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3.38 AVERAGE
3.38 AVERAGE
It became obvious that this book was about an entitled white family. And that Christmas was going to be saved by their black maid. I have no interest in this sort of book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity, Racism
I semi-loved and semi-loathed this. Part of me relates A LOT to the 93-year-old protagonist who loves tradition, manners and morals. The other part of me winced at her old-fashioned views on a woman's place in the home. This is the first Dorothea Benton Frank book I have read, and I did enjoy the setting and a lot of her humor. I may check out another DBF non-seasonal novel at some point down the line.
Side note, the audiobook is read extremely well by a charming narrator. I found myself smiling a lot at her giggles and inflections.
Side note, the audiobook is read extremely well by a charming narrator. I found myself smiling a lot at her giggles and inflections.
The premise had promise, but it was just very averagely executed...
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was going to give this book only one star, but I'm a sucker for a book that includes recipes for the dishes mentioned so I bumped it up to two stars.
I had a hard time getting into this book. The first part was so boring. Well, the whole book was kind of boring, but the first part was the worst. I almost gave up reading the book because it was so bad. It was mostly the main character, Theodora, reminiscing about her childhood and how great Christmas and life were then and how horrible it all is now. The story gets a little better in part two, but I only found it bearable. Her family is annoying. Most of them are mean. I didn't really like any of the characters. I never actually enjoyed the book.
The recipes were really the only redeeming quality in this book. I probably won't use any of them (the biscuit recipe is close to mine, and I won't change mine), but it was nice of the author to include her own family recipes.
I had a hard time getting into this book. The first part was so boring. Well, the whole book was kind of boring, but the first part was the worst. I almost gave up reading the book because it was so bad. It was mostly the main character, Theodora, reminiscing about her childhood and how great Christmas and life were then and how horrible it all is now. The story gets a little better in part two, but I only found it bearable. Her family is annoying. Most of them are mean. I didn't really like any of the characters. I never actually enjoyed the book.
The recipes were really the only redeeming quality in this book. I probably won't use any of them (the biscuit recipe is close to mine, and I won't change mine), but it was nice of the author to include her own family recipes.
This was the Christmas book I was looking for. Beautiful story of traditions, miracles, and family coming back together. Perfect read to make a tradition every year, and as a bonus the author even gives us some of her traditional recipes.
Christmas ghost story with a cocktail recipe in the end.... Perfect!
I’m a bit conflicted on how to rate this book. On one hand I enjoyed the writing, the descriptions and overall feel of the book. But on the other hand I did not enjoy to plot. I couldn’t related to the spoiled, entitled family and bringing back the black woman from the dead to cook for these ingrates in order to earn her wings was a little too much for me. (2.5⭐️)