Monday, December 26, 2011

Twelve unusual Christmas reads

At The Daily Beast, Stefan Beck tagged twelve of the more unusual Christmas reads.

One title on the list:
Adalbert Stifter, Rock Crystal.

The crown jewel of the Christmas bookshelf. Rock Crystal contains the most gorgeous descriptions of a frozen landscape you’re likely to encounter in any book, as well as the most affecting Christmas miracle in world literature. Adam Kirsch called it a “parable of frightening depth.” That this simple story of two lost children manages to scale such heights is a testament to the holiday season’s imaginative power. The NYRB version, translated by the poet Marianne Moore, belongs on every civilized bookshelf, all year round.
Read about the other entries on the list.

--Marshal Zeringue