Christmas 2023 reading and listening

We have plenty of literary material that captures the classic and cozy Christmas feeling below.

But not everyone is in search of that today ... so we've saved a New York Times piece on the tradition of ghost stories at Christmas to share today.

Know that you're in good company, too, because on top of the UK's Christmas bestseller chart was the murder-mystery puzzle book Murdle by GT Karber.

And now for the warm-and-fuzzy Christmas content from the archives ... 

• Enjoy a free short story from author Tessa Hadley

• David Sedaris reads as an elf and discusses playing an elf

• Read and listen to George Saunders's Christmas stories  

• Gretchen Rubin reads A Christmas Carol (staves 1 and 2)

• Gretchen Rubin reads A Christmas Carol (staves 3, 4, and 5)

• History podcast covers Washington Irving’s "American" Christmas

• A winter solstice recommendation: The Shortest Day

• Author Q&A: Don Kennedy 

• The best way to spread Christmas cheer? Book quotes!

• Quotes for Christmas Eve

• Christmas quotes — silly and snarky this time