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Star Bright: A Christmas Story
Designed for holiday gift giving, a repackaged version of the Christmas love story involves an Irish-American everyman named Jack Flanigan and the object of his infatuation, a young Russian woman studying at Harvard, whom he invites home for Christmas, sending his family into a tizzy. Reissue. 50,000 first printing.
127 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 1958
21 people are currently reading
149 people want to read
About the author
Andrew M. Greeley
373 books317 followersAndrew Greeley was a Roman Catholic priest, sociologist, journalist, and author of 50 best-selling novels and more than 100 works of nonfiction. For decades, Greeley entertained readers with such popular characters as the mystery-solving priest Blackie Ryan and the fey, amateur sleuth Nuala Anne McGrail. His books typically center on Irish-American Roman Catholics living or working in Chicago.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/andrew...
http://us.macmillan.com/author/andrew...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
December 10, 2019
Wonderful Christmas Love Story
For me, Andrew Greeley can do no wrong so I might be a little biased but this is my favorite read of the season! Short story about two incredible people who are grateful for life and a chance at live. Sweet and refreshing!
For me, Andrew Greeley can do no wrong so I might be a little biased but this is my favorite read of the season! Short story about two incredible people who are grateful for life and a chance at live. Sweet and refreshing!
December 31, 2022
I picked this up at the library book sale. Nostalgia. I remember when Andrew Greeley was a BIG deal, especially in Chicago. The stereotypes of the young couple falling in love, the Irish/American man and the Russian woman are so broad as to be laughable. Still, there is a sweetness to the story that comes from the attraction of a person with deep faith. Something to contemplate.
December 21, 2023
This was ok. I never really did see what Odessa saw in Jack. But I liked the positive changes she brought to all around her.
March 23, 2022
Nice short story!
October 2, 2021
Star Bright! by Andrew M. Greeley is set in contemporary Boston and Chicago. Jack Flanigan is a student at Boston College. He's studying the Russian language, and welcomes an opportunity to speak with a Russian native he meets at Harvard one day. "Odessa" is strikingly beautiful. Jack meets with her regularly, practicing his Russian and learning all he can about her. He gets tickets to cultural events and invites her; she accepts. When he invites her to spend the holidays in Chicago with his family, Jack tells himself he's just being kind to a student who's all alone at the holidays in a foreign country. Of course they have a wonderful time in Chicago. His family loves her as much as he does. If he will just admit it.
December 16, 2018
A sweet Christmas romance between a Russian girl and a Boston college young man.
December 12, 2010
What a delightful introduction to the work of Andrew Greeley this novel is! It’s magical, mystical, tender, and humorously romantic.
The magic comes from the heroine, the unusual and gifted Odessa Tatiana Alekseevna. Her besotted boyfriend, who narrates their story, deftly makes her come alive for the reader; she is a luminous beauty, a highly talented artist, and a mystic who is on very intimate terms with God.
Jack Flanigan is an Irish-American Catholic boy. Tatiana is Russian Orthodox, born in Russia. Greeley not only highlights their cultural differences, but delves into their religious ones as well, through their funny dialogues. I found myself chuckling at several points. Still, Tatiana comes off as a very spiritual, shy person. Jack, on the other hand, portrays himself as a somewhat inept, rough-around-the-edges Irishman, but the reader knows he does not see himself very accurately.
With the pretext of perfecting his already perfect Russian, he starts meeting her at a certain Harvard campus bench every day. He also watches her interacting with children who also sometimes meet her at the same bench. He is delighted to discover that Tatiana is a storyteller of the first order.
Jack’s growing relationship with Tatiana is also contrasted with the one he has with his endearingly dysfunctional family. One day, the idea is born: he will take her home with him, to spend Christmas with the Flanigans. Tatiana’s parents are gone, after all, and she is all alone in the U.S. Furthermore, she has no other relatives back in Russia.
The resulting interactions of Jack’s family with the young mystic are not only hilarious, but touching and sweet as well. Odessa charms them all, and Jack is even more in love with her. She transforms his normally contentious family into a group of people who actually begin to enjoy the beauty and holiness of the Christmas season. Because of her, they grow closer to God, as well as each other.
The book concludes with hints that “Ivan the Wonderful” (“Ivan” is the equivalent of “John” in Russian) and “Aunt Tati” are destined to live a very long and happy life together.
This novel gave me what I was looking for – a spiritual lift, a glowing feeling of joy, hope, love and warmth. Isn’t this what the Christmas season is all about? Greeley communicated this message more effectively than he could possibly have done through a sermon at Midnight Mass!
The magic comes from the heroine, the unusual and gifted Odessa Tatiana Alekseevna. Her besotted boyfriend, who narrates their story, deftly makes her come alive for the reader; she is a luminous beauty, a highly talented artist, and a mystic who is on very intimate terms with God.
Jack Flanigan is an Irish-American Catholic boy. Tatiana is Russian Orthodox, born in Russia. Greeley not only highlights their cultural differences, but delves into their religious ones as well, through their funny dialogues. I found myself chuckling at several points. Still, Tatiana comes off as a very spiritual, shy person. Jack, on the other hand, portrays himself as a somewhat inept, rough-around-the-edges Irishman, but the reader knows he does not see himself very accurately.
With the pretext of perfecting his already perfect Russian, he starts meeting her at a certain Harvard campus bench every day. He also watches her interacting with children who also sometimes meet her at the same bench. He is delighted to discover that Tatiana is a storyteller of the first order.
Jack’s growing relationship with Tatiana is also contrasted with the one he has with his endearingly dysfunctional family. One day, the idea is born: he will take her home with him, to spend Christmas with the Flanigans. Tatiana’s parents are gone, after all, and she is all alone in the U.S. Furthermore, she has no other relatives back in Russia.
The resulting interactions of Jack’s family with the young mystic are not only hilarious, but touching and sweet as well. Odessa charms them all, and Jack is even more in love with her. She transforms his normally contentious family into a group of people who actually begin to enjoy the beauty and holiness of the Christmas season. Because of her, they grow closer to God, as well as each other.
The book concludes with hints that “Ivan the Wonderful” (“Ivan” is the equivalent of “John” in Russian) and “Aunt Tati” are destined to live a very long and happy life together.
This novel gave me what I was looking for – a spiritual lift, a glowing feeling of joy, hope, love and warmth. Isn’t this what the Christmas season is all about? Greeley communicated this message more effectively than he could possibly have done through a sermon at Midnight Mass!
April 9, 2015
Andrew M. Greeley (February 5, 1928 – May 29, 2013) was an Irish-American Roman Catholic priest, sociologist, journalist and popular novelist.Greeley was probably the best-selling priest in history. This was a warm holiday novel about falling in love and meeting "the one" but with a strong sense of love, spirituality, and faith. It was a great read as I headed toward the Christmas season.
November 30, 2020
Andrew M. Greeley (February 5, 1928 – May 29, 2013) was an Irish-American Roman Catholic priest, sociologist, journalist and popular novelist - enjoyed reading this Christian, Christmas story of romance, & family -
December 20, 2018
I discovered this novella a few years ago, and it has since become one of my favorite Christmas stories (especially since it's set in Chicago).
December 28, 2022
My favorite Christmas story. Have read every year for many years!
December 21, 2019
I was trying to get into the Christmas spirit. This is a sweet story.
December 26, 2022
Star Bright! Is a sweet little Christmas romance.
Jack Flanagan, a Boston College student from Chicago who has visited Russia for three summers sees a young woman reading a Russian newspaper on the Harvard campus. He comes up to her and speaks to her in Russian. Just showing off. He asks her to a coffee shop for a coffee and doughnut. Instead, she makes tea for him, and they discuss the importance of tea and the ceremony that goes with it.
They hit it off very well, and he visits her a couple of times a week. As Christmas approaches, he invites her to come home with him for Christmas. She agrees.
He is worried that his obnoxious family will put her off. Instead, she is an instant hit with all of them. A naturally gifted storyteller, she soon has them all reconsidering their natural animosity for each other. The children are calling her ‘Aunt Tati’ before bedtime the first night. And she even has Jack rethinking some of the grudges he himself holds.
His mother advises him that the family would like him to bring her back every year. The closest thing to a bad outcome is that when he tells her this, she is shocked and ways it is ‘quite impossible.’ But as they are on their way back to Boston, she relents a little on this idea.
Jack Flanagan, a Boston College student from Chicago who has visited Russia for three summers sees a young woman reading a Russian newspaper on the Harvard campus. He comes up to her and speaks to her in Russian. Just showing off. He asks her to a coffee shop for a coffee and doughnut. Instead, she makes tea for him, and they discuss the importance of tea and the ceremony that goes with it.
They hit it off very well, and he visits her a couple of times a week. As Christmas approaches, he invites her to come home with him for Christmas. She agrees.
He is worried that his obnoxious family will put her off. Instead, she is an instant hit with all of them. A naturally gifted storyteller, she soon has them all reconsidering their natural animosity for each other. The children are calling her ‘Aunt Tati’ before bedtime the first night. And she even has Jack rethinking some of the grudges he himself holds.
His mother advises him that the family would like him to bring her back every year. The closest thing to a bad outcome is that when he tells her this, she is shocked and ways it is ‘quite impossible.’ But as they are on their way back to Boston, she relents a little on this idea.
April 20, 2019
Jack Flanigan is a Chicago Irish Catholic attending school at Boston College having been rejected by Harvard because of his Catholic background. He meets a Harvard student - Odessa Tatiana Alekseevna Shuskulya - a Russian. Jack has been in Russia three summers, so he strikes up a Russian conversation. Tatiana is unusual - very spiritual. When Jack invites her home for Christmas, she changes all of his family's lives. His disfunctional family become more cohesive and he falls more in love. Very good to re-examine the meaning of Christmas.
November 30, 2025
Star Bright!: A Christmas Story is a delightful Christmas story. Jack falls in love with Odessa (Tatiana). She changes his life in the best way possible. This is a wonderful romance in the purist sense. Don't miss it. Most highly recommend.
December 2, 2017
Take out the romance in this book and you just might find a text book on how to be sappy Catholic. Sometimes it is hard to swallow when it is thick. But it was an okay book to read on a day of constant moments of stopping , waiting in line and at a long wait at an appointment. I'm glad my sister and I had left it in my car the day before Thanksgiving.
November 2, 2018
Interesting short Christmas story about a young man with Irish heritage and who speaks Russian meets a young Russian woman and yearns to practice his Russian with her. As they get to know each other, he reluctantly invites her to his argumentative family and she charms them. Interesting Russian tales, folklore and quirks, whether correct or not, charm the book.
December 27, 2019
A Christmas Miracle
This was a lovely, charming fairytale for reading on Christmas Day. This story is not so much like so many others of his I have read. I first read Andrew Greeley’s novels in the 1970’s and loved them. Life got busy and I had forgotten him. I believe I will pick him up again.
This was a lovely, charming fairytale for reading on Christmas Day. This story is not so much like so many others of his I have read. I first read Andrew Greeley’s novels in the 1970’s and loved them. Life got busy and I had forgotten him. I believe I will pick him up again.
January 23, 2020
Another decent read from Father Greeley. Jack Flanigan brings his Russian girl friend home for Christmas. There's plenty of culture shock as she meets the Flanigan clan from Chicago. There will of course be turmoil along the way and a happy ending. Father Greeley is indeed the champion of the idealized Irish American family.
December 12, 2017
Maybe three and a half. It was good but I guess not What I was expecting by the title or the author. Fast read since it is a little book and certainly worth reading just different I guess than I anticipated so I kept waiting to see what it was about then it was over.
November 27, 2018
This was an unusual story about a couple who fall in love over the holidays. He's from America and she is from Russia. Her stories makes everyone in his family rethink their lives and loves during a special Christmas holiday.
December 19, 2019
Terrific Christmas story
Sweet, as timeless as it is interesting. Young love, first love, true love, love of family and love of God without hypocrisy combine in a tender and triumphant story.
Sweet, as timeless as it is interesting. Young love, first love, true love, love of family and love of God without hypocrisy combine in a tender and triumphant story.
December 30, 2019
3-1/2 stars. Sweet short story about an Irish Catholic BC student who starts a relationship with a Russian woman who attends Harvard, and then invites her to have Christmas with his family in Chicago.
December 1, 2023
Boring. Hypothetical that did not seem plausible. No character depth, no understanding of why characters thought the way they did.
Short book! But even so skim read the last half hoping to find something to glam on to, but it wasn't there.
Short book! But even so skim read the last half hoping to find something to glam on to, but it wasn't there.
November 16, 2024
This was a short book. Not many characters..
A guy brings a Russian gal home with him for Christmas, and she is a big hit with the family. She's very religious and sheds new meaning to the traditions of Christmas.
A guy brings a Russian gal home with him for Christmas, and she is a big hit with the family. She's very religious and sheds new meaning to the traditions of Christmas.
December 16, 2024
I enjoyed this probably more than I should have. This is a quite cosmopolitan Christmas story, but it is a story of grace and restoration and reconciliation and hope...and that is good. It is contemporary and earthy, not the typical Christmas setting, but good nonetheless.
December 19, 2024
A short pleasant book. Father Greeley is a wonderful story teller. How could a Catholic priest come up with so many interesting stories. Easy to read, likable characters with nice happy Christmas message.
May 10, 2018
I love Andrew Greeley books! This one did not disappoint.
December 7, 2019
Christmas love story
December 16, 2019
gotta love a Greely Christmas story
Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews