One day late, but better than never, right? Thanks for continuing this activity, @TheEllieMo! 🤩

Jan: THE CRUELEST MONTH (also spelled CRUELLEST on some editions). 🤷‍♀️
Feb: THE BELL JAR

I first joined Litsy because I just didn't feel much community on Goodreads or Storybook. Here? Community GALORE! And who knew that we all loved swaps and exchanging bookish gifts? 🤩 Littens, here's to ending this year with love and hope in 2026. 🕯️🌎🕯️

And special thanks to the Littens below for the extra holiday love. 💙🤍🩵

I'm so excited to be the first to post about this book, thanks to you, @Catiewithac! Thank you so much for the perfect holiday gift; fuzzy and warm socks, a delightfully-smelling Dickens candle, and this book. I hope I am actually able to complete some of these puzzles! I'll have a heckuva fun time trying. I'm so lucky to have you in my Litsy life. Thank you, dear friend. 💙🤍🩵

My dear @Cuilin, thank you so much for the lovely holiday gifts. I do not believe I have ever read a Booker Prize winner (😱), and this one looks lovely--one of your favorite authors, right? And I adore the SWEET NOTHINGS booklet; where do you find such cool things? I am lucky to have you in my life, my #foreversherlocked partner. Thanks again, dear friend. 💙🤍🩵

#haikuhive #haikuaday

I still do wonder
what's out there that I can't see.
I wish I could know.

We sorely need it. 💚🤍♥️

Thank you for the perfect #JolabokaflodSwap, @wildwoodreads! I can't wait to dive into this book, and (ahem), I've already eaten way too many truffles. OMG! They taste like the deepest, darkest fudge! YUM! Happiest of merries to you! ♥️🤍💚
#JolabokaflodSwap

And thanks again, @MaleficentBookDragon, for organizing this lovely swap. ♥️🩶💚

#haikuhive #haikuaday

To all who celebrate, “Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.“

That “jolly old elf“
brought laughter into my heart.
Thanks, St. Nicholas. ♥️🤍💚

#haikuhive

To think that this movie didn't do well at the box office when it first came out still stuns me. Good ol' George Bailey ... the richest man in town. Plus, Jimmy Stewart! 💚🤍♥️

@LitsyEvents

So many thanks to all of the Littens who run @LitsyEvents. You are what keep us engaged and actively participating in all things Litsy. 💙🤍🩵

Link to the #LELH spreadsheet:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1xB17c0YZ6-IcngwWteNPyWiwoLn3bvcb7kjtqOLu...

#tuesdaytunes @TieDyeDude

Only two days left, so I gotta get in as much holiday music as I can. 💙🤍🩵

Link: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/holiday-playlist-2025/pl.u-3BEgFmE5g0

#haikuhive

I gifted this book to every child in my life when they reached “that age.“ I still read it every year and am still stunned by it, especially the illustrations. ♥️🚊💚

The crowd hushes as the
“first gift of Christmas“ rings true.
Does it still ring for you?

Thank you, @BarkingMadRead and the #hashtagbrigade ... what a ride this one was!

THE CRIME AT BLACK DUDLEY is an early Golden Age mystery that introduces Albert Campion in a secondary role. Set in an isolated country house, it combines murder, suspense, and criminal intrigue. The atmosphere is strong, but the pacing was sometimes uneven, the characters were thinly drawn, and the plot was occasionally implausible but (dare I say) fun. ⬇️

#whereareyoumonday @Cupcake12

Thanks for the tag, @rwmg! 🫂

Just finished this one today. I've been in Sussex, England, circa 1929, and I loved this crazy mystery! 😜

#middlegrademonday @Karisimo @daisey

This classic was adapted to a drama and was in our 7th grade McDougal Littell textbook back in the day. I'd show the George C. Scott version 1st to my 7th graders; then, we read the play out loud (they did much better with the voices after seeing it first). It was always a favorite of theirs and mine.

Link to the pdf file: https://sjsmiddleschool.weebly.com/uploads/1/6/3/2/16324226/u3_christmas_carol_s...

#mondaymood @Deblovestoread #ranttime

Different Monday, same mood against the same asshole. 💙✊🏻💙

#haikuhive #haikuaday

I was five years old when this came out. GO, BOOMERS & GENERATION X!!! ♥️💚♥️

#haikuhive

Max was always my favorite. 🤎🐾🤎

#5JoysFriday
@Debinhawaii 💙🤍🩵

Better late than never.
1. Finished physical therapy on my shoulder. Still have a ways to go, but I can exercise it on my own now. 💪🏻
2. Nyaker's ginger snaps from Sweden. I get these for Matt every year for his birthday. 🍪
3. Matt. He had a birthday this week, too. 💙
4&5. Kate & Pip, my two couch potatoes. Pip's still having grand mals, and we're still trying to figure out her meds. Been a tough two weeks.

#haikuhive

Mr. 101 and Mr. 10 Below at their best. 💙💚♥️

Santa calls in sick.
Miser brothers throw a fit––
cut the funky climate change.

Ahh, the 70s. 🕺🪩🕺

#midwintersolstice
@Alldebooks @TheBookHippie @Chrissyreadit

I reread this one every year on the solstice. 💙

#haikuaday #haikuhive

When I need the absolute cheeriest holiday movie, I to to ELF. 💚🧝♥️

“The best way to spread
Christmas cheer“ is to happily
watch ELF on repeat.

#TTT @dabbe

Having seen this movie a lot, that explains my best score ever! 🤣

In reading 25 Surprising Facts about this movie, here are three I didn't know:
1. HA was a Guinness record holder for 25 years (most $ made on opening weekend).
2. Robert De Niro turned down the Joe Pesci part.
3. Pesci's role (Harry Lime) is the same name as Orson Welles's role in THE THIRD MAN, a fabulous movie. https://tinyurl.com/4rndcy3v

Thank you @wildwoodreads! My #JolabokaflodSwap arrived safely!📗🍫 The tough part is waiting to open it! 🤩🤗😍

#JolabokaflodSwap

And thanks again, @MaleficentBookDragon, for organizing this lovely swap. ♥️🩶💚

#holidayhumor @Texreader

What a lovely card and ornament, @TheLudicReader. 😍 Thank you, dear friend. And of course, I haven't read any of your top 20 books; you've made my TBR even longer! I look forward to your picks every year. 🩶🩵🤍

I can't believe you painted this gorgeous bookmark, @Liseworks! It's L 🩵VELY! Thanks for making my Litsy life so much brighter! 🩶🩵🤍

And thank you for these lovely cards, @mimi28 and @jenniferw88. Mine are on their way! 🩶🩵🤍

And even more #holidaycardswap loveliness! Thank you, @Born.A.Reader and @BookwormAHN! 🩶🩵🤍
#holidaycardswap @TheBookHippie

More #holidaycardswap loveliness! Thank you, @TheBookHippie and @lauraisntwilder! 🩶🩵🤍
#holidaycardswap @TheBookHippie

And now for some #holidaycardswap loveliness! Thank you, @Amiable and @BookishMarginalia! 🩶🩵🤍
#holidaycardswap @TheBookHippie

And even more winter solstice loveliness. Thank you, @PaperbackPirate and @bookwormjillk! 🩶🩵🤍
#winternaturecardswap @TheBookHippie

Even more winter solstice loveliness. Thank you, @Chrissyreadit and @skygoddess1! 🩶🩵🤍
#winternaturecardswap @TheBookHippie

More winter solstice loveliness. Thank you, @kspenmoll and @Karisa! 🩶🩵🤍
#winternaturecardswap @TheBookHippie

#winternaturecardswap @TheBookHippie

Just sharing the joy of receiving these lovely cards. Thank you so much, @CrowCAH and @Texreader! Merry Winter Solstice! 🩶🩵🤍

Look what arrived, @Catiewithac! I'm going to try to wait until Christmas to open it. Thank you so much for thinking of me (P.S. something's on its way to you, too!). I am beyond lucky to have found you on Litsy. Merry Christmas to you and Abby, my dear friend. 🩶🩵🤍

#TTT #TakeThreeThursday @dabbe

Another quick and fun quiz today. Share anything you'd like: your score, the things you knew/didn't know/guessed at, favorite holiday movies ... I'd love to see/hear any of it. Please be sure to tag me!

Link to today's quiz: https://www.mentalfloss.com/quizzes/home-alone-trivia

All are welcome to play. Tagging a few to get us started. 🎄♥️🎄

#weirdwordwednesday @CBee
#allusions

This allusion is a weird one that you don't hear of very often.

#haikuhive #haikuaday

A fun “long“ short story by the indomitable Agatha Christie. I adored teaching this to my freshmen as their first introduction to Ms. Christie.

Stolen rubies hide
inside the Christmas pudding––
Poirot's on the case.

#haikuhive #haikuaday

Such a lovely story. ♥️💙💚

“It's fruitcake weather!“
Two hearts share their last Christmas––
Their kites fly through the sky.

#middlegrademonday @Karisimo @daisey

I taught middle school from 1994-2005, so my choices skew towards books between the 1970s -1990s). Three favorites that don't incorporate a holiday per se but definitely encompass winter:
•The tagged: DOGSONG: my favorite by Gary Paulsen.
•HATCHET: Also by Gary Paulsen. Love and miss that man.
•JULIE OF THE WOLVES: By Jean Craighead George. We must have a woman hero for “Pete“'s sake! 😀

Quick question:
Is there someone at @LitsyEvents I can email re: a spreadsheet I created? ♥️💙💚

#mondaymood @Deblovestoread

I'm not just sad by the murder of the genius Rob Reiner and his artistic wife. I am ENRAGED by this ignoramus's reply. It is beyond despicable. It is psychologically sick and heinous. Every single person who voted for this maniacal, delusional narcissist as our president needs to take a good, long look in the mirror at yourself. Because how you can live with your choice is beyond me. The asshole is PURE EVIL. #ranttime

#haikuhive #haikuaday

Going to watch this one tonight. ♥️💙💚

#haikuaday #haikuhive

Another favorite. If you've never seen the narration of this lovely book by Meryl Streep with music by George Winston, here's a link below. It's not the best rendition, but it's the only one I could find. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fs9YdlWD5ZU&t=139s

Worn fur, seams undone––
The boy's love makes him real at last ...
able to freely run.

#goodnewssunday @Deblovestoread

Article links:
1. https://tinyurl.com/ej4fdvsx
2. https://tinyurl.com/dkf4wzzu
3. https://tinyurl.com/ynj6byks

Have a good week, everyone. 💚💙♥️

#weeklyfavorites @Read4life ♥️💙💚

I couldn't resist finishing both of these year-long reads that were started back in January! 💙🩵💙 them both.

#Naturalisty @Alldebooks @TheBookHippie @Chrissyreadit

I couldn't resist finishing today. A nature-writing book organized into short daily entries, each focusing on a tree species or tree-related theme, the format encourages readers to notice trees as part of everyday life, blending ecology, cultural history, and seasonal observation. Beer‘s clear, engaging prose makes the book accessible to a wide audience, ... ⬇️

#haikuaday #haikuhive

To my knowledge, this is the only story in the SH canon that takes place during the holidays, and it's a true (wait for it) ... gem. 💎💎💎 #noplacelikeholmes #foreversherlocked #thelitsyirregulars

You inspired me today, @Bookwomble! 🫂

Goose commits a crime,
Hat and Holmes silently judge––
Merry theft-mas, solved.

#haikuhive #haikuaday

A fave by a favorite author. 💛🤎💛

Hair and watch laid down,
love trades treasures for the other––
empty hands, full hearts.