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Show CHRISTMAS Sage advice for surviving the holiday season HY AMY will get anyone in a holiday frame of mind. As will A ChiU's Christmas in Brooklyn (Candlepower, $10.95, pages, ISBN 0967755824), a magical short Frank Crocitta A Childs by story Christnuis is Crocittos ode to his StklbHLR youre throughout seeking new ideas for decorating or stories that will the vs hole family, this Christmas seasleighful of boohs to get you in the holiday Whether son otters a Italian-America- spirit n family, particu- Ah, ( hristmas. Cozy nights by the tire, gift giv ing and . . mistletoe poisoning? For those who like to be prethe for unexpected, look no further than The pared larly his grandmother, whose holiday traditions he recalls with dear joy. Grandmas cooking Uiri-Cu- t and baking could bring the S,enario lunhal Handbook: Holidays wolves out of the woods, make i( bromide, $14 95, 176 pages, ISBN 0611835995), This barbarians civil, and turn proud, guide to Christmas survival offers advice adventurous men away from all some helpful, some lust hilarious on a startlingly large array of holiday predicaments. A section on high endeavor," he writes, detailing the pastries, the surviving the great outdoors includes practical advice on how to deal with a cancelled flight, broiled eel, the pasta, the onion pie piled high lurn the page, however, and find a three-pagonto the familys Christmas table. Crocitto TW guide to tending off a charging reindeer (stand WORST CUE SCENARIO offers a sweetly perfect portrait of what its like to be young at Christmastime how it your ground and watch for antler display, if you HOLIDAYS feels to be dragged away from new toys to the really want to know). Advice on how to deflect overheated church, the overlong sermon and meddling parents is thoughtful and handy, as are a primer on treating food poisoning and a the women in fancy hats blocking the view. Flis There is No Santa Claus" speech. charming book is a glimpse back to Christmas T he New Years Rexolution-O-M.itiis perfect in 1940s Brooklyn, inside the home of a family : for the a chart to with Italian traditions and uniquely American mix and match resolutions to suit values. Author Bill Buncliffe offers another meditation on your mood. sketches of erstwhile champagne Christmas and youth in Chriitmas Past (Writers corks and unwanted carolers are Showcase, $9.95, 120 pages, ISBN 0595224229). Duncliffe replaces 1940s Brooklyn with 1960s Boston sprinkled throughout this perfect and a rowdy stocking stuffer. family whose 'I hose who perhaps are lookChristmas is under the cloudy threat of ing for a more traditional holiunemployment. While his father worries about losing his job at the local newspaper, day guidebook should check out Dave guiltily fixates on the special baseball ( hristmas Comfort and joy (Meredith, $29.95, 288 pages, glove that he knows is out of the question this ISBN 06962 539X). This combination cookbook and Christmas. When Christmas finally arrives, crafts guide offers modern decorating ideas that even the whole family is in for some surprises. the least crafty among us might be inspired to try. The Duncliffe writes a sweet, memorable tale of craft projects range from crocheting to decoupage. The siblings and secret childhood yearnings that will ring true for anyone who remembers his recipes combine easy directions and basic ingredients, but the end results particularly the cookies are anyor her own Christmases past. For a thorough and fascinating account of thing but oidinary. Martha Stewart herself would be the most popular Christmas song of all time, read impressed with the deceptively easy lime tartlets and White Christmas: The Story of an American Song cappuccino caramels, and recipes include optional tips on preparation and packaging. The gorgeous photos (Scribner, $24, 256 pages, ISBN 0743218752). First- tongue-in-chee- time author )ody Rosen has written for The Hew York Times and other publications, and his journalistic training is evident as he meticulously traces the roots of Irving Berlins famous song, which the confident Berlin once called the best song anybody ever wrote. Rosen could have simply recounted the genesis of NTtite Christmas, but he also delves into what we find so appealing about the genre of yearning ballads and explores the impact of the song. . The commercial success of White Christmas spurred the creation of several other classics, including Flave Yourself a Merry Little Christmas and c wishy-washy- Biggie-inducin- g the Red-Nos- Reindeer. More than just the history of one song. White Christmas investigates the inestimable importance of e H Rudolph popular music in American culture. Home for Christmas : Stories for Young and Old (Plough, $15, 336 pages, ISBN 0874869242) is a timely tool for parents hoping to teach young children the true meaning of the Christmas season. This beautifully illustrated collection, compiled by Miriam LeBlanc, includes spiritual stories for families to read together, some by noted authors such as Madeleine IEngle, Elizabeth Goudge and Pearl Buck, and some that are adapted from classic Christmas tales. No Room at the Inn" is a modern twist on the story of Mary and Joseph seeking shelter. The Vexation of Barney Hatch" features an Ebenezer Scrooge-lik- e character who learns an important message about how to find happiness. Many of the stories are set in ancient times and exotic locations from Siberia to Persia that are sure to spark a childs imagination. Home for Christmas offers messages of love and acceptance that are the perfect antidote to the commercialization of the season, f Amy Scribner writes from Washington, D.C. TRENDS Well-know- authors join the Christmas chorus n readers might think John Grisham started publishing trend the growing number authors penning Christmas books. Bah, humbug! Lets not lorgel the granddaddy of IvThnGpishv. Christmas stories: Charles Dickens A Chi Minas Carol, which became an immediate bestseller when it was first published in 1843. John Grisham didnt try his hand at writing a Christmas story until the 21st century arrived, but his winning example appears to have prompted a chorus of prominent authors to follow suit. Skipping Christmas, Grishams story of a suburban couple fed up with the holiday rush, jumped to the top of the bestseller lists when it was released last year. Publisher Doubleday is hoping to boost sales by issuing a redesigned, edition for the 2002 holiday season ($14.95, 192 pages, ISBN 0385508417). Here's a selection of other noted authors who are hoping to hitch a ride on Santas sleigh: Jan Karon, who struck holiday gold last year with I he Milford Snowman, returns with another d Some latest lower-price- d pint-size- 20 BOOKPAGE DECEMBER 2002 stocking stuffer, Esthers Gift (Viking, $10.95, 48 pages, ISBN 0670031216). Mitford resident Esther Bolick is chagrined to discover just how much its costing her to bake orange marmalade cakes for her friends around town. Should she economize and cut back on her holiday baking? As fans of Karons Mitford novels have come to expect, this story is as sweet as Esthers marmalade cake (recipe included). " t mystery writer Janet Evanovich is promising to shake up your holidays with her first Christmas novel, Visions of fjprJfV) Sugar Plums (St. Martins, $19.95, 160 pages, ISBN 0312306326). Saucy bounty hunter Stephanie Plum awakes one morning to find the Spirit of Christmas in her apartment. But this is no ethereal Spirit; hes a grungy-lookinguy in jeans and a leather jacket. And when he joins Stephanie in the hunt for Sandy Claws, the holiday fun is just beginning. David Baldacci, (see next page) known for political thrillers like l ast Man Standing and The Simple Truth, shifts gears dramatically with his new novel, The Red-ho- g Christmas Train. Journalist Tom Langdon is forced to y take a train to reach Los Angeles in time for Christmas and the 3,000-mil- e trip turns out to be a experience. With elements of cross-countr- romance, suspense and humor, and a first printing of 650,000, The Christmas Train is on a fast track to becoming one of the season's top titles. Quaker minister Philip Gulley has won a growing readership for his novels chronicling the smalltown charms of fictional Harmony, Indiana. In the spirit of the season, he offers a book, Christmas in Harmony (HarperSanFrancisco, $12.95, 96 pages, ISBN 0060520124). When an ornery member of the towns Quaker church insists that the church sponsor a live nativity scene, Pastor Sam Gardner has trouble on his hands not to mention a cow, a sheep and a goose. With his usual quirky characters and style, Gulley has created a memorable glimpse of an holiday. heart-warmi- |