A review by stoogecat
The Christmas Appeal by Janice Hallett

3.0

I don't think that it is within my abilities to explain just how much I hated the word balloon exchanges between Femi and Charlotte that pop up occasionally in this short little book. Loathed isn't a strong enough word. I don't know if there exists a single word strong enough. These pages filled me with an admittedly unwarranted roiling, burning inferno of anger. Why? Why did the author think that she needed to stop every so often and slowly explain to us in the most basic of terms everything that had happened in the previous pages? Did she think that all of her readers are slavering halfwits who couldn't hold more than a thought and a half in their heads at one time and who would have to be gently guided through an entire 187 slim pages of a short story that can only generously be labeled a 'novella?' Or did she think that she had crafted such subtle paragraphs and complex characterizations that even the wisest among us wouldn't be able to read between the lines to understand the true complexities of the narrative and motivations of the players within? Because honestly, the characters were about as nuanced as the wacky next door neighbors on an especially poorly written '80's sitcom. "I have a suspicion that Celia doesn't like Sarah-Jane." Oh, really? I never would have guessed that from the pages and pages I just read of Celia going on about how awful Sarah-Jane is. Even an Encyclopedia Brown story has more respect for its readers. I'm so mad over this that I hate to even give the book three whole stars, but honestly, the rest of the story is breezy and fun and doesn't take itself too seriously and I probably would have given it four stars if not for the anger. This burning, burning anger.