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A review by crazygoangirl
Christmas at Fairacre by Miss Read
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
4.0
An omnibus edition of Miss Read’s Christmas stories featuring three of her most popular stories from her Fairacre series - Village Christmas, No Holly for Miss Quinn and The Christmas Mouse. I have a slightly battered second hand hardcover edition that I found at some book sale, with beautiful original illustrations by John S. Goodall. I think these evocative stories from simpler times long ago are best read from such an edition ☺️
I enjoyed the stories not only for their content and characters, but also for Read’s simple, direct and no-nonsense narrative style and her beautiful nature writing of which there is plenty in the book! She treats all her characters with authenticity and an honest, nuanced sensitivity but I especially loved her in-depth understanding of children and how she treated and wrote about them as ‘real people’, not some sappy caricatures of their true selves! Since all the stories are set around Christmas, the themes tackled are those most in play during this often bittersweet season - family dynamics, compromise, sacrifice, compassion, empathy, love, grief, hope, friendship, loyalty - and so much more that define the human condition. I love that in every story there are lessons taught and lessons learned, subtly and yet very effectively!
I savoured my reading experience and time spent with the two sisters Mary & Margaret who find joy and compassion in helping a neighbour’s family through a difficult time; in Miss Quinn who is able to compromise and shed her judgment of her nearest and dearest as she helps them through a tough time and dear old Mrs. Berry who deals effectively with not one but two Christmas mice - one of the human kind 😊 The book ended with a tragic ghost story which saddened me but yet again underscored Read’s reluctance to focus on the sappy side of things.
When I look at the amount of advice around how to deal with stress around celebrating festivals today, I admire how in times gone by, people talked less about stress and just quietly got on with tasks at hands no matter how difficult. They complained less and found forgiveness and forbearance in their hearts more easily and honestly than we do now, despite the considerable hardship and poverty of their lives as compared to ours. It bears remembering and in my opinion - honouring.
A wonderful volume of cosy tales filled with the joy and spirit of Christmas that will warm your heart ♥️
I enjoyed the stories not only for their content and characters, but also for Read’s simple, direct and no-nonsense narrative style and her beautiful nature writing of which there is plenty in the book! She treats all her characters with authenticity and an honest, nuanced sensitivity but I especially loved her in-depth understanding of children and how she treated and wrote about them as ‘real people’, not some sappy caricatures of their true selves! Since all the stories are set around Christmas, the themes tackled are those most in play during this often bittersweet season - family dynamics, compromise, sacrifice, compassion, empathy, love, grief, hope, friendship, loyalty - and so much more that define the human condition. I love that in every story there are lessons taught and lessons learned, subtly and yet very effectively!
I savoured my reading experience and time spent with the two sisters Mary & Margaret who find joy and compassion in helping a neighbour’s family through a difficult time; in Miss Quinn who is able to compromise and shed her judgment of her nearest and dearest as she helps them through a tough time and dear old Mrs. Berry who deals effectively with not one but two Christmas mice - one of the human kind 😊 The book ended with a tragic ghost story which saddened me but yet again underscored Read’s reluctance to focus on the sappy side of things.
When I look at the amount of advice around how to deal with stress around celebrating festivals today, I admire how in times gone by, people talked less about stress and just quietly got on with tasks at hands no matter how difficult. They complained less and found forgiveness and forbearance in their hearts more easily and honestly than we do now, despite the considerable hardship and poverty of their lives as compared to ours. It bears remembering and in my opinion - honouring.
A wonderful volume of cosy tales filled with the joy and spirit of Christmas that will warm your heart ♥️