your recommendation. Thanks!

[@noelkempster]

I was literally just thinking about how The Bear and the Nightingale would be perfect and then you mentioned it!

[@CarolynMarieReads]

Great minds think alike ☺️📖✨

[@udishaverma7862]

*goes to my tbrrrr them all*

[@munirafatima3414]

wow you’ve really convinced me to read the bear and the nightingale with your passionate review 😂❤

[@CarolynMarieReads]

Yay!!! I hope you enjoy it ☺️✨

[@insearchofwonder]

I realized this year that, although I've read quite a few different adaptations, I've never read THE Nutcracker. I have a copy at home, so I should read it this year.

[@aquaviolin07]

I highly recommend Dumas’ version of The Nutcracker. I read both his version and Hoffman’s version for the first time two years ago, and preferred the former. I did not like Piranesi. Derek Owusu’s That Reminds Me does it so much better. You've inspired me to get back to O'Henry. As for winter book recommendations, I have Doctor Zhivago and Bulgakov's The White Guard on my winter TBR list. Perhaps you would like Jeanette Winterson's Christmas Days: 12 Stories and 12 Feasts for 12 Days. I love Sholeh Wolpe's translation of Sin: Selected Poems of Forugh Farrokhzad, which has some winter poems in it. It's not enchanting, and it's dark sometimes, but the writing is gorgeous.

[@jenniferpalmer5130]

I have just finished Benfactress by Elizabeth von Arnim. But a book that I finished in November was Snow is falling by Sarah Bennett. It was a amazing read, I believed I read it in about three days. The book touches on family roots, coming home, family relations between generations and finding love at a older age. I could not put it down. I read it on kindle and asked for the physical version for Christmas. I love watching your videos just before bed, a amazing to relax before going to sleep. I hope that the weather is good where you are and staying safe, as in yorkshire, we are having really bad weather to the point of having powercuts, winds uprooting trees and the rain coming into people's houses. ❤❤

[@brendawomack5380]

I hope you are all safe. Praying for your safety.

[@jenniferpalmer5130]

@brendawomack5380 thank you so much for your sweet words. Yes we are all well and safe. Just wishing for better weather to come our way.

[@CarolynMarieReads]

Thank you sharing the lovely books you’ve been reading! I’m so glad you enjoy my videos ☺️ The weather hasn’t been too bad here in Bristol, but it has been quite windy. I hope you’re staying safe 🤍

[@jenniferpalmer5130]

@CarolynMarieReads Yes I am keeping safe and can't wait to see your video

[@poncedeleon759]

Talking of Christmas films, I have to watch It's A Wonderful Life every year, preferably on Christmas Eve

[@CarolynMarieReads]

Yesssss it’s also one of my favorites!

[@Katt_Dubbs]

I loved The Bear and the Nightingale! I didn't like the 2nd and 3rd books as much, but still a great series! :)

[@CarolynMarieReads]

Interesting… I’m so glad you still think it’s a great series! 😊

[@lenoraberendt750]

Carolyn- One of my favorite winter books is ‘The Mitten,’ by Jan Brett. The story comes from a Ukrainian folk tale and I think that you would enjoy it. Happy Holidays! -Lenora

[@CarolynMarieReads]

Hi Lenora! I grew up reading “The Mitten” by Jan Brett!!! Such a great book ☺️✨ Happy Holidays 🤍

[@Thecatladybooknook_PennyD]

Same!

[@maudhaugland5822]

I absolutely looove The Bear and the Nightingale, but the sequel is actually my favourite! That said, I hope you can read some Ukrainian literature too! I highly recommend Andrey Khurkov for example, and I think you would enjoy his book Death and the Penguin! Lots of wintery vibes there too, it's about a man who adopts a penguin and has to take care of a little girl while also being a writer ❤ Especially important in these times to support Ukraine in every way we can, or at least add that you don't support Russia of today although you are fascinated by its past. I know this channel is not about politics, but what Russia is doing right now is too horrible to ignore and I don't want you to accidentally promote them, because I really love your channel and your content ❤

[@vesnastihovic7014]

I'm reading The City of God.

[@jamesduggan7200]

Is that Aquinas? I read St Augustine a few months ago. I would like to read Aquinas too. If it isn't then sorry to have troubled you and have a happy holiday season : )

[@vesnastihovic7014]

​@jamesduggan7200 Yes! Saint Augustine who's against the philosophers but he likes to philosophizes. 😊 Happy Advent..

[@booklady8888]

How funny the Barbie Nutcracker is a fav in our house, too! I am waiting for our discussions on Fable but I didn't really like it. Happy reading 📚 😊

[@CarolynMarieReads]

It’s simply the best version of the story 😂✨☺️ I just posted my review of The Nutcracker on Fable. Although I really enjoyed certain aspects of it, I understand your feelings!

[@rosenthal111]

hello carolyn!! i hope you’re well. currently i’m reading ‘little women’ !! my edition is split into 2 and since ‘little women’ has 23 chapters, i’m reading one chapter a day and then on christmas eve im watching the movie! :) i thought it would be a good idea to get into the mindset for christmas 🌨️🎁 im also reading ‘a game of thrones’ switching between the audiobook and kindle edition. it’s been so long since i last watched the show! “winter is coming”

[@rosenthal111]

the bear and the nightingale has already been bought after reading your review. it’s so heartwarming hearing you talk about it 🤍 finding new favourites is just the best

[@jackiesliterarycorner]

I don't have any Christmas reads, but I just started to read The American Senator by Trollop and The Marvelous Land of Oz.

[@CorallieBuchanan]

. Also currently reading Winter Solstice by Rosamund Pilcher, recommended by your friend Emma. I’m loving it so far.

[@CarolynMarieReads]

So glad you’re enjoying it ☺️

[@snowhitepp3339]

My favourite Christmas books: 101Dalmatians by Dodie Smith (this is a must read) Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum (author of Oz series) - incredibly beautiful book Letters from Father Christmas - J.R.R. Tolkien Christmas Pig - J.K. Rowling + the classics like Nutcracker and Chrismas Carol :-)

[@JehnReads]

I've been loving fable too for book tracking but sadly most of my friends are on goodreads so I can't fully switch :( I also use storygraph for my stats so I'm always juggling between the three

[@elsitacacahuete427]

The Witch and the Tzar by Olesya Salnikova Gilmore It was a very nice read; Russian folklore 100%, I listened to the audio book.

[@NikitaZanichkowsky-fw8rd]

I’m looking forward to reading The Nutcracker (Hoffmann) and The Nutcracker of Nuremberg (Dumas), and I’m so excited I recently pick up a copy of JRR Tolkien’s Letters From Father Christmas … to his children with scans of the original letters, envelopes and artwork (have you read this one?)

[@CarolynMarieReads]

Wonderful! YES!!! I love letters from Father Christmas 🥰📖✨ It’s one of my very favorite Christmasy books! I hope you enjoy it 🤍

[@Victoria-kl7su]

Hi Carolyn, have been watching your videos for a long time and am so excited for you now having your first Winter in the U.K. Do you have a P.O Box, I would love to send you a Christmas themed book or 2 to say thank you for providing us with great entertainment over the year X Best wishes 🎉

[@neshkavirdure8289]

Thank You So Much For These Lovely Book Recommendatio The Bear and The Nightengale Looks So Interesting😊👍👍I am Currently Finishing Up Tales From The Celestial Realm By Sue Lynn Tann( Love Her Series Much❤), I Too am Finishing Up The Nutcracker and Want to Own This One Soon: Love The Atmospheric Descriptions in The Story😊).I Will be Reading Gift of The Magi Soon(Ebook)Other Books I am Reading Are : Great Expectationsby Charles Dickens (❤This Book and Becoming a Fast Fan of Charles Dickens' Work) and Mansfield Park By Jane Austen(❤ALL of Her Novels Much)

[@jimirdas4993]

Hello Carolyn❤,,,, I know I'm late but I just want to recommend you a book named *The call of wild* by Jack london, I just love love love this book and want to share this feeling with you,,,, it's one if my favourite classics,,,,, I just want to share this because you always share with us about all the great books and your feelings about them,,,, it's a pretty underrated classic as I have not seen people talking about it enough,,, I don't want to be a spoiler but just want to tell you that it's about a dog,,,and you will be heartbroken and devastated after reading it,,, it's like rollercoaster of emotions for me whenever I read it,,,,recommend you to read this during winter,,,,do give it a try and I hope you will like it as much as I do

[@Count_Deangeli]

❤❤❤

[@sandyrivers3037]

Forgive me Carolyn. I know this is about the books you read, but could you please tell me what mascara you use???

[@CarolynMarieReads]

Of course! I use Maybelline’s Lash Sensational “full fan effect” ☺️

[@katerina9159]

The winternight trilogy set the bar so high for me, I keep comparing every book to them...

[@CarolynMarieReads]

I have a feeling I’ll be doing the same from now on…

[@besottedorchids3605]

i agree, I really enjoyed The Bear and the Nightingale' your cover is different from yours.

[@AngelGail8]

I've just stared The Bear and the Nightingale. Amazon Kindle as it for 99p for a limited time.... Run.

[@CarolynMarieReads]

Amazinggggg

[@areadersalmanacwithceleste1366]

Hi, I am a fellow book tuber and highly recommend The Woods in Winter by Kiran Milwood Hargrave. I think you'd really enjoy it!

[@livros_damarcia]

🤎🤎🤎🤎

[@DavidAPiano]

You summed up all the feelings and thoughts about The Bear and the Nightingale that i have, I've re-read it 3 times, i read The Bear and the Nightingale in December 2020, The Girl in the Tower in December 2021 and The Winter of the Witch in December 2022. I enjoyed coming back to them every December and during Christmas and i'd like to share the music that i listened to whilst reading them which i think fit perfectly, it's Swedish Folk Carols and arrangements for choir and organ - kzbin.info/www/bejne/fXammZyspc52aa8 Volume 2 and Volume 1 kzbin.info/www/bejne/eZStmYetbL6Enck They are absolutely beautiful, and the cover photographs are so beautiful of winter landscapes.

[@mimishimaineko1173]

The best book of E.T.A. Hoffman's "Nutcracker" is the one with Maurice Sendak's illustrations.🧡🎄🩰