Christmas Days: 12 Stories and 12 Feasts for 12 Days - Hardcover

Winterson, Jeanette

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0802125832 ISBN 13: 9780802125835

Publisher: Grove Press, 2016

Synopsis

From the New York Times bestselling author of Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal? comes an enchanting collection of stories for the holiday season.

For years Jeanette Winterson has loved writing a new story at Christmas time and here she brings together twelve of her brilliantly imaginative, funny and bold tales, along with twelve delicious recipes for the Twelve Days of Christmas. These tales give the reader a portal into the spirit of the season, where time slows down and magic starts to happen. From jovial spirits to a donkey with a golden nose, a haunted house to a SnowMama, Winterson’s innovative stories encompass the childlike and spooky wonder of Christmas. Perfect for reading by the fire with loved ones, or while traveling home for the holidays. Enjoy the season of peace and goodwill, mystery, and a little bit of magic courtesy of one of our most fearless and accomplished writers.

About this title

Review

An Amazon Best Book of December 2016: My friend’s boyfriend, a musician, was going through a bit of a creative slump, so she suggested he record a Christmas album. The holidays were approaching so it seemed the perfect time. He scoffed, “A Christmas album?! That’s what people do when they’re washed-up.” Though we didn’t agree (and neither does Mariah Carey), I have to admit that I shared the boyfriend’s skepticism. It just seemed, well, cheesy. This probably explains my dubiousness when I discovered that Jeanette Winterson had penned a collection of Christmas stories, despite the fact that she is one of my favorite authors. But I am not ashamed to say, Christmas Days melted my cynical heart. There are twelve tales, of course, every one infectious with Winterson’s enthusiasm for the season. This is not to say that all of the stories are joyful. She slips a couple delightfully spooky ones into the mix, and there are accompanying holiday recipes as well. Again, not typically a fan of the story/recipe combo, but this book is breaking all of my literary rules because it’s just...well, magic. There, I said it. With feeling! In the introduction, Winterson writes: “I know Christmas has become a cynical retail hijack but it is up to us all, individually and collectively, to object to that. Christmas is celebrated across the world by people of all religions and none. It is a joining together, a putting aside of differences.” On the heels of such a contentious presidential election, a lot of folks are apprehensive about holing-up with family this holiday season. My advice? Leave politics at the door, watch Elf for the tenth time, and begin the tradition of reading Christmas Days--to yourself, to your loved ones (preferably by a fire with some hot cocoa). At the very least it will warm the cockles of your (cold/terrified/hopeful) heart. --Erin Kodicek, The Amazon Book Review

About the Author

Born in Manchester, England, Jeanette Winterson is the author of seventeen books, including the national bestseller Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal?, Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit, and The Passion. She has won many prizes including the Whitbread Award for Best First Novel, the John Llewllyn Rhys Prize, the E. M. Forster Award, and the Stonewall Award.

About this edition

• Publisher: Grove Press
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 0802125832
• ISBN 13: 9780802125835
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 240