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retiredlibrarylady's review
Brief story (novella) about Nora Bonesteel, a character in some of McCrumb's Ballad novels. I really like Nora and stories about her "gift" of the Sight. This one involves neighbors who are usually snowbirds but have decided to spend this Christmas in the mountains. Unfortunately, they bring their Florida Christmas decorations with them, and a ghost of Christmas past does not like them in his house. A quick fun read.
rigbymel76's review
4.0
Quite a nice little holiday novella with a touch of spooky. If you enjoy the characters of McCrumb's Ballad Novel series, it is likely you'll enjoy this Appalachian Christmas visit with them.
queerbillydeluxe's review
5.0
This was only a novella, but it stars my favorite McCrumb character in the world, Nora Bonesteel. In this one, we get an extended sort of Christmas tale, and it was, of course, awesome. I ordered mine signed from the author's website, and the accompanying note mentioned a new ballad novel coming in 2015! Very excited!
katherineep's review
4.0
It was absolutely delightful to reconnect with these characters. The story about Arrowood and the rather dour LaDonne is humorous without being overtly funny. I loved how much time they spent wishing that the man had hit car other than a senator's wife's car. They kind of know what's happening and we as readers know what' going on but there's nothing they can do to get out of the situation. The conclusion of this storyline made me actually laugh out loud a little as I could just imagine the expression on LaDonne's face.
The story about the Haverty's and the always wonderful Nora Bonesteel was lovely. I loved that Nora stood up for Mrs. Haverty by saying her heart was in the right place she just didn't know any better. McCrumb did a good job of showing how much this couple didn't really fit in the community without making them stupid or vilifying them in any way. The ghost story was nice and it was interesting to read about the previous residents of the home. The end of this story brought tears to my eyes. This is one of the few books I've read that have had multiple story lines where both are strong but neither diminish the other.
The only negative is that this was just a novella. I'd have loved to see more about the Haverty's buying and restoring the house and how they felt about the town.
Overall: If you love a little history mixed in with your fiction and strong characters than McCrumb's Ballad series is one you must try. This would be a good (and quick) introduction but I'd be surprised if you don't want to read more!
Full Review: http://iwishilivedinalibrary.blogspot.com/2014/10/nora-bonesteels-christmas-past-review.html
The story about the Haverty's and the always wonderful Nora Bonesteel was lovely. I loved that Nora stood up for Mrs. Haverty by saying her heart was in the right place she just didn't know any better. McCrumb did a good job of showing how much this couple didn't really fit in the community without making them stupid or vilifying them in any way. The ghost story was nice and it was interesting to read about the previous residents of the home. The end of this story brought tears to my eyes. This is one of the few books I've read that have had multiple story lines where both are strong but neither diminish the other.
The only negative is that this was just a novella. I'd have loved to see more about the Haverty's buying and restoring the house and how they felt about the town.
Overall: If you love a little history mixed in with your fiction and strong characters than McCrumb's Ballad series is one you must try. This would be a good (and quick) introduction but I'd be surprised if you don't want to read more!
Full Review: http://iwishilivedinalibrary.blogspot.com/2014/10/nora-bonesteels-christmas-past-review.html
readtoinfinity's review
4.0
I received this book from goodreads giveaway.
There are two stories in this book taht are set during the Christmas holidays. One story revolves around sheriff Spencer and deputy LeDonne who have been forced to arrest an elderly man under court order on Christmas eve. The other story is about Nora Bonesteel, a clairvoyant, who has been sought out by her neighbor to help sort out some trouble at their new place of residence.
I liked this book because it was short and a fast pace read. I enjoyed the stories and the characters in the book I also really liked the little twist at the end. It was great.
There are two stories in this book taht are set during the Christmas holidays. One story revolves around sheriff Spencer and deputy LeDonne who have been forced to arrest an elderly man under court order on Christmas eve. The other story is about Nora Bonesteel, a clairvoyant, who has been sought out by her neighbor to help sort out some trouble at their new place of residence.
I liked this book because it was short and a fast pace read. I enjoyed the stories and the characters in the book I also really liked the little twist at the end. It was great.
crafalsk264's review
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
This is an annual Christmas reread for me. I have read everything Sharyn McCrumb has written and loved it. This book blends 3 separate story lines for key characters in the Appalachian Ballad series. The book blends humor, heartfelt stories, mystery and folklore in equal parts. If you have never read anything by Sharyn McCrumb, this is an excellent introduction.
Nora becomes a mentor of sorts to Shirley Haverty, a recent summer resident who needs help adapting to the Appalachian mountains as a gardener and as a student of mountain lore. When the Havertys decide to stay over this year for Christmas, they also decide to follow their Christmas traditions from Florida—including a pink aluminum Christmas tree decorated with flamingo trimmings. When Shirley confides to Nora that she thinks their house is haunted because every day, her tree is turned over or decorations ruined. Nora thinks that she is pretty sure she knows why. Soon enough Nora’s “sight” lets her solve the haunting and finds the answer to a longstanding mystery of her own.
Nora becomes a mentor of sorts to Shirley Haverty, a recent summer resident who needs help adapting to the Appalachian mountains as a gardener and as a student of mountain lore. When the Havertys decide to stay over this year for Christmas, they also decide to follow their Christmas traditions from Florida—including a pink aluminum Christmas tree decorated with flamingo trimmings. When Shirley confides to Nora that she thinks their house is haunted because every day, her tree is turned over or decorations ruined. Nora thinks that she is pretty sure she knows why. Soon enough Nora’s “sight” lets her solve the haunting and finds the answer to a longstanding mystery of her own.
The second story line follows Nora’s kinsman, Sheriff Spencer Arrowwood and his deputy Joe Le Donne, are tasked with serving a warrant on an old man living on a homestead far up in the mountains. When they start to bring him down to be jailed for a minor fender bender involving a Senator’s wife’s car. The old man is willing to come along but he laments that he will have to leave unfinished several “small” that would be a problem to his old, frail wife who will be all alone for who knows how long. And there is a howling snow storm on the way.
With McCrumb’s deft touch both of these potentially heavy and gloomy narratives, are rather humorous and entertaining adventure. All of these protagonists appear in the rest of The Ballad Series. Although they do not appear as main characters in the other, their presence is a shining rainbow that makes each is a pearl connected together.
librarydino's review
5.0
This was only a novella, but it stars my favorite McCrumb character in the world, Nora Bonesteel. In this one, we get an extended sort of Christmas tale, and it was, of course, awesome. I ordered mine signed from the author's website, and the accompanying note mentioned a new ballad novel coming in 2015! Very excited!
lindz's review
4.0
Nora Bonesteel's Christmas Past: A Ballad Novella by Sharyn McCrumb This story is about sheriff Spencer Arrowood and deputy Joe LeDonne and Nora Bonesteel. Will happen with them. The sheriff and deputy go on a call to bring in someone. They go about as if they now the person. Though the person they have come to get put them though some things. To find out what they did and help they do. They all look like they may on spend Christmas away from home.
Nora get a visit from a couple that bought the old Honeycutt's house. Things start to happen once this couple decides to come up and spend Christmas at the house. Nora and many other things start to happen with memories and spirits are found in the walls. You need to read to find out what the story is behind the old memories.
Nora get a visit from a couple that bought the old Honeycutt's house. Things start to happen once this couple decides to come up and spend Christmas at the house. Nora and many other things start to happen with memories and spirits are found in the walls. You need to read to find out what the story is behind the old memories.
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