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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
emotional
sad
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
One of the best short stories I’ve read recently. Made me tear up at the end. Amazing writing to make you fall in love with the characters in only a few pages.
A Christmas Memory is a lovely collection of holiday stories. Prior to this small book, the only thing I had read by Truman Capote was In Cold Blood. Part of the brilliance behind that work of non-fiction was the writing, it was almost lyrical and truly remarkable. In this way, I was not disappointed by A Christmas Memory. It was as delectable as a sugarplum. Each sentence was music to my ears.
Each story was unique in its own way. In A Christmas Memory the featured story about a young Truman Capote (referred to in all three stories as Buddy) is more a vignette of thoughts of his friend Sook a charming older woman who is child-like in so many ways. It is an endearing story of unconditional love. Although, it was not the season's cheer or fruitcake that drew me in but the description of Sook's kitchen. It was so warm and vivid and despite its modestness felt homey. The detail encompassed me and is what first captivated me to Truman Capote's book.
Second, is One Christmas an essay of a Christmas spent in New Orléans with Buddy's distant father. Perhaps I have The Gilmore Girls Reboot on my mind but it reminded me of an episode from the first season. In it Rory's father visits Stars Hallow. Christopher gives hope for reconciliation and the promise of gifts he can't afford only to go off in the night again. However, this second volume has much more depth than any episode devised by Amy Sherman-Palladino. There is a vulnerability in Buddy's relationship with his father that is worded so very carefully. I also really enjoyed the innocence of Buddy with his still believing in Santa, it was darling, with an explanation of Saint Nick's existence being nothing short of delightful.
In the last story, The Thanksgiving Visitor Buddy has an enemy that can only be compared to that of Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy. Although, I was most reminded of the meal shared between Scout Finch and Walter Cunningham. In that simple meal meant as an olive branch Scout cannot keep her mouth shut and in turn is a very rude inconsiderate host. Buddy shares a similar trait and quite honestly, annoyed me to no end. This could well be due to the fact that adults seldom look at things through a child's eye, but despite the visitor's wrong doings felt empathy for him and for his sake wished it was a dream. The moral of the story I felt was the power of words. How they can be twisted, used and become accusatory. It is a heartening read that can evoke many emotions.
Overall, A Christmas Story by Truman Capote is a distinct set of holiday stories that are warm and meaningful and therefore just as special a yule tide tale as A Christmas Carol or The Greatest Gift, an absoulte treasure.
This review was originally posted on First Impressions Reviews
Each story was unique in its own way. In A Christmas Memory the featured story about a young Truman Capote (referred to in all three stories as Buddy) is more a vignette of thoughts of his friend Sook a charming older woman who is child-like in so many ways. It is an endearing story of unconditional love. Although, it was not the season's cheer or fruitcake that drew me in but the description of Sook's kitchen. It was so warm and vivid and despite its modestness felt homey. The detail encompassed me and is what first captivated me to Truman Capote's book.
Second, is One Christmas an essay of a Christmas spent in New Orléans with Buddy's distant father. Perhaps I have The Gilmore Girls Reboot on my mind but it reminded me of an episode from the first season. In it Rory's father visits Stars Hallow. Christopher gives hope for reconciliation and the promise of gifts he can't afford only to go off in the night again. However, this second volume has much more depth than any episode devised by Amy Sherman-Palladino. There is a vulnerability in Buddy's relationship with his father that is worded so very carefully. I also really enjoyed the innocence of Buddy with his still believing in Santa, it was darling, with an explanation of Saint Nick's existence being nothing short of delightful.
In the last story, The Thanksgiving Visitor Buddy has an enemy that can only be compared to that of Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy. Although, I was most reminded of the meal shared between Scout Finch and Walter Cunningham. In that simple meal meant as an olive branch Scout cannot keep her mouth shut and in turn is a very rude inconsiderate host. Buddy shares a similar trait and quite honestly, annoyed me to no end. This could well be due to the fact that adults seldom look at things through a child's eye, but despite the visitor's wrong doings felt empathy for him and for his sake wished it was a dream. The moral of the story I felt was the power of words. How they can be twisted, used and become accusatory. It is a heartening read that can evoke many emotions.
Overall, A Christmas Story by Truman Capote is a distinct set of holiday stories that are warm and meaningful and therefore just as special a yule tide tale as A Christmas Carol or The Greatest Gift, an absoulte treasure.
This review was originally posted on First Impressions Reviews
lighthearted
sad
slow-paced
A sweet story to read over Christmas time about a boy who is closest and most understood by his cousin. Poignant, short and sweet, because sometimes the people you are closest to aren't the ones with the closest DNA, and because some relationships can't be understood from the outside.
“It's bad enough in life to do without something you want; but confound it, what gets my goat is not being able to give somebody something you want them to have.”
"Of course there is a Santa Claus. It’s just that no single somebody could do all he has to do. So the Lord has spread the task among us all. That’s why everybody is Santa Claus. I am. You are."
;___;
;___;
This started of very strange and boring. I didn't get the friendship between Buddy and the old lady. To me, that seems so strange and unnatural.
I wanted to give this two stars, but the ending made me bump it up to 2.5 or 3.
I wanted to give this two stars, but the ending made me bump it up to 2.5 or 3.
A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote is a 1956 publication.
Lovely Christmas tale filled with humor and warm fondness!
Every year one of my friends on social media will write a review for this story, reminding me, once again, that I STILL haven't read it. By the time I make it to the library, the hold time for this popular classic goes well beyond the Christmas holidays- so I put it off for another year.
This year I got lucky and found a collection of short stories by Truman Capote, which also had the Thanksgiving story in it, which I’d been meaning to read forever, as well. Although, I think I read them out of order- I was thankful I finally got a chance to read these lovely holiday stories.
This is a super quick read, but the love that leaps from the pages is powerful and very touching. I’m not a fan of fruitcake, but I do remember my grandmother made several fruitcakes for Christmas every year and often gave them as gifts- so the book brought back a few fond memories of my own.
Capote’s autobiographical tale is humorous and heartfelt, and of course we all know he had a real knack for weaving a tale- even a short one.
If you haven’t read this book, I highly recommend it! It’s a story anyone of any age can enjoy, but the older one gets, the more meaningful stories like this one are. No wonder this book is considered a holiday classic!
Lovely Christmas tale filled with humor and warm fondness!
Every year one of my friends on social media will write a review for this story, reminding me, once again, that I STILL haven't read it. By the time I make it to the library, the hold time for this popular classic goes well beyond the Christmas holidays- so I put it off for another year.
This year I got lucky and found a collection of short stories by Truman Capote, which also had the Thanksgiving story in it, which I’d been meaning to read forever, as well. Although, I think I read them out of order- I was thankful I finally got a chance to read these lovely holiday stories.
This is a super quick read, but the love that leaps from the pages is powerful and very touching. I’m not a fan of fruitcake, but I do remember my grandmother made several fruitcakes for Christmas every year and often gave them as gifts- so the book brought back a few fond memories of my own.
Capote’s autobiographical tale is humorous and heartfelt, and of course we all know he had a real knack for weaving a tale- even a short one.
If you haven’t read this book, I highly recommend it! It’s a story anyone of any age can enjoy, but the older one gets, the more meaningful stories like this one are. No wonder this book is considered a holiday classic!