My Top Books of 2021

For the past few years, I've attempted the Goodreads challenge of selecting a goal for the number of books I want to read in a year.   This year I set my goal to 50, which I've actually surpassed, (I'm somewhere in the 80's).

Here are a few of the books that enjoyed this year (not necessarily published in 2021).

When I saw the descriptor that said "Love Actually meets Groundhog Day" I was sold.

In a Holidaze by Lauren, Christina

Maelyn Jones is living with her parents, hates her job, and just messed up her love life. She is dreading the family's last Christmas at their Utah cabin, but one random wish and she may just get a do-over.

Jenny Colgan has become my go-to for comfort reads.   

The Christmas Bookshop 

When she is out of a job just in time for the holidays, Carmen, with little cash and few options, is forced to move in with her perfect sister where she takes a job at a book store that desperately needs her help and helps her in return.

Finding representation in fiction is important. This includes not just having characters with disabilities, but characters who are not put into a role of a victim because of it.

Unbroken: 13 Stories Starring Disabled Teens

An anthology of stories in various genres, each featuring disabled characters and written by disabled creators. The collection includes stories of interstellar war, a journey to Persia, a dating debacle. The teenaged characters reflect diverse colors, genders, and orientations-- without obscuring the realities of their disabilities. -- adapted from jacket

Impatiently waiting for the 2nd book of this series to be released, (April 5, 2022).

The Unkindness of Ravens: a Greer Hogan Mystery by Hilliard, M. E.

Greer Hogan is a librarian and an avid reader of murder mysteries. She also has a habit of stumbling upon murdered bodies. The first was her husband's, and the tragic loss led Greer to leave New York behind for a new start in the Village of Raven Hill. But her new home becomes less idyllic when she discovers her best friend sprawled dead on the floor of the library...

I have to hand it to the main character b/c as much as I love my siblings they can clean their own messes.

My Sister, the Serial Killer by Braithwaite, Oyinkan

Nigeria. Korede's sister, Ayoola, is the favorite child, the beautiful one, possibly sociopathic. And now Ayoola's third boyfriend in a row is dead. Korede knows the best solutions for cleaning blood, the trunk of her car is big enough for a body. Not that she gets any credit. A kind, handsome doctor at the hospital where Korede works is the bright spot in her life. One day Ayoola shows up to the hospital uninvited and he takes notice, asking Korede for Ayoola's phone number. Now Korede must reckon with what she will do about her sister. -- adapted from publisher info

I love the idea of multiple alternate universes and getting to try them on for size.

The Midnight Library by Haig, Matt

"'Between life and death there is a library, and within that library, the shelves go on forever. Every book provides a chance to try another life you could have lived. To see how things would be if you had made other choices... Would you have done anything different, if you had the chance to undo your regrets?' A dazzling novel about all the choices that go into a life well lived, from the internationally bestselling author of Reasons to Stay Alive and How To Stop Time. Somewhere out beyond the edge of the universe there is a library that contains an infinite number of books, each one the story of another reality. One tells the story of your life as it is, along with another book for the other life you could have lived if you had made a different choice at any point in your life. While we all wonder how our lives might have been, what if you had the chance to go to the library and see for yourself? Would any of these other lives truly be better? In The Midnight Library, Matt Haig's enchanting new novel, Nora Seed finds herself faced with this decision. Faced with the possibility of changing her life for a new one, following a different career, undoing old breakups, realizing her dreams of becoming a glaciologist; she must search within herself as she travels through the Midnight Library to decide what is truly fulfilling in life, and what makes it worth living in the first place"--. Provided by publisher.

Fredrik Backman is on my favorite author list.

Beartown  

A "poignant, charming novel about a forgotten town fractured by scandal, and the amateur hockey team that might just change everything ... Fredrik Backman knows that we are forever shaped by the places we call home, and ... explores what can happen when we carry the heavy weight of other people's dreams on our shoulders"--. Provided by publisher.

I don't usually read fictionalized versions of historical figures but, this year I read  Lady Clementine by Benedict, Marie

A historical tale inspired by the life of Clementine Churchill that traces her unflinching role in protecting the life and wartime agendas of her husband, Winston Churchill.

and

Adobe Moon: Wyatt Earp, an American odyssey by Warren, Mark

"It is 1862. With his older brothers fighting in the war, Wyatt Earp - at fourteen - is left to manage the family's Iowa farm under his father's iron rule. These years of labor inculcate into him an ambition to seek his fortunes by his wits rather than the sweat of his back. The open territory to the west, he knows, offers that opportunity. When his family treks to California he makes the passing acquaintance of a beguiling Mexican girl, whose philosophy of success and failure will haunt Wyatt for years to come. It is the prophecy of the "adobe moon," a rusty-hued orb that reminds a man: If you do not achieve your dreams, you must settle for what you have. Though rejecting this creed, Wyatt feels the notion dog him like a ghost. After stints as a coach driver, freight-hauler, and grader for the railroad, Wyatt takes his first "respectable" job as a constable in a small Missouri town. There he meets the woman who teaches him the value of settling down with a family. When she dies while with child, Wyatt sinks into a depression where the lines of ethics blur. Wanted by the law he loses himself in the waterfront slums of Peoria working in brothels. Fed up with his self-made squalor, he returns to the West for a second chance at a proper life. In a Kansas cattle town he comes face to face with his salvation . . . and his destiny as a lawman with his own iron rule" -- Provided by publisher.

I loved everything about this book and it's one where as soon as I finished it I wanted a sequel.  

Hench : a novel by Walschots, Natalie Zina

Anna does boring things for terrible people because even criminals need office help and she needs a job... A novel of love, betrayal, revenge, and redemption follows a young woman as she discovers that the greatest superpower--for good or evil--is a properly executed spreadsheet.

Rosaline Palmer takes the cake by Hall, Alexis J. gave me some "laughed till I cried" moments.

"Rosaline Palmer is just barely holding her life together. Her paycheck might as well be parchment paper, her house is falling apart, and help from her parents is always served with a generous slice of disappointment and judgment. And the cherry on top? Now her daughter's school is charging all sorts of outlandish extra fees for trips that Rosaline can't afford. But where there's a whisk there's a way. . . and Rosaline has just landed a place on the nation's favorite baking show. Winning the prize money could change everything, but more than collapsing trifles stand between Rosaline and sweet, sweet victory. Charming and suave Alain Pope is just the type of person her parents planned for her to marry, and better yet, her fellow contestant is doing his best to sweep her off her feet. Yet while he says and bakes all the right things, it's friendly, down-to-earth electrician Harry Dobson who Rosaline finds as tempting as a midnight ice-cream sundae with salted caramel . . . and just as hard to resist. But as the competition -- and the ovens -- heat up, Rosaline starts to realize the most delicious recipes come about when you don't follow the recipe"--. Provided by publisher.

The next 3 books I loved.  going back to the need for disability representation; I could relate in some way to each of these authors and that was something I needed. 

Sitting Pretty: The View from my Ordinary Resilient Disabled Body by Taussig, Rebekah

Disfigured: On Fairy Tales, Disability, and Making Space by Leduc, Amanda

and

What Doesn't Kill You: A Life with Chronic Illness-Lessons from a Body in Revolt by Miller, Tessa

Just Finished:

 

Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Montell, Amanda

What causes people to join-- and more importantly, stay in-- extreme groups? The answer, Montell believes, has nothing to do with freaky mind-control wizardry or Kool-Aid. She argues that the key to manufacturing intense ideology, community, and us/them attitudes all comes down to language. In both positive ways and shadowy ones, cultish language is something we hear-- and are influenced by-- every single day. Montell exposes the verbal elements that make a wide spectrum of communities "cultish." In doing so, she reveals how they even pervade our modern start-ups, Peloton leaderboards, and Instagram feeds. -- adapted from jacket. Provided by publisher.

Graphic Novels

Graphic Novels are the glorious combination of comics and novels. However, the "novel" part of graphic novels includes non-fiction as well as fiction. The predominant categories include Manga, (the Japanese word for "comic" that the U.S. uses to describe the Japanese style of comics. These are read top to bottom and right to left), Superhero Stories, Personal Narratives, (Memoir), Non-Fiction, and of course Fiction.

Graphic novels are rich in text and beneficial for the development of reading skills especially for those who require a different style of learning. The fast pace helps to keep the reader's attention and the images help to bring life to the stories, and in this way bring a greater depth to Classics;

I certainly would have loved to have the graphic novel version of Beowulf when I was in high school. 

MANGA:

Manga in Theory and Practice: The Craft of Creating Manga by Araki, Hirohiko

"Learn how to create manga from Hirohiko Araki--creator of Jojo's Bizarre Adventure and a master of the medium! Hirohiko Araki is the author of one of the longest-running and most beloved manga of all time, the epic fan favorite JoJo's Bizarre Adventure. According to him, "manga is the ultimate synthesis of all forms of art," and in this book, he reveals the secrets behind how to make the magic happen using concrete examples from his own work. Read all about his "golden ratio of beauty" for drawing, the "investigative reports" he draws up for each of the characters he creates, his methodology for storytelling inspired by the great Ernest Hemingway, and many more aspects of manga creation in this how-to guide penned by an industry legend"-- Provided by publisher.

Maiden Railways by Nakamura, Asumiko

All aboard! This book is your ticket to seven romances--from confessions in Iriuda to proposals in Enoshima and all points

in between.

School of Horns. 1 by Aoi, Mito

In a world where magic is commonplace, Eru has just enrolled in magic school but he's incredibly concerned about having smaller horns than his classmates. But when he meetsRihito, the high-scoring top student of their year, it's a sign that things are about to change!

Sneeze: Naoki Urasawa story collection by Urasawa, Naoki

"A curated collection of eight short stories and graphic essays by famed manga author Naoki Urasawa, creator of the acclaimed series Monster and 20th Century Boys! Urasawa's characters confront fantastical elements ranging from psychic powers, toalien visitors to planet Earth, toattacks by giant monsters. On the flip side, the author philosophizes about his real-world experiences with the wild and wacky international music scene. Plus, a classic, funny animal tale, in Urasawa's inimitable style!" -- ONIX annotation.

Those not-so-sweet boys. 1 by Nogiri, Yoko

"From the creator of That Wolf-Boy Is Mine! and Love in Focus comes a story of a hard-working high schooler who falls for a bad boy, and discovers that the lives of him and his friends are nothing like what she imagined. Don't miss Yoko Nogiri's newest shojo hit! A DEBT OWED Midori drops her wallet on her first day of high school, but her new classmate Ichijo swoops in to help. She wants to thank him, but he's part of a tight-knit trio and none of them are ever in class! Rumor has it that they all got expelled for acting up, and studious Midori's actually at risk of expulsion, too... In order to help support her family, she has a part-time job, which is against the school rules. When the chairman of the school board catches her leaving work, he says he'll let it go--but only if she's up to the task of bringing the three boys back to school. Well, why not? It'll be a piece of cake...right?"--Publisher description.

A Manga Lover's Tokyo Travel Guide : [My Favorite Things to See and Do in Japan! by Neo, Evangeline

"For fans of Japanese manga and anime, a trip to Tokyo is an absolute must! In this captivating manga-style guidebook, manga artist and author Evangeline Neo travels to the Japanese capital with her mascots Kopi the dog and Matcha the cat, bringing you to all the otaku sights the city has to offer. She'll tell you everything you need to know about: shopping for manga memorabilia in Akihabara and Nakano; visiting anime and manga museums like Studio Ghibli and Sanrio Puroland; getting dressed up at a cosplay studio; going to a maid café and a butler café; taking a manga drawing class"--Back cover.

Superhero:

Marvel-Verse Wanda and Vision. [graphic novel]: by Higgins, Kyle

"They are two of the mightiest Avengers, who shared one of the greatest romances in the entire Marvel-Verse! They are the synthezoid Vision and the reality-manipulating Scarlet Witch - and these are some of their most action-packed adventures! First, the Vision is unleashed on the Avengers by his "father" - the evil android, Ultron! Vision's control of his density makes him a formidable opponent, but his inner nobility soon sees him turn on his inhuman creator! Joining the team, Vision soon finds love with Wanda Maximoff , the Scarlet Witch - and their far-out wedding is one of the greatest Avengers stories ever told! Wanda and Vision make one heck of a team - but even with Spider-Man by their side, can they defeat the dark sorcerer Necrodamus?"--Amazon.com.

Marvel-verse: Shang-Chi by Van Lente, Fred

Shang-Chi is the Marvel-Verse's Master of Kung Fu - and his deadly hands are full in these action-packed adventures! When Shang-Chi is enlisted by Nick Fury to help Spider-Man and Black Widow foil the vicious Viper's deadly plot, he must pit his fists and feet against Silver Samurai's sword - and Boomerang's boomerangs! Then, Wolverine seeks out Shang-Chi to train him in the skills necessary to defeat the savage Sabretooth! A class at Midtown High leads Shang-Chi into a team-up with Spidey against Midnight and his ninja army - and the wallcrawler asks for Shang-Chi's guidance on learning a little Spider-Fu! But will Shang-Chi find himself over his head in his newest adventure?

Doomsday Clock: The Complete Collection by Johns, Geoff


"The world of Watchmen collides with the DC Universe in a story that rewrites the past, present, and future of comics! Dr. Manhattan, a near-omnipotent being from the Watchmen universe, has been using his powers to rewrite the DC Universe-reshaping some heroes' histories, erasing other heroes altogether, and playing with the fates of the good and evil alike. But why? What does a godlike being from another world stand to gain from the DC Universe? The mystery remains, but now that our heroes know they're being toyed with, what can they do to stop it? The clock is ticking..."-- Provided by publisher.

Batgirl. vol. 8, The Joker War by Castellucci, Cecil

"After the disastrous dust-up with Oracle, Batgirl needs to regroup. Yet The Maker has come to Gotham to claim a prize from his past, and Batgirl must return to super-heroism and stop him before she loses herself in the grip of his twisted tales! Meanwhile, Gotham City lies in ruins after the events of 'City of Bane.' As Barbara Gordon's friends and neighbors try to rebuild their homes, she faces a conflict she can't win with her fists: 'Who Really Owns Gotham?'"--. Provided by publisher.

Personal Narrative:

Naturalist: A Graphic Adaptation by Ottaviani, Jim

"Edward O. Wilson, one of the world's preeminent biologists, launches his career, not in a classroom but roaming outside, exploring beaches, woods, and swamps with an insatiable drive to understand the natural world. Wilson's critically acclaimed memoir Naturalist is an inspiring account of his growth as a scientist and the evolution of the fields he helped define. This new [graphic adaptation] brings Wilson's childhood and celebrated career to life through full-color illustrations and Wilson's own lyrical writing."--Provided by publisher.

I'm a wild seed by De la Cruz, Sharon Lee

"In this delightfully compelling full-color graphic memoir, the author shares her process of undoing the effects of a patriarchal, colonial society on her self-image, her sexuality, and her concept of freedom. Reflecting on the ways in which oppression was the cause for her late bloom into queerness, we are invited to discover people and things in the author's life that helped shape and inform her LGBTQ identity. And we come to an understanding of her holistic definition of queerness"--. Provided by publisher.

Almost American Girl: An Illustrated Memoir by Ha, Robin

"A powerful and moving teen graphic novel memoir about immigration, belonging, and how arts can save a life--perfect for fans of American Born Chinese and Hey, Kiddo. For as long as she can remember, it's been Robin and her mom against the world. Growing up as the only child of a single mother in Seoul, Korea, wasnt always easy, but it has bonded them fiercely together. So when a vacation to visit friends in Huntsville, Alabama, unexpectedly becomes a permanent relocation--following her mother's announcement that she's getting married--Robin is devastated. Overnight, her life changes. She is dropped into a new school where she doesnt understand the language and struggles to keep up. She is completely cut off from her friends in Seoul and has no access to her beloved comics. At home, she doesn't fit in with her new stepfamily, and worst of all, she is furious with the one person she is closest to--her mother. Then one day Robins mother enrolls her in a local comic drawing class, which opens the window to a future Robin could never have imagined"--Amazon.com.

Tetris: The Games People Play by Brown, Box

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  "It is, perhaps, the perfect video game. Simple yet addictive, Tetris delivers an irresistible, unending puzzle that has players hooked. Play it long enough and you'll see those brightly colored geometric shapes everywhere. You'll see them in your dreams. Alexey Pajitnov had big ideas about games. In 1984, he created Tetris in his spare time while developing software for the Soviet government. Once Tetris emerged from behind the Iron Curtain, it was an instant hit. Nintendo, Atari, Sega--game developers big and small all wanted Tetris. A bidding war was sparked, followed by clandestine trips to Moscow, backroom deals, innumerable miscommunications, and outright theft. In this graphic novel, New York Times--bestselling author Box Brown untangles this complex history and delves deep into the role games play in art, culture, and commerce. For the first time and in unparalleled detail, Tetris: The Games People Play tells the true story of the world's most popular video game."--Page [2] of cover.
  

Dancing at the Pity Party: A Dead Mom Graphic Memoir by Feder, Tyler

• "Tyler Feder shares her story of her mother's first oncology appointment to facing reality as a motherless daughter in this frank and refreshingly funny graphic memoir."-- Provided by publisher.  
• 
  
• Non-Fiction:
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Camouflage: The Hidden Lives of Autistic Women by Bargiela, Sarah

"This graphic novel explores the experiences and difficulties faced by women on the spectrum, such as late or incorrect diagnosis and having to master the art of pretending to be 'normal'. A fascinating insight into an under-represented condition."--. Provided by publisher

Constitution illustrated by Sikoryak, R.

R. Sikoryak is the master of pop culture pastiche. In 'Masterpiece Comics', he interpreted classic literature with defining twentieth-century comics. With 'Terms and Conditions', he made the unreadable contract that everyone signs and no one reads, readable. He employs his magic yet again to investigate the very framework of the country with 'Constitution Illustrated'. By visually interpreting the complete text of the supreme law of the land with more than a century of American pop culture icons, Sikoryak distills the very essence of the government legalese from the abstract to the tangible, the historical to the contemporary. Among Sikoryak s spot-on unions of government articles and amendments with famous comic-book characters: the Eighteenth Amendment that instituted prohibition is articulated with Homer Simpson running from Chief Wiggum; the Fourteenth Amendment that solidifies citizenship to all people born and naturalized in the United States is personified by Ms. Marvel; and, of course, the Nineteenth Amendment offering women the right to vote is a glorious depiction of Wonder Woman breaking free from her chains. American artists from George Herriman (Krazy Kat) and Charles Schulz (Peanuts) to Raina Telgemeier (Sisters) and Alison Bechdel (Dykes to Watch Out For) are homaged, with their characters reimagined in historical costumes and situations. We the People has never been more apt.

Good Girls Don't Make History by Kiehner, Elizabeth

"Good Girls Don't Make History is an important graphic novel that amplifies the voices of female legends from 1840 to the present day. Reliving moments from the lives of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Sojourner Truth, Alice Paul, Ida B. Wells, and Susan B. Anthony, these inspiring stories are boldly told from one of the most formative eras in women's history--the fight for the vote in the United States." --. Amazon.

A Quick & Easy Guide to Sex & Disability by Andrews, A.

"All different kinds of bods want to connect with other bods, but lots of them get left out of the conversation when it comes to S-E-X. As explained by disabled cartoonist A. Andrews, this easy-to-read guide covers the basics of disability sexuality, common myths about disabled bodies, communication tips, and practical suggestions for having the best sexual experience possible. Whether you yourself are disabled, you love someone who is, or you just want to know more, consider this your handy starter kit to understanding disability sexuality, and your path to achieving accessible (and fulfilling) sex"--Page 4 of cover.

Filmish: A Graphic Journey Through Film by Ross, Edward

"In Filmish, cartoonist Edward Ross takes us on an exhilarating ride through the history of cinema, using comics to uncover the magic and mechanics behind our favorite movies. Exploring everything from censorship to set design, Ross spotlights the films and filmmakers that embody this provocative and inventive medium, from the pioneers of early cinema to the innovators shaping the movies of today, from A Trip to the Moon to Inception and beyond"--Page 4 of cover.

Fiction:

Speak: The Graphic Novel by Anderson, Laurie Halse

"Speak up for yourself--we want to know what you have to say." From the first moment of her freshman year at Merryweather High, Melinda knows this is a big fat lie, part of the nonsense of high school. She is friendless--an outcast--because she busted an end-of-summer party by calling the cops, so now nobody will talk to her, let alone listen to her.

The Sacrifice of Darkness by Gay, Roxane   
                   "Follow the journey of two young adults, Joshua and Claire, each individually shaped by the day the sky went dark, but drawn to each other because of it. Coming of age in this new landscape, they will be forced to confront and challenge notions of identity, guilt, and survival as the darkness grows around them. When fear threatens to envelop all hope they have left, the two discover that love, family, and finding the true light in a world seemingly robbed of any, will guide their way forward."--Provided by publisher.





Cheer Up!: Love and Pompoms by Frasier, Crystal



"Annie is a smart, antisocial lesbian starting her senior year of high school who's under pressure to join the cheerleader squad to make friends and round out her college applications. Her former friend BeBe is a people-pleaser, a trans girl who must keep her parents happy with her grades and social life in order to maintain their support of her transition. Through the rigors of squad training and amped-up social pressures (not to mention micro-aggressions and other queer youth problems), the two girls rekindle a friendship they thought they'd lost and discover there may be other, sweeter feelings springing up between them."--Page [4] of cover.





Odessa by Hill, Jonathan



"Eight years ago an earthquake--the Big One--hit along the Cascadia fault line, toppling cities and changing landscapes all up and down the west coast of the United States. Life as we know it changed forever. But for Vietnamese American Virginia Crane, life changed shortly after the earthquake, when her mother left and never came back. Ginny has gotten used to a life without her mother, helping her father take care of her two younger brothers, Wes and Harry. But when a mysterious package arrives for her eighteenth birthday, her life is shaken up yet again. For the first time, Ginny wants something more than to survive. And it might be a selfish desire, but she's determined to find out what happened to her mother--even if it means leaving her family behind."-- Provided by publisher.





Slaughterhouse-Five: Or The Children's Crusade: A Duty-Dance with Death by North, Ryan

"The first-ever graphic novel adaptation of Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five, an American classic, is one of the world's great anti-war books. An American classic and one of the world's seminal antiwar books, Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five is faithfully presented in graphic novel form for the first time from Eisner Award-winning writer Ryan North (How to Invent Everything: A Survival Guide for the Stranded Time Traveler) and Eisner Award-nominated artist Albert Monteys (Universe!). Listen: Billy Pilgrim has...read Kilgore Trout...opened a successful optometry business...built a loving family...witnessed the firebombing of Dresden...traveled to the planet Tralfamadore...met Kurt Vonnegut...come unstuck in time. Billy Pilgrim's journey is at once a farcical look at the horror and tragedy of war where children are placed on the frontlines and die (so it goes), and a moving examination of what it means to be fallibly human"--Amazon.com.

Christmas Movies

December and the last part of November is generally a time of getting in as many Christmas movies as I can. This is in hopes that it will stir up the necessary holiday cheer one needs in order to tolerate the shopping, the wrapping, and the family eating their way through multiple batches of chocolate chip cookies before Christmas Eve.  However, December 23rd has been designated as the day to binge as many Christmas movies as you can.  For some, this is just a matter of watching Hallmark all day; for me, this would likely involve National Lampoon's Christmas vacation and Scrooged.

It would be near impossible for me to make a list of Christmas movies without including the greatest of all versions of "A Christmas Carol"   I am, of course, talking about "The Muppet Christmas Carol" because there is no one who can play Bob Cratchit better than Kermit.  

 

 The Muppet Christmas Carol

Miser Ebenezer Scrooge learns the true meaning of Christmas and reforms his heartless and money-grubbing ways after being visited on Christmas Eve by four ghosts. Anniversary edition.

 

A Christmas Story

A young boy must convince his parents that a toy rifle is the only Christmas gift that will make Christmas worthwhile. Not only do his parents face what many other parents do during that time of the year, but their actions fit in with the All-American Christmas.

 

Elf

 
A young orphan child mistakenly crawls into Santa's bag and is transported back to the North Pole to be raised as an elf. Years later, Buddy learns he is not really an elf and goes on a journey to New York to find his true identity.

 

Home alone

 
Eight-year-old Kevin is left alone for the holidays and must defend his house from a pair of bumbling burglars. 

The Grinch

 
The story of a cynical grump who goes on a mission to steal Christmas, only to have his heart changed by a young girl's generous holiday spirit. It is a universal story about the spirit of Christmas and the indomitable power of optimism.

 

 

Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales

 
While Linus writes his letters and Santa, Lucy tries her best to be nice, Charlie Brown and Sally wait up for Santa and Snoopy has a run in with a ferocious cat next door.

 

 

Miracle on 34th Street 

 
In this Oscar-winning classic, a Macy's Department Store Santa who insists his name is Kris Kringle teaches everyone a lesson in love, faith and the value of imagination. 

 

Holiday Inn
 

 

Hallmark Channel Holiday Collection Movie 4 Pack

 

 

 Holiday collector's set.

 

 

 Frank Capra's It's a wonderful life

 https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7vfx5k

 

 

The "is this really a Christmas movie?"  list:

The long kiss goodnight

 

 

Die Hard 

 

Lethal Weapon 

 

Gremlins