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Christmas Stories
Christmas Stories | Diana Secker Tesdell
16 posts | 4 read | 5 to read
A holiday anthology of literary short fiction celebrates Christmas with a collection that includes Elizabeth Bowen's "Green Holly," "Dancing Dan's Christmas" by Damon Runyon, "A Christmas Memory" by Truman Capote, Willa Cather's "The Burglar's Choice," and works by Charles Dickens, Leo Tolstoy, John Updike, Alice Monroe, John Cheever, Grace Paley, and others. 20,000 first printing.
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Bookwomble
Christmas Stories | Diana Secker Tesdell
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Although I could probably finish the remaining stories in this book before New Year's Day, I'm pausing it for next Christmas, as the last story I finished was quite offputting, and I'll need 12 months to get the taste of it out of my mouth. John Cheever's "Christmas is a Sad Season for the Poor" is one of the most cynical and unempathetic things I've ever read; the sentiment upon which neoliberal social policies are written ?

Suet624 Oh boy, Cheever. He‘s a doozy. 3y
Bookwomble @Suet624 This is the only writing of his that I've read. I do have an essay about alcoholism on my tbr, which I now view with some trepidation 😬 3y
Suet624 Cheever was a favorite of an ex-husband of mine. They were cut from the same cloth. Drinking, lack of empathy, etc. Thus, the ultimate reason for him being an ex-husband. 😎 My advice? Spend not a minute on that man. 3y
Bookwomble @Suet624 Drinking+lack of empathy is a difficult combination to live with, for sure. Yeah, the Cheever book isn't high on my to read list now that I've had a sample of his writing 😑 3y
18 likes4 comments
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Bookwomble
Christmas Stories | Diana Secker Tesdell
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I think I've done the last of the Christmas shopping! A bit cold and damp out, so treated myself when i got home to a hot chocolate and started the next story, Anthony Trollope's "Christmas at Thompson Hall", which is (so far) an amusing misadventure of an English gentlewoman in a Parisian hotel.

26 likes1 stack add
review
Bookwomble
Christmas Stories | Diana Secker Tesdell
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Pickpick

Second story in the collection is Gogol's "The Night Before Christmas", which Tchaikovsky adapted as the ballet "Vakula the Smith". It's a romping farce, with fantastic supernatural elements which reminded me of "The Master and Margarita", though, despite appearances by Catherine the Great & Potemkin, without the subversive intent. I really liked this one. Next is Sherlock Holmes & The Blue Carbuncle, which I read recently, but will read again ?

DivineDiana I love this photograph! Stacked! 3y
Bookwomble @DivineDiana The Devil and the witch are pretty funny in the story. I loved this photo, too 😊 3y
25 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Bookwomble
Christmas Stories | Diana Secker Tesdell
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As I was reaching for Dickens' "Tales Around the Christmas Fire" to re-read, my eye was caught by this anthology, which I haven't read, and my hand pluked this off the shelf instead. Fittingly, it begins with a Dickens story, "The Goblins Who Stole a Sexton", which is a precursor for the longer "A Christmas Carol".
Mean-spirited gravedigger, Gabriel Grub, falls asleep on Christmas Eve next to a half-dug grave, and is visited by the spirit of ??

Bookwomble ... the Goblin King, who shows him visions of poor people maintaining Christmas good cheer despite their hardships, and in particular one unnamed family for whom Christmas entails great loss which they bear with simple faith. Awakening by the frost-bound place of final rest, Grub reflects on the moral of his vision, and whether his epiphany can be accepted by those he had wronged. A good start top the collection 🎄 3y
SRWCF The beautiful cover alone would make me pick up that 📖 ! 3y
Bookwomble @SRWCF The back cover is lovely too - somebody who read it before me had already posted a pic of it 🙂 3y
SRWCF @Bookwomble very cool! 3y
24 likes4 comments
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Becker
Christmas Stories | Diana Secker Tesdell
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Christmas short stories. One a day to keep the Covid blues away. 🎄

Kristin_Reads Love that cover! 4y
30 likes1 comment
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saresmoore
Christmas Stories | Diana Secker Tesdell
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Last month I participated in #NaNoWriMo and beat my 50,000 word goal! This month, the task is easier, but the cause is that much more important. During #Dressember, Elliott & I will wear a dress each day and Bryan will wear a tie to raise awareness and funds to end human trafficking. Of course we‘re bringing books into the mix—these are our current reads.

Check out my cause page (link in comments) and donate if you‘d like. 😊

Ashley_Nicoletto I love Dressember. Such a great cause. Thank you! 6y
Ashley_Nicoletto Donated! 😘❤️ 6y
See All 25 Comments
Tamra Very cute pic! Awesome project! 6y
TrishB Well done 👍🏻 I‘ve never heard of this one - good luck (apart from pyjama day - which is most of the days at the moment- I wear a dress nearly ever day😁) 6y
Moray_Reads I've never heard of dressember but it's a great cause. Hope you reach your target. You all look adorable ❤️ 6y
valeriegeary Hey!! Yay!! I missed the original nano post so I'll say it now! CONGRATULATIONS!! Good work! 💪👏🎉🍾🥂 Now.... Keep going. 🤗 6y
valeriegeary Also Dressember sounds like a great cause. And y'all look adorable! 6y
batsy ❤️❤️ 6y
Notafraidofwords I‘ve been doing a bit of writing. Maybe I‘ll send it to you. 6y
saresmoore @Ashley_Nicoletto Thank you! 🥰 6y
saresmoore @Moray_Reads Thank you, friend! ♥️♥️♥️ 6y
erzascarletbookgasm ❤️ great cause and lovely pic 👍. 6y
AlaMich I‘ve also never heard of Dressember, but I think it‘s great! Your photo is also adorable! And your husband is very tall! 😊 6y
Cinfhen Congrats on passing your NaNo goal 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻and I love the photo 6y
saresmoore @valeriegeary Thank you! I will keep going because now I actually have to reread and edit uuuuuuugh... 6y
saresmoore @Notafraidofwords PLEASE please do send it to me! 😄🥰 6y
saresmoore @AlaMich Ha! I think his hair adds about three inches. 6y
saresmoore @Cinfhen Thank you! 6y
LauraBeth That‘s amazing! Congratulations 🎉🎉 Gorgeous photo ❤️ 6y
LeahBergen I love this! 6y
Notafraidofwords Done ✅😃 6y
Kalalalatja You guys are awesome! 6y
Suet624 Donated. You all are just the best. 6y
saresmoore @Suet624 Thank you, Sue. 🥰😘♥️ 6y
87 likes25 comments
review
emilyesears
Christmas Stories | Diana Secker Tesdell
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Mehso-so

One of those rare books where the back is prettier than the front. Unfortunately, I found this only ok. A lot of the stories were depressing or had a sad event in them. I know there is a place for grief in Xmas, but this book made Xmas seem like a totally sad time. There was 1 exception—Where God Is, Love Is by Tolstoy—but on the whole this isn‘t necessarily something I would recommend. This is a high-quality collection in terms of authors though.

Tamra Too bad because the covers are 😍! 7y
31 likes1 comment
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emilyesears
Christmas Stories | Diana Secker Tesdell
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I finished my #LetterC pick this morning so I‘m done with #LitsyAtoZ! Woot! Had a great time completing this challenge! Thanks to @BookishMarginalia for hosting!

britt_brooke Awesome!! 7y
Cinfhen Great job!!! 7y
25 likes3 comments
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wanderlustforwords
Christmas Stories | Diana Secker Tesdell
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Merry Christmas everyone! #christmas #christmasstories

RebelReader Love that cover! 7y
wanderlustforwords @RebelReader Hi Julie! I‘m still figuring litsy out, hence the 3 month late reply. 😳 The pocket oxfords are so cute! 7y
RebelReader @wanderlustforwords I know what you mean about these apps. Where are the directions???? 🤣🤣 7y
wanderlustforwords @RebelReader Amen Julie! Look, I‘m replying! I found the conversations button! 😂 7y
9 likes4 comments
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LeahBergen
Christmas Stories | Diana Secker Tesdell
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#ItsBeginning

It‘s the 1st of December and time to start my David‘s Tea advent calendar (with a Christmas story or two).

#SeasonsReadings2017

Bookzombie I love that cup and saucer! 7y
2BR02B A tea advent calendar is such a great idea. I want one. 😍 7y
Sydsavvy That's so neat! 7y
See All 40 Comments
BarbaraJean A tea advent calendar?! 😍 7y
Lcsmcat I love the idea of a tea Advent calendar! My husband once got a scotch one as a present, but I‘d never heard of a tea one. 7y
CouronneDhiver I looked for this online a couple days ago and can‘t find it... sold out? 7y
AmyG What a nice picture. 7y
Mdargusch I need this!!! 7y
Leftcoastzen Cup and saucer vintage? Fire King? 7y
LeahBergen @Bookzombie @2BR02B @Sydsavvy @BarbaraJean @merelybookish @Lcsmcat Thanks! It makes me try teas that I might otherwise overlook. 7y
LeahBergen @CouronneDhiver It looks like it might be now? I noticed that they were 50% off for Cyber Monday. It seems to sell out every year. 😟 7y
LeahBergen @AmyG Thanks! 😘 7y
LeahBergen @Leftcoastzen It IS vintage Fire King. Good eye! 😄 7y
Tamra So cute! 7y
Aims42 Love seeing vintage fire king! I've got a mug that I covet as if it were gold LOL 7y
rubyslippersreads Gorgeous photo! 😍 7y
SandyW Chocolate, tea, scotch... @Lcsmcat It appears the choices are endless. 😄 7y
RealLifeReading Ooh nice advent calendar! 7y
erzascarletbookgasm Tea advent calendar? Wow, it‘s gorgeous, so is the book cover! This entire photo, in fact! 7y
Avanders I got one of these last year as a gift (amazing!!!!). I managed to hold myself back this year. Until I saw your post. I didn't get the sold out advent calendar of course... just a few other things 🙈 #BlameLitsy #BlameLeahBergen 😝 7y
OrangeMooseReads That mug 😍 ... the calendar sounds fun. I‘m not much of tea drinker though. 7y
Centique Oh I want this calendar! How gorgeous is that! 7y
drokka That cup, my gran used to have those. She gave sold them at a yard sale thinking none of us would want them. I looked like 😳😲😐😩😱 she didn't understand my distressed. Though she did ask if I wanted an antique glass bowl years later. 7y
ValerieAndBooks I have that same book, still unread! I should pull it out, even though I don‘t feel very Christmas-y yet! 7y
GypsyKat Oh wow! Love this! 7y
LeahBergen @Tamra Thanks! 😘 7y
LeahBergen @Aims42 I love the stuff! I‘ve been collecting it for years and use it as our everyday dishes. 😆 7y
LeahBergen @SandyW Exactly! 😆 7y
LeahBergen @erzascarletbookgasm Thank you! 😘😘 7y
LeahBergen @Avanders Haha! Oops! 😆 7y
LeahBergen @Centique It‘s so much fun! 👍🏻 7y
LeahBergen @drokka That‘s how I got so much of my collection - the older generation was sick of looking at the stuff. 😆 At least you got the antique bowl! 👍🏻 7y
LeahBergen @ValerieAndBooks I‘m not feeling quite Christmas-ey enough yet, either. 😆 7y
LeahBergen @GypsyKat Thanks! 😘😘 7y
Suet624 Gorgeous photo. 7y
130 likes40 comments
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emilyesears
Christmas Stories | Diana Secker Tesdell

My December TBR is:

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers

A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers

Christmas Stories edited by Diana Secker Tesdell

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (a reread)

The Further Adventures of Ebenezer Scrooge by Charles Lovett

The Camino by Shirley MacLaine

Intentionally keeping my TBR light as the 1st 2 weeks I still have school stuff and then the last 2 there‘s Xmas activities galore!

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cajunsyd
Christmas Stories | Diana Secker Tesdell
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1. No swaps this year, didn‘t have time! 😔
2. Spending time with family
3. My Alma Mater, Environmental Defense Fund, National Resources Defense Council, various animal charities
4. Mom‘s cooking
5. Homemade delicious; store bought gross
6. Love it for a day or two but not to live with for months!
7. No holiday-themed TBR yet
🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

#LitsyQuestions

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saresmoore
Christmas Stories | Diana Secker Tesdell
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1. No swaps this year, because I‘m in the process of a move. I‘ll be doing some January Litsy gifting, though!
2. My new home in NC!
3. A21 Campaign, Invisible Girl Project, The Mentoring Project, Red Cross, etc.
4. Things with cranberry & citrus
5. Weird to gross
6. I have very little experience with snow—hoping for a bit this winter!
7. I‘m reading the tagged book and will probably read a few other wintery books.

#LitsyQuestions

intothehallofbooks I‘ve been seeing your posts about moving here and there. Moving is stressful! We just moved this month. I hope you guys get settled in well and love it here in NC! 😉 7y
saresmoore @intothehallofbooks Thank you! I hope you are settling in well, too. I‘m pretty sure that we will love NC! 7y
GypsyKat Congratulations on your new home! 😊❤️ 7y
See All 12 Comments
emilyhaldi Good luck with the move! NC sounds awesome, and a little bit of snow might be in your future 🤞🏻 I'm moving from NYC to Ohio this month so I feel your pain! (And excitement 😊) 7y
saresmoore @emilyhaldi Thank you and best wishes for you! That‘s a big change of pace. I‘m hopeful that it will be a smooth and wonderful transition for you! ♥️ 7y
saresmoore @GypsyKat Thank you muchly! I‘m reeeeally looking forward to it! 7y
LeahBergen I have this book, too, and hope to read a few stories. 👍🏻 7y
saresmoore @LeahBergen I fell asleep reading the first story last night. It is so deliciously Dickens. 7y
hgrimes Good luck with the move! Exciting! 7y
saresmoore @hgrimes Thank you! 7y
RohitSawant Congrats on moving to your new home! 7y
saresmoore @rohit-sawant Thank you! It‘s happening quickly now—exciting and mildly panic-inducing. 😬😳🙃 7y
61 likes12 comments
review
QuintusMarcus
Christmas Stories | Diana Secker Tesdell
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Pickpick

All great stories, but for me the big winner is Gogol's "Night Before Christmas".

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kerry
Christmas Stories | Diana Secker Tesdell
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Tonight included bubbly cheers, gifts (homemade marshmallows from @StephanieY!), a shot of egg nog, sit-ups while dressed as the Grinch, Christmas-themed dog PJs, and seasonally appropriate short stories. When it comes to Yuletide Spirit, I believe in overdoing things. (Yes the dog if wearing a reindeer sweater and plaid bowtie.)

kristenlcoates ❄️🐶❤🎄 8y
StephanieY Perfect night, imo!! 8y
32 likes1 stack add3 comments
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kerry
Christmas Stories | Diana Secker Tesdell
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Finished Hogfather this morning, so I treated myself to something new to continue with the seasonal reading trends. @kristenlcoates said it was ok. #sorrynotsorry #iowntoomanybooks

kristenlcoates I'm either the best person to go book shopping with or the worst person to go book shopping with. You decide. 8y
SusanInTiburon Pretty! 8y
21 likes1 stack add2 comments