busyreading's review
4.0
I really enjoyed these two short stories which were very quick to read.
The first story is The Christmas List: Two years after Rosie and Dan are married they celebrate the birth of their daughter Amy. Although Rosie and Dan love being parents they also learn very quickly just how exhausting it can be. The year that Amy starts school is the year that Rosie and Dan are to host the Christmas celebrations. For Rosie controlling a five year old was hard enough so she had no idea how she was going to organise and host a Christmas party. Rosie decides the only way to cope with everything is to make herself a list, but before she knows it the list is spiralling out of control.
Then in the middle of their very hectic lives Rosie and Dan receive devastating news. So will their plans and celebrations still go ahead?
The second story is The Holiday: The holiday tin sits on top of the fridge which the family add to as regularly as they can. The family have been saving up for holiday which they have been doing for a long time now. So as the tin gets fuller they book their holiday which is for Spain. Of course as the time it gets closer the family get more excited. And just before the holiday things suddenly change. So will the family get to have the holiday that they have been waiting so long for?
These two short stories were quite enjoyable and a very quick to read. So if you're looking for a light quick read look no further as I'm sure you will enjoy these two.
The first story is The Christmas List: Two years after Rosie and Dan are married they celebrate the birth of their daughter Amy. Although Rosie and Dan love being parents they also learn very quickly just how exhausting it can be. The year that Amy starts school is the year that Rosie and Dan are to host the Christmas celebrations. For Rosie controlling a five year old was hard enough so she had no idea how she was going to organise and host a Christmas party. Rosie decides the only way to cope with everything is to make herself a list, but before she knows it the list is spiralling out of control.
Then in the middle of their very hectic lives Rosie and Dan receive devastating news. So will their plans and celebrations still go ahead?
The second story is The Holiday: The holiday tin sits on top of the fridge which the family add to as regularly as they can. The family have been saving up for holiday which they have been doing for a long time now. So as the tin gets fuller they book their holiday which is for Spain. Of course as the time it gets closer the family get more excited. And just before the holiday things suddenly change. So will the family get to have the holiday that they have been waiting so long for?
These two short stories were quite enjoyable and a very quick to read. So if you're looking for a light quick read look no further as I'm sure you will enjoy these two.
jessiquie's review
3.0
The Christmas Gift consist of two short stories by Best Selling Australian Author Monica McInerney: The Christmas List; The Holiday.
The Christmas List
The Christmas List is a short story that puts the meaning of Christmas and Family into perspective. It’s the story of how a young couple, Rosie and Dan, fall in love and get married. It’s about Dan’s family’s Christmas traditions and how at first Rosie is both pertified and perplexed by them. It’s about how time passes and the pair have a child, Amy, who on the year they are meant to host Christmas falls very ill. It’s a story about family strength, about love, and about the little things that help us get through hard times.
The story itself was really sweet, and I’m glad it ended the way it did. I would have liked to have seen the story a bit more elaborated on however as I thought the narrative leant itself to a longer length. Overall I was pleased to have read this little story that is designed to stop and mark you think about your only family at Christmas, while also warming your heart.
The Holiday Gift:
The Holiday Gift is set in Dublin and deals with a family who are struggling economically. The family had been all set to go on a bit holiday but when job cuts are made and the family falls on hard times things don’t go as they had planned. It’s about family intervention and help and the way we can help others through hard times. How a little bit of effort can make someone smile and the price we are willing to pay for our families.
I absolutely loved the ending of this short story. It was a feel good family story that left me with tears in my eyes.
Overall I highly recommend these two very short stories. Although they probably aren’t my favourite Christmas reads, they do hold messages about your family and this rather chaotic time of year. It was a pleasure to read both stories, and I recommend you track them down yourself when you get the chance. You could read them in about ten minutes without any issues.
Review originally posted at The Never Ending Bookshelf on Dec 30 2013 and can be found here: The Christmas Gift consist of two short stories by Best Selling Australian Author Monica McInerney: The Christmas List; The Holiday.
The Christmas List
The Christmas List is a short story that puts the meaning of Christmas and Family into perspective. It’s the story of how a young couple, Rosie and Dan, fall in love and get married. It’s about Dan’s family’s Christmas traditions and how at first Rosie is both pertified and perplexed by them. It’s about how time passes and the pair have a child, Amy, who on the year they are meant to host Christmas falls very ill. It’s a story about family strength, about love, and about the little things that help us get through hard times.
The story itself was really sweet, and I’m glad it ended the way it did. I would have liked to have seen the story a bit more elaborated on however as I thought the narrative leant itself to a longer length. Overall I was pleased to have read this little story that is designed to stop and mark you think about your only family at Christmas, while also warming your heart.
The Holiday Gift:
The Holiday Gift is set in Dublin and deals with a family who are struggling economically. The family had been all set to go on a bit holiday but when job cuts are made and the family falls on hard times things don’t go as they had planned. It’s about family intervention and help and the way we can help others through hard times. How a little bit of effort can make someone smile and the price we are willing to pay for our families.
I absolutely loved the ending of this short story. It was a feel good family story that left me with tears in my eyes.
Overall I highly recommend these two very short stories. Although they probably aren’t my favourite Christmas reads, they do hold messages about your family and this rather chaotic time of year. It was a pleasure to read both stories, and I recommend you track them down yourself when you get the chance. You could read them in about ten minutes without any issues.
The Christmas List
The Christmas List is a short story that puts the meaning of Christmas and Family into perspective. It’s the story of how a young couple, Rosie and Dan, fall in love and get married. It’s about Dan’s family’s Christmas traditions and how at first Rosie is both pertified and perplexed by them. It’s about how time passes and the pair have a child, Amy, who on the year they are meant to host Christmas falls very ill. It’s a story about family strength, about love, and about the little things that help us get through hard times.
The story itself was really sweet, and I’m glad it ended the way it did. I would have liked to have seen the story a bit more elaborated on however as I thought the narrative leant itself to a longer length. Overall I was pleased to have read this little story that is designed to stop and mark you think about your only family at Christmas, while also warming your heart.
The Holiday Gift:
The Holiday Gift is set in Dublin and deals with a family who are struggling economically. The family had been all set to go on a bit holiday but when job cuts are made and the family falls on hard times things don’t go as they had planned. It’s about family intervention and help and the way we can help others through hard times. How a little bit of effort can make someone smile and the price we are willing to pay for our families.
I absolutely loved the ending of this short story. It was a feel good family story that left me with tears in my eyes.
Overall I highly recommend these two very short stories. Although they probably aren’t my favourite Christmas reads, they do hold messages about your family and this rather chaotic time of year. It was a pleasure to read both stories, and I recommend you track them down yourself when you get the chance. You could read them in about ten minutes without any issues.
Review originally posted at The Never Ending Bookshelf on Dec 30 2013 and can be found here: The Christmas Gift consist of two short stories by Best Selling Australian Author Monica McInerney: The Christmas List; The Holiday.
The Christmas List
The Christmas List is a short story that puts the meaning of Christmas and Family into perspective. It’s the story of how a young couple, Rosie and Dan, fall in love and get married. It’s about Dan’s family’s Christmas traditions and how at first Rosie is both pertified and perplexed by them. It’s about how time passes and the pair have a child, Amy, who on the year they are meant to host Christmas falls very ill. It’s a story about family strength, about love, and about the little things that help us get through hard times.
The story itself was really sweet, and I’m glad it ended the way it did. I would have liked to have seen the story a bit more elaborated on however as I thought the narrative leant itself to a longer length. Overall I was pleased to have read this little story that is designed to stop and mark you think about your only family at Christmas, while also warming your heart.
The Holiday Gift:
The Holiday Gift is set in Dublin and deals with a family who are struggling economically. The family had been all set to go on a bit holiday but when job cuts are made and the family falls on hard times things don’t go as they had planned. It’s about family intervention and help and the way we can help others through hard times. How a little bit of effort can make someone smile and the price we are willing to pay for our families.
I absolutely loved the ending of this short story. It was a feel good family story that left me with tears in my eyes.
Overall I highly recommend these two very short stories. Although they probably aren’t my favourite Christmas reads, they do hold messages about your family and this rather chaotic time of year. It was a pleasure to read both stories, and I recommend you track them down yourself when you get the chance. You could read them in about ten minutes without any issues.
kathryn08's review
3.0
Very quick and easy read. So quick, it can be read in 1 sitting! There are 2 short stories - certainly not of the quality of Monica McInerney's regular length novels, but sweet little tales that may help get you in the mood for Christmas.
belinda's review
3.0
These two short stories are short, sweet and very nice - a very pleasant antidote to the craziness that is the Christmas season. If you find yourself too stressed out to continue, five minutes with one of these tales will bring a smile to your dial.
I received a copy of these short stories via Netgalley but these opinions are my own.
I received a copy of these short stories via Netgalley but these opinions are my own.
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