kricketa's review against another edition
4.0
A lovely collection of holiday delights- even the recipes were fun to read.
Deducting a star because Winterson besmirched A Muppet Christmas Carol and I'm going to need some time to emotionally process that. The ghost stories in particular were a pleasure.
Deducting a star because Winterson besmirched A Muppet Christmas Carol and I'm going to need some time to emotionally process that. The ghost stories in particular were a pleasure.
anika_bush's review against another edition
5.0
Jeanette Winterson is one of my all-time, hands-down favorite authors. I didn't realize she had come out with this book until I spotted it at my local library and immediately checked it out. I read it a few days after Christmas, while my heart was still full of Christmas cheer and my belly full of Christmas goodies and this book definitely filled my mind with Christmas spirit.
There are stories which hark back to the Victorian tradition of telling ghost stories at Christmas time which thrill and delight (and creeped me out a bit, yes, as I was reading alone in the dark of the night--"Dark Christmas" and "The Second-Best Bed", I'm looking at you!). There are stories that remind us of the true meaning of Christmas, that are very peace-on-earth-good-will-to-men, but in the very best, non-hackneyed way. There are stories that are gonna make you laugh until you cry and stories that will just plain make you cry. My favorites (okay, this is hard, because I don't feel like there was a weak one in the bunch): "The SnowMama," "The Christmas Cracker," "The Silver Frog," "The Lion, the Unicorn and Me," and "The Glow-Heart"...that last one still makes me tear up just thinking about it.
Even though I wouldn't necessarily make all of the recipes here, I feel like they're not really included for the sake of the food. They are a piece of what makes her holiday special and she is choosing to share them (and the stories behind and around them) with us, like a friend who has made a great dish and offered to give us the recipe and every time we see that recipe card we think not just of how delicious that dip/salad/dessert was, but of the lovely times we shared with the wonderful person who took the time to write its ingredients down for us. It's an act of generosity and friendship any time someone shares a beloved recipe and she is sharing twelve of her holiday favorites with us.
There are stories which hark back to the Victorian tradition of telling ghost stories at Christmas time which thrill and delight (and creeped me out a bit, yes, as I was reading alone in the dark of the night--"Dark Christmas" and "The Second-Best Bed", I'm looking at you!). There are stories that remind us of the true meaning of Christmas, that are very peace-on-earth-good-will-to-men, but in the very best, non-hackneyed way. There are stories that are gonna make you laugh until you cry and stories that will just plain make you cry. My favorites (okay, this is hard, because I don't feel like there was a weak one in the bunch): "The SnowMama," "The Christmas Cracker," "The Silver Frog," "The Lion, the Unicorn and Me," and "The Glow-Heart"...that last one still makes me tear up just thinking about it.
Even though I wouldn't necessarily make all of the recipes here, I feel like they're not really included for the sake of the food. They are a piece of what makes her holiday special and she is choosing to share them (and the stories behind and around them) with us, like a friend who has made a great dish and offered to give us the recipe and every time we see that recipe card we think not just of how delicious that dip/salad/dessert was, but of the lovely times we shared with the wonderful person who took the time to write its ingredients down for us. It's an act of generosity and friendship any time someone shares a beloved recipe and she is sharing twelve of her holiday favorites with us.
cwalsh's review against another edition
2.0
Maybe my expectations were a bit too high, buuuuuut: this. fell. so. flat.
As expected, some stories were hits (I enjoyed the creepy atmosphere of "Dark Christmas') and others were misses... BIG misses ("Christmas Cracker" was just lame). Perhaps what I find most interesting about this book is the fact that I enjoyed the introduction (Christmas-tide) more than any story inside; it examined the traditions, customs, and origins of the modern Christmas holiday.
Overall, I felt like this collection was mediocre and lacking in originality.
As expected, some stories were hits (I enjoyed the creepy atmosphere of "Dark Christmas') and others were misses... BIG misses ("Christmas Cracker" was just lame). Perhaps what I find most interesting about this book is the fact that I enjoyed the introduction (Christmas-tide) more than any story inside; it examined the traditions, customs, and origins of the modern Christmas holiday.
Overall, I felt like this collection was mediocre and lacking in originality.
ladyknightmeg's review against another edition
5.0
What a wonderful and thought-provoking collection of winter stories. I really enjoyed this and will probably give it another listen next christmas. The narration was wonderful, as was the writing itself. Each short story really made me think, and I will definitely be looking for more work from this author in the future.
adamgolden's review against another edition
2.0
(2/5★)
Maybe two decent stories out of the twelve. The recipe sections were even harder to get through. The cover (aesthetically pleasing as it is), tricked me into thinking this would be a solid Christmas read, but was ultimately left disappointed.
Maybe two decent stories out of the twelve. The recipe sections were even harder to get through. The cover (aesthetically pleasing as it is), tricked me into thinking this would be a solid Christmas read, but was ultimately left disappointed.
leoniepeonie's review against another edition
4.0
An absolute DELIGHT. I read one of these stories (pretty much) every day of the twelve days of Christmas, and I'm so glad I did - it was such a meditative read, and kept me appreciating Christmas long after we're told to. Christmas mostly finishes on the day itself, or on Boxing Day, but this really helped me keep ruminating on what's so beautiful about this time of year, and kept me feeling cosy and contented up 'til now, on Twelfth Night. With a Christmas extended by Covid anyway, this was the perfect cherry on top of a perfect season. It really got to the heart of so many different Christmas experiences, and I loved Winterson's recipes and ponderings and interjections throughout. Beautiful and beguiling!
notlikethebeer's review against another edition
5.0
A truly gorgeous collection of Christmas-themed stories with a great deal of variety. I think over half of my copy is now covered in highlightings! Gently religious and utterly beautiful.
attytheresa's review against another edition
5.0
Thoroughly enjoyed this! It's a combination of short stories set at Christmas - from gothic ghosts to seasonal miracles to contemporary fables, and food and family/friends memoirs wrapped around specific recipes, such as her father's sherry trifle recipe dating from WWI and Ruth Rendel's Red Cabbage (I swear the Ruth Rendel essay alone is worth borrowing this from the library). Along the way you learn much about Jeanette Winterspoon herself while being charmed and enchanted by her stories. Definitely a different type of Christmas read, and one lifting my spirits nicely.
linneablomqvist's review against another edition
5.0
Riktig mysläsning! Helt klart en bok som jag kommer komma tillbaka till och njuta lika mycket av då.
robblar_'s review against another edition
4.0
This has kept my reading ticking along on the busy lead up to Christmas. The short stories, personal essays and recipes have really painted a landscape of what Christmas is and what it means to Winterson.
The short stories are varied and imaginative. My favourites were The Snow Mama, the Second Best Bed and The Glow-Heart.
The personal essays gave such dimension to Winterson, her Christmas traditions and her friends. Equally had me feeling christmassy.
The short stories are varied and imaginative. My favourites were The Snow Mama, the Second Best Bed and The Glow-Heart.
The personal essays gave such dimension to Winterson, her Christmas traditions and her friends. Equally had me feeling christmassy.