A Christmas Memory: Truman Capote (Penguin Modern Classics)

A magical story, simply told as all the best stories are. A must read for those who spent sunny childhood afternoons lying in the grass looking at the sky as opposed to playing on their Xbox indoors

I bought this as a gift, and give it five stars because it's pretty much my favourite piece of writing ever, and long has been. I once gave a different edition of "A Christmas Memory as a gift to an older friend who had published forty books and also worked as an editor at Doubleday, who said it was the only thing he'd read in years that he didn't want to edit a single word or a single comma.This edition's best feature is that it's amazingly cheap. I bought it as a gift for someone else and was a tiny bit embarrassed: in terms of production, it's hardly more than a pamphlet, and in terms of added verbiage, it's definitely oriented towards schoolchildren, with questions to think about and such.But quality of the story itself makes any edition welcome, and the price can't be beat.

I had never read any books by truman capote until I brought this one, mainly as it was very cheap, and I was interested in the idea of the book "in cold blood" as I had watched the film INFAMOUS, and enjoyed it.But I don't like throwing my money around, and didn't want to buy the more expensive book in case I didn't like it. And to be honest, I am still unsure if I will...at the price it is at at the moment.Its not that I did not enjoy this short story (it is around 30 pages long- for those that do not know), It was quite pleasant- and capote writes with a gentle authority. I wont spoil the tale too much by elaborating on its content, as in fact, you could sum the whole story up in a line. Its a book that is almost perfectly written, with some beautiful thoughts and a sweet relationship, but it NEEDS some ugly in it in my opinion to really get the depth it requires. It almost achieves this by the end, but for me, not quite enough.I have rated this quite highly for the beautiful language, and some parts of it that I was moved a little by, but it felt a little too unbelievable without a little wrong in it.Perhaps this is why IN COLD BLOOD is seen as his masterpiece?Anyhow, If you can get this for less than 2 pounds, it is worth it, as there will be something i am sure you will take with you after you have read it

Wonderful tale of an unlikely friendship and how they overcome times of adversity and etch out the old St Francis of Assisi saying, "It is in the giving that we receive".

Delightful short memoir left you wanting more.

Short and well written.

Looking at the cover and title of this book, I was expecting a festive read and, given the time of year, I was delighted to be approved for this galley. These short stories, however, were more unsettling than they were festive. While I didn't leave this collection ready to bake cookies and sing Christmas carols, I wasn't disappointed because the writing in this book was just so good.Capote was a masterful wordsmith whose writing can immediately put you into a time and place. The first 3 stories had recurring characters and were told from slightly differing perspectives which each revealed another layer - these 3 stories taken together were my favourite in the collection. The remaining stories were more on the surreal side, I didn't always know what was going on but one thing that remained constant and kept me grounded in the collection was the quality of Capote's writing.There were some turns of phrase which didn't sit well with me due to their racist undertones and while I understand this would have been a product of the time Capote was writing in, it left me with a bitter aftertaste. I also struggled to concentrate at times when things got really weird. All that being said, I am glad I read this and if you're someone who wants an alternative to cheesy, schmaltzy Christmas books this would be an excellent choice which will transport you into the strange and wonderful worlds Capote creates.

Wonderful pocket edition

Winter, 1956“It’s always the same: a morning arrives in November, and my friend, as though officially inaugurating the Christmas time of year that exhilarates her imagination and fuels the blaze of her heart, announces: “It’s fruitcake weather! Fetch our buggy. Help me find my hat.”The person to whom she is speaking is myself. I am seven; she is sixty-something. We are cousins, very distant ones, and we have lived together—well, as long as I can remember.”And so, another shoestring adventure begins for Buddy, our narrator, his cousin Sook Falk, and Queenie, their little rat terrier, as off they scoot to gather windfall pecans - the first ingredient for dozens of fruitcakes that will be sent far and wide. But creating such a prize-winning confection requires many elements, whiskey being the most expensive and difficult to procure. Our band of bakers has saved every penny all year, and despite alcohol being considered sinful, they know just where to secure a bottle. After all, it isn’t fruitcake without a nip of the good stuff.“If you please, Mr. Haha, we’d like a quart of your finest whiskey.” His eyes tilt more. Would you believe it? Haha is smiling! Laughing, too. “Which one of you is a drinkin’ man?”“It’s for making fruitcakes, Mr. Haha. Cooking.”This sobers him. He frowns. “That’s no way to waste good whiskey.”Capote writes with the pen of a poet, and this touching short tale is a timely reminder that our fondest Christmas moments aren’t dependent on flashy falderal or glitzy goodies, but come from time spent with those we love who love us in return.

Short but lovely story.

Indiscutablement, Truman, le plus grand auteur contemporain Américain, mérite toutes les étoiles du ciel. A Christmas Memory, un livre si touchant, d'un style impeccable, nous promène à travers le temps à la rencontre de deux personnages unis par le destin, une certaine Sook, âgée, sa cousine, et lui, Truman, l'enfant abandonné par ses parents. Deux paumés à la recherche du bonheur. Un livre qu'on ne peut pas laisser tomber des mains, jusqu'à la dernière page. Une histoire hors du commun, qui nous donne envie de la lire et de la relire, sans fin. Le livre de Truman Capote, Œuvres, édition Gallimard, est et sera mon livre de chevet préféré.M. Petre

Ondo jaso dut produktua, baina oso orrialde gutxi ditu eta erraz inprimatu lezake norberak etxean.Hurrengoan beraz, galdetegia ere euskaraz?AdeitasunezBittor

I loved this story. It was very touching, evocative and nostalgic. The art accompanying the text was equally lovely. I would recommend this story to anyone who loves tales such as Anne of Green Gables or such. Five stars.