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silver_moon
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Does anyone have recommendations? I’m looking for something new to read this Christmas season. thanks.
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randomuser
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“Auggie Wren’s Christmas Story” - this showed up immediately on Google:
*When Paul Auster was asked by The New York Times to write a Christmas story for the Op-Ed page, the result, “Auggie Wren’s Christmas Story,” led to Auster’s collaboration on a film adaptation, Smoke. Now the story has found yet another life in this enchanting illustrated edition with Argentine artist Isol.
It begins with a writer’s dilemma: he’s been asked by The New York Times to write a story that will appear in the paper on Christmas morning. The writer agrees, but he has a problem: How to write an unsentimental Christmas story? He unburdens himself to his friend at his local cigar shop, a colorful character named Auggie Wren. “A Christmas story? Is that all?” Auggie counters. “If you buy me lunch, my friend, I’ll tell you the best Christmas story you ever heard. And I guarantee every word of it is true.”
And an unconventional story it is, involving a lost wallet, a blind woman, and a Christmas dinner. Everything gets turned upside down. What’s stealing? What’s giving? What’s a lie? What’s the truth? It’s vintage Auster, and pure pleasure: a truly unsentimental but completely affecting tale.*
And the (SPOILER - WON’T SAY), where that Tom Waits song “Innocent When You Dream” plays, I melt like butter.
*When Paul Auster was asked by The New York Times to write a Christmas story for the Op-Ed page, the result, “Auggie Wren’s Christmas Story,” led to Auster’s collaboration on a film adaptation, Smoke. Now the story has found yet another life in this enchanting illustrated edition with Argentine artist Isol.
It begins with a writer’s dilemma: he’s been asked by The New York Times to write a story that will appear in the paper on Christmas morning. The writer agrees, but he has a problem: How to write an unsentimental Christmas story? He unburdens himself to his friend at his local cigar shop, a colorful character named Auggie Wren. “A Christmas story? Is that all?” Auggie counters. “If you buy me lunch, my friend, I’ll tell you the best Christmas story you ever heard. And I guarantee every word of it is true.”
And an unconventional story it is, involving a lost wallet, a blind woman, and a Christmas dinner. Everything gets turned upside down. What’s stealing? What’s giving? What’s a lie? What’s the truth? It’s vintage Auster, and pure pleasure: a truly unsentimental but completely affecting tale.*
And the (SPOILER - WON’T SAY), where that Tom Waits song “Innocent When You Dream” plays, I melt like butter.
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Allegra
Guest
I suppose “A Christmas Carol” is too obvious?
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Allegra
Guest
I have to say it’s one that I could read every year and still get something new from it. Almost like Scripture.
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Crown_of_Stars
Guest
“Little Women” isn’t just Christmas, but there are a lot of Christmastime scenes in it and I consider it a good holidaytime classic. A good way to get a good list of them would be to just search in your local library catalogue (if you have an online one) and under fiction search for “Christmas” or “Christmas novels or novellas.” I love Christmas novellas and short stories the most. Louisa May Alcott has written a few little Christmas stories as well, if you’re looking for old-fashioned.
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Songcatcher
Guest
“A Redbird Christmas” by Fannie Flagg
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Memaw
Guest
I love the original movie, Little Women, with June Allison. I do NOT like the newer version!! God Bless, Memaw“Little Women” isn’t just Christmas, but there are a lot of Christmastime scenes in it and I consider it a good holidaytime classic. A good way to get a good list of them would be to just search in your local library catalogue (if you have an online one) and under fiction search for “Christmas” or “Christmas novels or novellas.” I love Christmas novellas and short stories the most. Louisa May Alcott has written a few little Christmas stories as well, if you’re looking for old-fashioned.
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silver_moon
Guest
Thanks for all your suggestions. I’ll check them out. I’ve always liked Little Women and A Christmas Carol.
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sweetcharity
Guest
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Viki63
Guest
The Miracle of the Bells, by Russell Janney, see here.
Written in 1946, it’s the story of a young actress, disdained by her townspeople because of her wrong side of the tracks beginning, whose funeral gives rise to events which might be miracles. Anyway, it’s a heartwarming book, sadly out of print. I especially remember a Christmas scene, where the protagonists have nowhere to go for Christmas and end up in a Chinese restaurant, the only one open.
I loved it as a youngster.
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Written in 1946, it’s the story of a young actress, disdained by her townspeople because of her wrong side of the tracks beginning, whose funeral gives rise to events which might be miracles. Anyway, it’s a heartwarming book, sadly out of print. I especially remember a Christmas scene, where the protagonists have nowhere to go for Christmas and end up in a Chinese restaurant, the only one open.
I loved it as a youngster.
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punisherthunder
Guest
Skipping Christmas by John Grisham.
Yes, this was made into the terrible film Christmas with the Kranks, but I assure you that Grisham’s novella is very heartwarming and vastly different than what Hollywood put out.
Yes, this was made into the terrible film Christmas with the Kranks, but I assure you that Grisham’s novella is very heartwarming and vastly different than what Hollywood put out.
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Catholic1954
Guest
I read, “How Far Bethlehem?” by Nora Lofts many years ago. It was about the 3 Wise Men seeking the Child and a little more historical than some of the modern stories.
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Crown_of_Stars
Guest
I just thought of another one. “The Handmaid and the Carpenter” by Elizabeth Berg, and Donna VanLiere has many little Christmas books. The Elizabeth Berg book (I’ve read most of her other books too, and loved the Katie books) may be a little questionable of a depiction of Mary and Joseph, though, I must warn. While I didn’t find it too terribly bad, I was a little put-off by some of the things. Read it, and you’ll know why. Other than that, for the most part, I thought it a nice little Christmas read.
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