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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
What a literary gem! Wish I would've read it in a cold December day rather than a rainy and rather hot August night. It's sad and it'll make you miss and appreciate grandparents and long lost days of childhood (also, crave for a warm piece of tasty fruitcake). Rarely do I find such good written Christmas short stories - or short stories, for that matter. Loving the fact it brings forward an idea I also found in 'Breakfast at Tiffany's': how darkness turns windows into mirrors.
Just loved this wonderful book. A slice from Truman Capote's life with his Alabama relatives and his adventures with Sook, his elderly spinster cousin who was his closest friend then . Loved the bond between the old lady, the boy and the dog, Queenie.
Felt this is one of the few books which are pure and innocent.
Felt this is one of the few books which are pure and innocent.
A few weeks ago I spent a delightful afternoon putting up my Christmas tree, then poured myself a glass of mulled wine and settled down to read a festive themed book, this one: A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote.
Comprising of six short stories, this is a biographical wander into Christmas moments, inspired by writer Truman Capote’s life.
Some of the tales had a vague Christmas link, others were more blatant and I particularly loved the ones that focused on young Buddy’s friendship with his much older cousin, Sook who is a pure soul and teaches him a lot about human nature. As Christmas is a time for goodwill and love – she is a beacon of that.
Amongst the evocative stories of small-town Christmases, local legends and rituals, there is are some contrasting stories including a particularly bleak tale about a woman, Sylvia who literally sells her dreams to make money and the unfortunate ending of Miss Bobbit… There to remind us, I guess, about balance and happiness.
Written in Truman Capote’s signature lyrical tone – A Christmas Memory is packed full of canny observations and is an engaging blend of joy, realisation and bittersweet moments that always seem to come to light through the festive season.
I loved how none of these stories conveyed a sort of ‘traditional’ Christmas scene – highlighting that everyone’s version of this time of year really is unique. It’s always nice to get an insight into another person’s Christmas, so if you’re looking for a take on festive stories that definitely contain no schmalz, then pour yourself a mulled wine and spend an afternoon with A Christmas Memory.
Comprising of six short stories, this is a biographical wander into Christmas moments, inspired by writer Truman Capote’s life.
Some of the tales had a vague Christmas link, others were more blatant and I particularly loved the ones that focused on young Buddy’s friendship with his much older cousin, Sook who is a pure soul and teaches him a lot about human nature. As Christmas is a time for goodwill and love – she is a beacon of that.
Amongst the evocative stories of small-town Christmases, local legends and rituals, there is are some contrasting stories including a particularly bleak tale about a woman, Sylvia who literally sells her dreams to make money and the unfortunate ending of Miss Bobbit… There to remind us, I guess, about balance and happiness.
Written in Truman Capote’s signature lyrical tone – A Christmas Memory is packed full of canny observations and is an engaging blend of joy, realisation and bittersweet moments that always seem to come to light through the festive season.
I loved how none of these stories conveyed a sort of ‘traditional’ Christmas scene – highlighting that everyone’s version of this time of year really is unique. It’s always nice to get an insight into another person’s Christmas, so if you’re looking for a take on festive stories that definitely contain no schmalz, then pour yourself a mulled wine and spend an afternoon with A Christmas Memory.
Rating 3.5 stars
I'll be honest, I haven't read an awful lot of Truman Capote over the years. Everything that I have read, I've enjoyed but I just don't tend to read classic American writers very often. I don't know why but it's something that's happened. When I saw this new hardback collection I knew that I had to get it. It also helped that it was short and seemed like it would be a quick read. In the end, it took me much longer to finish than it probably should have. I just couldn't get into it.
Although, it wasn't anything to do with the writing. There is such a natural feel to the words and it all flows nicely. The way that Capote writes about his family is fantastic and I loved the stories about his childhood. I love the fact that his best friend was his Aunt and thought she sounded like an utterly brilliant person. This is probably why the first story is the best of the bunch. The way he talks about her and the time they spent together is charming and full of warmth. You can really feel the love.
The next two stories also involve moments from his childhood and, though they are less enjoyable than the first, I still think they are worth a read. 'The Thanksgiving Visitor' is a bit of fun and has a sweet Christmas message to it. 'One Christmas' is a tender look at a difficult father/son relationship. These are two more decent snapshots into the writer's past.
It is the final two stories that I enjoyed the least. Both are fictional tales set around Christmas and I just found myself engaging with them less. It's not that they are badly written but they just felt out of place in this collection. I wasn't ready for the dramatic change of pace, which is why it took me so long to finish the book. Still, they weren't terrible and made an interesting counterpoint to his non-fiction.
I'll be honest, I haven't read an awful lot of Truman Capote over the years. Everything that I have read, I've enjoyed but I just don't tend to read classic American writers very often. I don't know why but it's something that's happened. When I saw this new hardback collection I knew that I had to get it. It also helped that it was short and seemed like it would be a quick read. In the end, it took me much longer to finish than it probably should have. I just couldn't get into it.
Although, it wasn't anything to do with the writing. There is such a natural feel to the words and it all flows nicely. The way that Capote writes about his family is fantastic and I loved the stories about his childhood. I love the fact that his best friend was his Aunt and thought she sounded like an utterly brilliant person. This is probably why the first story is the best of the bunch. The way he talks about her and the time they spent together is charming and full of warmth. You can really feel the love.
The next two stories also involve moments from his childhood and, though they are less enjoyable than the first, I still think they are worth a read. 'The Thanksgiving Visitor' is a bit of fun and has a sweet Christmas message to it. 'One Christmas' is a tender look at a difficult father/son relationship. These are two more decent snapshots into the writer's past.
It is the final two stories that I enjoyed the least. Both are fictional tales set around Christmas and I just found myself engaging with them less. It's not that they are badly written but they just felt out of place in this collection. I wasn't ready for the dramatic change of pace, which is why it took me so long to finish the book. Still, they weren't terrible and made an interesting counterpoint to his non-fiction.
Cute story about a friendship between a young boy and an old soul reliving their fond Christmas memory.
relaxing
medium-paced
There is something so beautiful about an unassuming friendship. Here, two cousins, separated in age by several decades, are as thick as thieves. I do believe at a certain time, children should be treated like adults. That is how they become responsible and gain confidence. It was so heartwarming to see the equality in their friendship and the idea that the older woman did not look down at him, for his age or lack of experience. It was humanizing to see that she had faults as well. I think too often, children see adults as all-knowing and perfect. What a bittersweet ending. It isn’t very often that I find sadness that beautiful.
