What Amazon Says
“When I began assembling [this] collection, I was skeptical that I would learn anything new about Christmas, but reading and reflecting on the history and spirit of Christmas brought back many memories, and taught me a great deal. . . . The literature of Christmas ranges from the miraculous to the tragic, the profound to the ridiculous, but always represents the connection to something larger than ourselves.” –Caroline Kennedy
In A Family Christmas, Caroline shares the Christmas poetry, prose, scriptural readings, and lyrics that are most dear to her, drawing on authors as diverse as Harper Lee, Nikki Giovanni, Martin Luther King Jr., Billy Collins, John and Yoko, and Charles Dickens. There are also many lesser-known gems throughout and personal treasures from her own family–including a young Caroline’s Christmas list to Santa Claus and a letter from her father as President to a child concerned about Santa’s well-being. This diverse and unique anthology will become a timeless keepsake, and will enrich your heart and mind with the spirit of Christmas.
A Family Christmas includes selections from: Groucho Marx, Emma Lazarus, Mark Twain, Sandra Cisneros, Pearl S. Buck, Truman Capote, Gabriela Mistral, Ogden Nash, Clement Clarke Moore, Vladimir Nabokov, Marianne Moore, Calvin Trillin, E. B. White, and many more.
My Thoughts
Many of the pieces in this collection I read before, or they were read to me. It was fun rereading them. My favorites were Truman Capote’s “A Christmas Memory” and an excerpt from Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder. The lyrics to many popular holiday songs add a nice touch. I had to laugh when I ran across the words to Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You.” A Family Christmas is a book you’ll want to return to every year at this time.
Photo Courtesy of Tess Anderson Photography
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New! Why Grandma Doesn’t Know Me
Copyright 2021 by Abbie Johnson Taylor.
Independently published with the help of DLD Books.
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Sixteen-year-old Natalie’s grandmother, suffering from dementia and confined to a wheelchair, lives in a nursing home and rarely recognizes Natalie. But one Halloween night, she tells her a shocking secret that only she and Natalie’s mother know. Natalie is the product of a one-night stand between her mother, who is a college English teacher, and another professor.
After some research, Natalie learns that people with dementia often have vivid memories of past events. Still not wanting to believe what her grandmother has told her, she finds her biological father online. The resemblance between them is undeniable. Not knowing what else to do, she shows his photo and website to her parents.
Natalie realizes she has some growing up to do. Scared and confused, she reaches out to her biological father, and they start corresponding.
Her younger sister, Sarah, senses their parents’ marital difficulties. At Thanksgiving, when she has an opportunity to see Santa Claus, she asks him to bring them together again. Can the jolly old elf grant her request?
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My Corner 
Good morning! A magnificent review. So much so that I believe I’m going to have to go in search of this book. I have not yet read any Christmas books, I am ashamed to say. I have read some books with Christmas stories in them, though I suppose that counts. Anyway, I am coming to you live and in person from microtonic. E-mail app on my phone and hope this is coming out OK. Thank you for posting such a wonderful review and sharing it with us, and please feel free to share it on Patty’s worlds if you wish. I have to run blue to the vet for his maintenance check up.
Patty Fletcher lives in Kingsport Tennessee where she works as an author and social media marketing assistant. Learn more at: http://www.pattysworlds.com
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Lol, Cortana mispronounced her own name. Y’all have a really good day. This is really got me in the Christmas spirit. I’m looking for the book now.
Patty Fletcher lives in Kingsport Tennessee where she works as an author and social media marketing assistant. Learn more at: http://www.pattysworlds.com
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Hi, Patty. Both your messages came through just fine. As I’m sure you know, Cortana’s not the only AI who messes up dictation. I hope you enjoy the book.
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