At The Manger: The Stories of Those Who Were There

by Peter Orullian

Most people know the story of Joseph and Mary, but what about the others who came to the manger? What are their stories? What gifts did they bear? At the Manger: The Stories of Those Who Were There is a collection of fictional tales that captures the spirit of charity and humility the birth of Christ is meant to teach. These stores share the gentle reminder that giving is an act of love and ennobles us most when it is a gift of self.

“Rarely has [the Christmas story] been done as well as in Orullian’s beautifully written anthology . . . Here we are asked to conjecture how ordinary people might have responded to Yeshua’s birth—and by extension, how we would respond.”
— Publisher’s Weekly

“Orullian creatively and imaginatively paints fictional portraits of various Bethlehem citizens to create a larger of Bethlehem and the power of love.”
— CRA Marketplace

“An enchanting retelling of the Christmas story from the perspective of various people who visited the babe in the manger.”
— The Seattle Post Intelligencer

Genres: Christmas

227 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2001

About the author

Peter Orullian has worked in marketing at Xbox for nearly a decade, most recently leading the Music and Entertainment marketing strategy for Xbox LIVE, and has toured as a featured vocalist internationally at major music festivals. He has published several short stories. The Unremembered is his first novel. He lives in Seattle. "

Reviews

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I am currently living in Japan with my fiance, and I started a book club here with some of my English speaking Japanese friends. This was our third book for the club and our favorite so far. Christianity is not a prominent religion in Japan, therefore most people know nothing about the origins of Christmas and the spirit of giving of oneself to others that this book so vividly describes. My friends made comments such as "this book really changed my opinion of Christmas and made me really want to help and give to others who are in need". I really enjoyed how although they were all short stories, they were all woven together in ways that allowed you to see the stories from multiple perspectives. Although I am not religious myself, I was raised in a Mormon household and know the stories of Christmas. I appreciated that this book could be enjoyed without feeling like you had to be Christian to understand it.

[Tressa · Rating 3 out of 5]

It perhaps deserves 3.5 stars. I enjoyed the stories but felt that at times some were forced and at times I wanted to know just a little more about what happened to each person after their experience with the Christ child. For instance what did the girl who was a harlot due? Where did the weaver go? I know that it doesn't make much difference because they all found their peace but I liked knowing the crippled man got a job.

[Stephen Winemiller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the finest Christmas story I have ever read, and I'm a retired Pastor! Peter, what a marvelous little masterpiece you have authored. Each character is unexpected and poignant, embracing the suffering of the world that has always existed, from 2000 years ago to today. The light of hope shines through, which is o course what really always makes the winter solstice a special time for humanity.
I love the richness of the historical names you use and how you end up weaving all these rich characters together! Thank you for your gift!

[Roberta · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm always looking for a nice Christmas story to put me in the mood each year and I chose this based on all the positive reviews; however, it reminded me so much of the reviled "The Autobiography of Santa Claus" that I had to quit at page 44. The subtitle, "The Stories of Those Who Were There", intrigued me. I was expecting to hear about Melchior, Caspar, Balthazar, a shepherd, the innkeeper, and maybe even his wife. Instead, Mr. Orullian chose to revise accepted biblical history with a midwife for Mary, a thief who tries to give a stolen necklace to Mary as a gift for Baby Jesus, and the out-of-work carpenter who built the manger that served as a crib for Jesus. I read only the first three stories before I gave up. My recommendation for this rather inventive account is that it be subtitled, "The Stories of Those Who Might Have Been There."

[BJ Haun · Rating 4 out of 5]

"At The Manger" is a collection of connected short stories about those who might have found themselves in Bethlehem on that first Christmas night. The through-line in the stories is Luke, a down on his luck carpenter who is struggling to provide for his pregnant wife. Other characters include the likes of a thief, a crippled soldier, a midwife, a slave, and even a shepherd that stays with his flock to find a lost lamb. I found that most of the stories worked pretty well, with only one coming to mind that seemed a bit forced and out of place in context with the rest of them. There are adult themes present (no nothing graphic in nature) so I would suggest some parental discretion before sharing this book with younger readers, but for a more mature audience I would recommend this as a good way to get into the spirit of the Christmas season.

[Marianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun Christmas book. I liked the individual stories of the people in Bethlehem and how their lives fit together. I have never thought about the person who made the manger. The Bible tells us so little about the birth of Christ, it is fun to imagine the people who were there.

A side note, Peter Orullian mentions his sister Star. She was my PE teacher. Interesting to see his picture at the end of the book and how closely he resembles his sister.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book was sweet. It was a quick, easy read and a great way to get in tune with the true meaning of Christmas. I liked some characters more than others and at times thought the author tried too hard to stir up emotions. (When Joseph washed the beggar womans feet who owned the sandles, I thought it was a bit much.) Other than that I enjoyed it.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book the week before Christmas. It was the perfect read for then, perfect really for any time that you might want get a better insight into Christ's birth. Written as a series of interconnected short stories, this book is all about individuals who might have been at the manger, including the carpenter who built it, and the impact that had on their lives.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. I didnt get a chance to read it when my book club read it last Dec. I am so glad that I finally got around to it and I think I need it in my Christmas collection to read on Dec nights around the tree. There are so many good people in the world and I am so thankful for the reminders that we can get through books like this.

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like The Robe - stories of people who were touched by Christ but this is all about the time of His birth. Fun individual stories - can read separately and not miss anything, but they also all tie together if you read them all at once.

[Marisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought it was a little corny, but I enjoyed it. It made me really think about what it might have been like to be there when Christ was born. What would my story have been? It is good for me to read books like this to get back into perspective what Christmas is REALLY about, the birth of Christ.

[Koona13 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a perfect book to get me in the mood for "the true meaning of Christmas". Each chapter was a different character and story so it was easy to pick up and put down in short intervals during this busy time of year.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally, an original Christmas book! The book tells different stories about people who lived in Bethlehem during the birth of Christ and how it affected each one of them. He ties it up all nicely at the end!

[Susanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice book to add some Christmas spirit to your holiday. Took me back in time to the streets of Bethlehem and the time of the Savior. I would recommend reading it after Thanksgiving and before Christmas.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book and the stories and so did my book club. It brought us all to tears but was a welcome change from the commercialism of the Christmas season. Our only complaint was the quality of editing, which was distracting.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite the editing errors, I enjoyed these short chapters of fictional people at the time of Christ's birth. A great, easy read for someone who is looking for a read aloud family book during the Christmas holiday.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

One man’s deeply-Christian conception of the types of people that might have gathered at the manger when Christ was born. The stories are stark and brutal, reflecting the conditions of Biblical times, and you don’t find the simpering sweetness of the usual little Christmas books.

[Tanjua · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book about giving and the Christmas spirit

[Lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite the typos, I enjoyed this book. It was a cute Christmas story that gives you insight into what men women and children of Bethlehem might have been like.