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bookbird's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
4.0
johanna_st_john's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
3.75
Enjoyed this so much more than I was expecting. A lovely collection of essays. I’d return to it in future Christmases. ❤️
justanotherpageturner's review
4.0
A MUST HAVE for Christmas, I absolutely adored this book! @quercusbooks #gifted
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A beautiful mix of heart-wrenching, heart-warming and humorous, it’s the perfect read this Christmas that serves as a beautiful reminder of what Christmas is- different for everyone! Not only does it include beautiful memories of the past, it also includes hopes for future Christmases to come as well as an insight into its meaning and sentiment to individuals from ALL walks of life. I loved that every aspect of humanity is included in this book; regardless of culture, background, vocation or personal circumstances every story was as important as the last and each with an overall resounding message of gratitude and hope! This is Christmas in a book- people, gratitude, hope and love ❤️
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A beautiful mix of heart-wrenching, heart-warming and humorous, it’s the perfect read this Christmas that serves as a beautiful reminder of what Christmas is- different for everyone! Not only does it include beautiful memories of the past, it also includes hopes for future Christmases to come as well as an insight into its meaning and sentiment to individuals from ALL walks of life. I loved that every aspect of humanity is included in this book; regardless of culture, background, vocation or personal circumstances every story was as important as the last and each with an overall resounding message of gratitude and hope! This is Christmas in a book- people, gratitude, hope and love ❤️
always_need_more_books's review against another edition
4.0
I prefer to read non-fiction alongside fiction as a rule, but this collection was just lovely and I was able to read it as if it were a novel. Best read in the Christmas period, it is a lovely mix of memories, all written in people’s own words describing past Christmas’s and hopes for future ones.
I have a difficult relationship with Christmas, having lost of mum to cancer 5 years ago during the festive period. Add to that my boys are growing up and are harder to surprise with presents and I just find the whole lead up quite stressful. This collection made me realise I am certainly not alone – quite a few of the authors agreed that we lose the magic of Christmas as we get older and maybe don’t have the same people surrounding us.
Some of the memories were funny, most were heart-warming and some were sad. I liked that memories of the homeless and those who work for Crisis (a homeless charity were included) because it is these tales that made me realise how lucky I am. Also, how refugees and asylum seekers cope with Christmas when perhaps they might not have celebrated previously. I also enjoyed reading about Christmas’s from different cultures.
I watched the film, Last Christmas last night, having read the book a few days previously. The film heavily features the issues of homelessness, immigration and refugees so this book is actually a lovely tie-in (it does say that in the blurb but it hadn’t occurred to me that it really is!)
A great stocking filler for Christmas. Money will be donated to Crisis and the Refugee Council for every book sold.
I have a difficult relationship with Christmas, having lost of mum to cancer 5 years ago during the festive period. Add to that my boys are growing up and are harder to surprise with presents and I just find the whole lead up quite stressful. This collection made me realise I am certainly not alone – quite a few of the authors agreed that we lose the magic of Christmas as we get older and maybe don’t have the same people surrounding us.
Some of the memories were funny, most were heart-warming and some were sad. I liked that memories of the homeless and those who work for Crisis (a homeless charity were included) because it is these tales that made me realise how lucky I am. Also, how refugees and asylum seekers cope with Christmas when perhaps they might not have celebrated previously. I also enjoyed reading about Christmas’s from different cultures.
I watched the film, Last Christmas last night, having read the book a few days previously. The film heavily features the issues of homelessness, immigration and refugees so this book is actually a lovely tie-in (it does say that in the blurb but it hadn’t occurred to me that it really is!)
A great stocking filler for Christmas. Money will be donated to Crisis and the Refugee Council for every book sold.
ctenanthe's review against another edition
5.0
It' a beautiful and honest collection of mannnny many voices on Christmas, nonetheless Greg and Emma found a key essence on what all humans really need, and where we are currently going wrong with Christmas. It's thought-provoking and beautiful. Intelligent. You find funny stories, sad ones, meaningful anecdotes... I am sure everybody can somehow find him-/herself in this book.
What do we all feel about Christmas? Why is the suicide rate especially high during Christmas time, and the next month when the paychecks arrive? This book gave ideas, and lots of answers to questions I did not realise I had. But apart from all the brain stuff, it gives hope. A Christmas book of a different sort, but in my opinion the most suitable. Rethinking consume and buying, stress and anger during the festive marathon.
What do we all feel about Christmas? Why is the suicide rate especially high during Christmas time, and the next month when the paychecks arrive? This book gave ideas, and lots of answers to questions I did not realise I had. But apart from all the brain stuff, it gives hope. A Christmas book of a different sort, but in my opinion the most suitable. Rethinking consume and buying, stress and anger during the festive marathon.
fantasticmrethan's review against another edition
4.0
Very sad and often moving and uplifting. Encapsulates almost every take on Christmas with various degrees of quality but all in all a very sweet well intentioned book that you can take your time with.
becmatho's review
3.0
This is a mixed bag of lovely and funny and then some much weaker, good collection.