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

Winterson, Jeanette

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0802127223 ISBN 13: 9780802127228

Publisher: Grove Press, 2017

Synopsis

A New York Times Book Review 100 Notable Books of 2017

“Nowhere is [Winterson’s] faith in the transporting power of storytelling more on display than in her new book, Christmas Days . . . dark, otherworldly and (trademark Winterson) wickedly funny . . . [a] holiday treasure . . . to be pulled out on a December night, fireside, and read aloud.” ―New York Times Book Review

“If you crave the mystery, the family rituals, and the special victuals of Christmastime, you’ll savor . . . bold, revelatory feminist writer Jeanette Winterson’s Christmas Days.” ―Elle

Jeanette Winterson brings together twelve of her brilliantly imaginative, funny and bold Christmas stories, linked by personal memories and twelve delicious recipes for the Twelve Days of Christmas. 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. Enjoy the season of peace and goodwill, mystery, and a little bit of magic courtesy of one of our most fearless and accomplished writers.

“Winterson has presented us with unexpected holiday cheer . . . perfect for stuffing the stockings of your eccentric relatives . . . The magical tales are all exuberant.” ―Washington Post

“Funny, spooky stories for the Christmas season.” ―Los Angeles Times

“A feast of stories . . . Winterson has wrapped up a holiday present between two covers.” ―NPR

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, Sexing the Cherry, 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: 2017
• ISBN 10: 0802127223
• ISBN 13: 9780802127228
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 304