A Christmas Memory: One Christmas, and The Thanksgiving Visitor (Modern Library)
Together in one festive, keepsake volume, here are the three holiday stories that Truman Capote regarded as among his greatest works of short fiction.
“A Christmas Memory” and “The Thanksgiving Visitor” were inspired by Capote’s early years with a family of distant relatives in rural Alabama. These two childhood tales pay loving tribute to an eccentric old-maid cousin, Miss Sook Faulk, who became Capote’s best friend. In “A Christmas Memory,” Miss Sook, Buddy (the narrator), and their dog, Queenie, celebrate the yuletide in a hilariously tipsy state. In the poignant reminiscence “One Christmas,” six-year-old Buddy journeys to New Orleans for a reunion with his estranged father that shatters many illusions. And in “The Thanksgiving Visitor,” Miss Sook invites an unexpected guest to the holiday meal: the school bully, Odd Henderson, whom Buddy calls “the meanest human creature in my experience.”
Distinguished by Capote’s delicate interplay of childhood sensibility and recollective vision, these three classics are gems that celebrate the unique bonds of friends and family.
“A Christmas Memory” and “The Thanksgiving Visitor” were inspired by Capote’s early years with a family of distant relatives in rural Alabama. These two childhood tales pay loving tribute to an eccentric old-maid cousin, Miss Sook Faulk, who became Capote’s best friend. In “A Christmas Memory,” Miss Sook, Buddy (the narrator), and their dog, Queenie, celebrate the yuletide in a hilariously tipsy state. In the poignant reminiscence “One Christmas,” six-year-old Buddy journeys to New Orleans for a reunion with his estranged father that shatters many illusions. And in “The Thanksgiving Visitor,” Miss Sook invites an unexpected guest to the holiday meal: the school bully, Odd Henderson, whom Buddy calls “the meanest human creature in my experience.”
Distinguished by Capote’s delicate interplay of childhood sensibility and recollective vision, these three classics are gems that celebrate the unique bonds of friends and family.
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Community Reviews
I think the missing star is a result of me reading this for the first time as an adult (and one who had not heard about this book previously). I had no sentimental attachment to it. And despite the anticipation I felt (after reading reviews) to weep, it did not bring a tear to my eye or a sniffle to my nostrils.
It was still, however, a beautiful and sweet story of a beautiful and sweet friendship between a seven-year-old boy and a "sixy-something" woman and the last Christmas season they spend together. They are cousins and not grandchild/grandmother as I had assumed when flipping through and looking at the illustrations. Speaking of the illustrations...they are equally beautiful and sweet. Each line of the story was near perfection, but there is just something that keeps me from giving it five stars. Despite this, it has become the front runner in my "Christmas book to read each year" race. That's a pretty big deal; I've never had one before.
It was still, however, a beautiful and sweet story of a beautiful and sweet friendship between a seven-year-old boy and a "sixy-something" woman and the last Christmas season they spend together. They are cousins and not grandchild/grandmother as I had assumed when flipping through and looking at the illustrations. Speaking of the illustrations...they are equally beautiful and sweet. Each line of the story was near perfection, but there is just something that keeps me from giving it five stars. Despite this, it has become the front runner in my "Christmas book to read each year" race. That's a pretty big deal; I've never had one before.
Cute and quick story for the holidays! If you can get your hands on the copy that also includes One Christmas and the thanksgiving story, I highly suggest doing that. Totally different tones and themes through all three stories.
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