Book Review: Countdown to Christmas: Have a Very Merry Movie Holiday by Caroline McKenzie

Countdown to Christmas: Have a Very Merry Movie Holiday

by Caroline McKenzie (745.594 McK)

 

This book, which originally came out in 2020 (which is the edition the libraries own), also had an updated edition in 2022. This was published by the folks at the Hallmark Channel, as a tie-in to their popular Christmas romance movies, but it is not a guide to their dozens of movies, but instead a guide to the types of Christmas decorating and traditions as seen in such movies.

 

This is really an all-purpose “how to celebrate the holiday book” — decorating tips, recipes, arts & crafts, interspersed with behind-the-scenes featurettes about the making of some of the well-known Hallmark movies, and interviews with Hallmark stars, in which they share some of their own families’ favorite holiday traditions. To make it even more Hallmark-y, there are trivia challenges related to the Hallmark holiday films.

 

All in all, this is an odd hodge-podge. As a fan of the Hallmark movies, I would’ve preferred more about those films and their cast members. As someone interested in Christmas decorating, cooking and traditions, I would have preferred more examples of those types of things. In the end, this book just sort of meanders around the topics it tries to cover. But…if you watch these movies with any regularity, you may appreciate the tidbits about the Hallmark stars.

 

(If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try watching any of the literally dozens and dozens of Hallmark Christmas Movies (usually romances) that have been produced over the past several years — the libraries have purchased many of these on DVD.)

 

( publisher’s official Countdown to Christmas web page )

 

Recommended by Scott C.
Bennett Martin Public Library — Public Service

 

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