I promised a friend I’d read this before Christmas this year. I can see why she loves it. The edition I read was a nice illustrated version that came with a CD, in case you want it read to you by Celeste Holm. The story is sweet and melancholy, and Beth Peck’s illustrations were the perfect accompaniment. Glad I read it. ( )

Charming, beautiful, and a little bit sad. The illustrations are perfect. ( )

See my review here:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2209338869?book_show_action=false&from... ( )

Five short stories, autobiographical of "Buddy" growing up during the Great Depression in Alabama with his cousins. He describes his relationship with his elderly cousin Miss Soot who had a child's mind, and they spent hours together playing and making cakes, decorating the house, mending things, sharing thoughts. The first story, preparations for Christmas; the second, a thanksgiving celebration; the third, being separated from his home in Alabama to spend Christmas with his rich father in New Orleans: very funny 6 year old opening all the presents and asking his father "Look waht Santa got me, what are you going to get for me?". The last two stories were different characters, one about a mysterious man who bought dreams; and the last about a store owner who instigated interest in his shop by means of a competition to guess the value of a jar filled with coins.
I was pleasantly surprised how well written these stories were. This is the first time I have ever read Capote's work and will no doubt read more. Writing style is reminiscent of H G Wells, but with the American depression and later times incorporated. ( )

This is a remarkable story. In it's few pages Truman Capote manages to paint a picture of a seven-year-old boy and his sixty-something year old friend and a Christmas that they spend together. The language in the story is lyrical and beautifully descriptive. Is this book autobiographical? The way it is written, I believe it is. The story is told from the heart and from deep in Capote's soul. Truman Capote had to have lived this in order to describe it so exquisitely. This little book was given to me as a gift, and I waited to read it during the Christmas season. The Christmas season with another Covid-19 wave turned out to be perfect timing for me. If you can get your hands on this little gem, I highly recommend that you take a few minutes to read it. Merry Christmas. ( )