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raulbime's review against another edition
4.0
This is a collection of three short stories. All of them about the holidays, they are all set in the South of the U.S. and they are all recollections of childhood. The first short story [b:A Christmas Memory|9919|A Christmas Memory|Truman Capote|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1320404365l/9919._SX50_.jpg|386792] has received a lot of positive reviews from friends these past few days, and it is an excellent story, perhaps the best from the collection and it revolves around the recollection at seven of the narrator's friendship with an older cousin who is in her sixties as well as their rat terrier companion (both feature in all the stories) and their preparations for Christmas.
The second story [b:One Christmas|911316|One Christmas|Truman Capote|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1475393867l/911316._SY75_.jpg|2944143] is set mostly in New Orleans, where the narrator leaves to spend Christmas with his father, away from his cousin Miss Sook whom he greatly loves and later experiences a harsh disillusionment as regards to Santa Claus. The third story [b:The Thanksgiving Visitor|911317|The Thanksgiving Visitor|Truman Capote|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1179401547l/911317._SX50_.jpg|1124202] is about the narrator and his bully Odd Henderson, a poor boy who picks on him because of his being a "sissy" and as a form of "straightening" him out. The narrator gets a chance at revenge when Odd is invited to his house for thanksgiving.
It is difficult to not give away too much plot of short stories when describing what they are about. These short stories are excellent, fine writing which I think captured the essence of holidays at the end of the year as one grows older, a lot of reminiscing and nostalgia. I loved the friendship in all the stories and the learning and growth of the protagonist and I certainly understood the Capote and [a:Carson McCullers|3506|Carson McCullers|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1335451237p2/3506.jpg] comparisons after reading them. I highly recommend [b:The Member of the Wedding|330244|The Member of the Wedding|Carson McCullers|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1403187223l/330244._SY75_.jpg|604941] if you liked these short stories and recommend both if you haven't read them.
The second story [b:One Christmas|911316|One Christmas|Truman Capote|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1475393867l/911316._SY75_.jpg|2944143] is set mostly in New Orleans, where the narrator leaves to spend Christmas with his father, away from his cousin Miss Sook whom he greatly loves and later experiences a harsh disillusionment as regards to Santa Claus. The third story [b:The Thanksgiving Visitor|911317|The Thanksgiving Visitor|Truman Capote|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1179401547l/911317._SX50_.jpg|1124202] is about the narrator and his bully Odd Henderson, a poor boy who picks on him because of his being a "sissy" and as a form of "straightening" him out. The narrator gets a chance at revenge when Odd is invited to his house for thanksgiving.
It is difficult to not give away too much plot of short stories when describing what they are about. These short stories are excellent, fine writing which I think captured the essence of holidays at the end of the year as one grows older, a lot of reminiscing and nostalgia. I loved the friendship in all the stories and the learning and growth of the protagonist and I certainly understood the Capote and [a:Carson McCullers|3506|Carson McCullers|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1335451237p2/3506.jpg] comparisons after reading them. I highly recommend [b:The Member of the Wedding|330244|The Member of the Wedding|Carson McCullers|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1403187223l/330244._SY75_.jpg|604941] if you liked these short stories and recommend both if you haven't read them.
arthurakhadov's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
summers7's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.5
intoastory's review against another edition
5.0
Truly beautiful writing. I’m a big Capote fan. Very warm, holiday feels, although the endings were sad & bittersweet.
He can tell an excellent story. I think a lesser writer could have made these stories dull/boring & so many authors fail to end short stories well, but the endings were powerful.
He can tell an excellent story. I think a lesser writer could have made these stories dull/boring & so many authors fail to end short stories well, but the endings were powerful.
emmacraig's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
laszlore's review against another edition
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
mugglemom's review against another edition
4.0
Unsuspecting eloquence
I didn't realize how subtlety the story was about humanity or about the human spirit.
I love how nothing is given to me as the reader but allowed to let the words paint my mind
I didn't realize how subtlety the story was about humanity or about the human spirit.
I love how nothing is given to me as the reader but allowed to let the words paint my mind
kara_cr's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
ananan's review
4.0
Three short stories all set around the holiday time, written by Capote at different times in his career, offered fragmented glimpses into his childhood growing in Alabama with his relatives during the Depression. The stories are all beautifully written with heartfelt anecdotes specifically around his friendship with a sixty-something distant cousin Miss Sook, who he called "my friend", and can't forget their terrier Queenie.
The first story, the most well-known, "A Christmas Memory", was definitely the most well-written, with nostalgic and heart-warming vivid descriptions of the memory, although it was the least eventful. The other two, although offering more plots, felt somewhat limited in the writing.
Regardless, this collection is definitely going to be my favorite to read around this time every year from now on.
The first story, the most well-known, "A Christmas Memory", was definitely the most well-written, with nostalgic and heart-warming vivid descriptions of the memory, although it was the least eventful. The other two, although offering more plots, felt somewhat limited in the writing.
Regardless, this collection is definitely going to be my favorite to read around this time every year from now on.
sarahfair's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
5.0