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Dec 2022
6:30pm, 19 Dec 2022
6,930 posts
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westmoors
Finished this today. Enjoyed the first two or three stories/chapters but then went off the boil. Giving it a mediocre 5.
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Dec 2022
9:48am, 22 Dec 2022
141,721 posts
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GregP
I only read the Christmas story. I feel I have more than done my duty in consuming these thirteen pages of maudlin whimsy.
I didn't like it. To say I disliked it would be overstating the case, but I feel a mild resentment that I squandered my pre-work reading window on such rose tinted sentimentalist southern lite poverty porn. The implied side order of mild domestic abuse helped the situation not one whit.
I'm giving it a 4 - with hindsight it was too emotionally manipulative to give a bland 5.
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Dec 2022
10:57am, 22 Dec 2022
52,076 posts
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McGoohan
I read the first story while happily nibbling on delicious fried squirrel on a stick, served with a salad of pinecones and bark. Later on, I tied a possum to a rope and pretended he was a kite.
9/10. Powerfully evocative of my own childhood...
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Dec 2022
9:47am, 27 Dec 2022
58,874 posts
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LindsD
Finally finished the whole book of short stories. Need something v cheerful to read after that.
A Christmas Memory is towards the end as they are in order of writing.
I liked the stories mostly, but bloody hell they are depressing.
The characters from the Christmas one come back twice more, once in another Christmas story.
I didn't dislike them, but I did struggle to get through the misery.
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Dec 2022
9:48am, 27 Dec 2022
58,875 posts
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LindsD
I gave it a 7.
It reminded me of Raymond Carver but that might be a misremembering
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Dec 2022
9:49am, 27 Dec 2022
58,876 posts
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LindsD
I really wanted to like them but wouldn't be rushing to read any more Capote.
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Dec 2022
9:51am, 27 Dec 2022
58,877 posts
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LindsD
I read the same edition as Grep. I think the most disappointing thing was I went into an actual bookshop and bought an actual book as a present to myself. And it made me feel weird. The book, not the buying.
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Mar 2023
5:29pm, 18 Mar 2023
28,117 posts
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Serendippily
I only read the christmas story and i feel very full of the christmas spirit now I’m completely caught up with all the chozzes. This read as true, or at least as drawing on real experiences. The deep south environment he describes sounds very calico and sprigged muslin and is generally a bit alien to me, like one of the characters in little women had got left behind and was tolerated but disliked as a poor relative. It wasnt actually a million miles away from fried green tomatoes, with sll its friendly klan members. Ive a feeling everyone else loathed it, so now im going to read back and find out why 
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Mar 2023
5:45pm, 18 Mar 2023
28,118 posts
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Serendippily
D’you know im not sure if i got maudlin. A quick google says yes this is semi autobiographical. Im not sure i even got a hint of domestic abuse: just scorn. Im not sure homemade kite people and sock people always share the same values
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Mar 2023
7:28pm, 18 Mar 2023
60,605 posts
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LindsD
I think if you read the whole book it builds up. The same tale is told several times from slightly different angles.
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