Friday, December 6, 2013

EVENT: Advent Tour 2013



Welcome to An Adventure in Reading's part of the Virtual Advent Tour! I'm a little late today, but I did make it.
Be sure to visit the other posting today:   Ashley @ Closed the Cover

I've recently discovered audiobooks that I can listen to in my car on my iPhone. As Christmas is approaching, I've rediscovered an old author favorite who writes short, Christmas based novellas. The best part is the Victorian setting, with all the stuffy mores and antimaccassars (which always reminds me of The Big Comfy Couch and her Aunty Maccassar! gotta love jokes for adults in children's programming) 
Each book is only 3 to 4 hours long, with a little mystery.
Anne Perry is very well known for two of her mystery series, William Monk, and Thomas Pitt. Both are Victorian mysteries and I've read nearly all of both series, although I think there have been new Thomas Pitt books recently released, so I am behind on some.

1. A Christmas Journey
2. A Christmas Visitor
3. A Christmas Guest
4. A Christmas Secret
5. A Christmas Beginning
6. A Christmas Grace
7. A Christmas Promise
8. A Christmas Odyssey
9. A Christmas Homecoming
10. A Christmas Garland
11. A Christmas Hope: A Novel

So far this season I've read A Christmas Guest, which had a character from the Thomas Pitt series, his grandmother-in-law, a cranky old biddy, who recognizes some of her bad behaviour as she visits another family over Christmas. Perry analyzes moments to death (she thought she sensed a fraility or fear as he answered her question, but it happened so quickly she almost thought she imagined it, the tensing in his shoulders) but the mysteries are simple, with a small village, 'anything can happen' feel.They are getting me into the Christmas feeling everytime I drive in my car.


In 2013, I posted reviews of some of my favorite mystery series that happened to have books set at Christmas.
In 2011, I posted a 'recipe' for fruitcake that my grandmother had given me.
In 2010, I took a humorous look at some local events on Prince Edward Island.
In 2009, we played 'guess the carol'
In 2008, I played a game of 'guess the movie', and my favorite Christmas picture ever.
In 2007, it was the original 'guess the carol' game, with your vocabulary tested, and my whipped shortbread cookie recipe.


 Merry Christmas! Happy Holiday! I hope you all find a lovely book to read under the tree.

( Please wait for the Intense debate comments - sometimes it takes a few seconds to load.)

Comments (10)

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Thanks for joining in again! I am listening to Hogfather by Terry Pratchett as my Christmas read. While I have heard of Anne Perry I have never read her before. So many authors and so little time!

Merry Christmas! Thanks for joining in again. :)
1 reply · active 590 weeks ago
thanks for hosting again. I almost didn't make it today, but I would have been disappointed in myself if I hadn't participated. It's a part of Christmas!
We listened to Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris on our drive to and from Thanksgiving this year. I liked half the stories and found the others dark and depressing.

I'm thinking 12 Drummers Drumming will by my next audiobook. And I'll see if the library offers any of these via Overdrive, too. Thanks!
1 reply · active 590 weeks ago
I've read one Sedaris, and did not get his humour at all.
I've read 12 Drummers Drumming. It's okay, but it was a first in a series, so there was some setting up. It wasn't actually Christmas - the main character was Father Christmas, a priest. Nice cozy in a British village, which hits some sweet spots. Merry Christmas!
Thanks for this post. I love good Christmas stories. My sister is an fan of Anne Perry's mysteries. I can't wait to tell her about these new-to-me Christmas novellas. Merry Christmas.
I really should read (or listen) to a Christmas story! Wahoo on 5 or more years! :)
Thanks for introducing me to these - I do like to listen to or read a holiday themed book - it puts me in the spirit!
That's a lot of Christmas books!
I love how you've participated for so many years! It's about time that someone does a Best-of, I think.

Here's my Virtual Advent post!
You know, as obsessed with All Things Christmas as I am, I have never big a Christmas story reader. You'd think with my love of books AND Christmas that this would be a no-brainer, but nope. I really should try this one year. Short stories would be so nice to get my toes wet in this! Thanks for the story ideas!

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