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The Last Noel: A Novel
On Christmas Eve, 1963, Noni Tilden and Kaye King--one from a prominent white family, the other from a poor black family--begin a friendship that lasts through four decades of change in their small North Carolina town.
292 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2002
200 people are currently reading
1833 people want to read
About the author
Michael Malone
82 books205 followersMichael Malone was the author of ten novels, a collection of short stories, and two works of nonfiction. Educated at Carolina and at Harvard, he was a professor in Theater Studies at Duke University. Among his prizes are the Edgar, the O. Henry, the Writers Guild Award, and the Emmy. He lived in Hillsborough, North Carolina, with his wife.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 344 reviews
December 15, 2020
4.5 Stars
This story covers the lives of Noelle, or Noni as she is known to everyone in their small town of Moors, North Carolina, and Kaye, born hours apart. Noni on Christmas Eve, and Kaye early on Christmas day. Noni’s family is well-to-do, whereas Kaye’s family is poor. Noni’s family is white, whereas Kaye’s family is black. The year is 1956 as their lives begin, but this story covers many years, unevenly spread apart, as their lives become more intertwined, and their friendship blooms. Most of the twelve chapters are on or around Christmas Day, following the friendship and the lives of their families, Noni’s family being the Tildens and Kaye’s family being the Kings.
Noni and Kaye meet the year they will turn seven, on Christmas Eve, and quickly develop a bond that will, over time, be tested. But as young children, and before the 60’s will become an era known for turbulence, they bond over a gift under Noni’s Christmas tree - a sled, and the joy of the snow that had fallen that night.
Over the years, their lives will take different paths, and their experiences will be different. Kaye becomes involved in the Civil Rights, and eventually the Black Power Movement, but ultimately chooses the medical profession, eventually becoming a successful doctor. Noni’s passion was music, and she followed that passion until she marries, and life proves to be very different from her expectations, although her husband is successful, like his father. She is unfulfilled, and finds little appreciation or advice over her frustrations with her life, and her husband.
This took me a minute to really fall under the spell of Malone’s story, it’s shared with a subtle nod to the region and the time, with a sprinkling of sentimental view of perhaps both, but also sharing the need for change. The standard ‘stuff’ of family dramas permeates these pages - divorces, grief, loss and reunions, and forgiveness - and love. Most of all love, in all its varied manifestations.
December 6, 2012
Curse you, Michael Malone! CURSE YOU for keeping me up late at night and making me deplete half my stock of tissues.
I read his novel The Four Corners of the Sky, which, despite it not being typical of my usual reading preferences, I thoroughly enjoyed. When this was offered as a Free Fridays pick for the Nook, I jumped on it. I expected a good read, perhaps a little dramatic considering the racial tones of the plot. What I got was an emotional juggernaut.
The story flows over 40 years and 12 Christmases, beginning in 1963 and centering around the unlikely friendship between Noni, a privileged white girl, and Kaye, the African-American grandson of Noni's family's maid. They were born hours apart, she on Christmas Eve and he on Christmas Day, and this tie binds them together. Sounds like it has strains of other novels written about the relationship between people of different races in the South, right? Well, it does--to a degree. The typical barriers to white-black relations are dealt with, but not as dramatically as in other novels. In fact, I'd say that racial injustice was mostly glossed over; it was mentioned, illustrated in a few ways, but then placed aside to get to the heart of the story--love, in all its forms.
Don't misunderstand me--I wouldn't classify this as a romance novel. It's definitely dramatic fiction. As you read it, you find yourself hoping, praying, that Noni and Kaye would just get of their own way and find each other. So many times I wanted to reach in and shake Noni--couldn't she see that Roland is a poor choice for a mate? I felt Kaye's anger and frustration when she wouldn't listen to him. At the same time, I wanted to slap Kaye and tell him to get over himself! Shelve the pride and tell the girl you love her! Each new chapter (which tells the story of the couple where they are at that point in time), I would anxiously wait to read that Noni and Kaye are together, finally. But whether that happens or not (and I will not spoil that for you), the love between them can't be denied. It's not just passion or attraction, it's a deep abiding love, the kind that can only begin with a lifelong friendship and commitment to one another. Kaye and Noni are each an extension of the other, and nothing--not tragedy, not outside forces, not their own stubbornness--can break that.
This complex blend of platonic and romantic love between the protagonists is the driving force behind the story, but it isn't the only sentiment Mr. Malone expresses. He deftly captures the love between a deeply flawed father and his daughter (Noni). Once we get to know Bud Tilden, we understand why Noni loves him so much, and why she makes the choices that she does, even if Kaye can't seem to understand for himself. Malone touches on this relationship in concert with others that aren't as special, are in fact toxic--Noni and her domineering, hyper-critical mother; Wade and his father and sister (Bud and Noni); Jack and his alcoholic son, Roland; Noni and Roland. All those bad relationships touch Noni, whereas while Kaye knows the pain of losing his mother, he has the full support and love of the rest of his family. This inability to empathize with Noni is one of the reasons Kaye is often frustrated, and can't understand why Noni does what she does. The only good, pure love is between Noni and Kaye, but it keeps being tainted by all the other relationships. Still, there is a hopefulness in this novel that one of these Christmases, their love can transcend all the rest. They are soulmates, afterall.
I really don't want to spoil the ending, so while you may guess what happens, I won't go into specifics. Suffice it to say, you should have a box of Kleenex ready. The good, soft, three-ply kind. You're going to need it.
The Last Noel is a beautifully written story by a talented author. You'll be thinking of it long after you've put it down.
I read his novel The Four Corners of the Sky, which, despite it not being typical of my usual reading preferences, I thoroughly enjoyed. When this was offered as a Free Fridays pick for the Nook, I jumped on it. I expected a good read, perhaps a little dramatic considering the racial tones of the plot. What I got was an emotional juggernaut.
The story flows over 40 years and 12 Christmases, beginning in 1963 and centering around the unlikely friendship between Noni, a privileged white girl, and Kaye, the African-American grandson of Noni's family's maid. They were born hours apart, she on Christmas Eve and he on Christmas Day, and this tie binds them together. Sounds like it has strains of other novels written about the relationship between people of different races in the South, right? Well, it does--to a degree. The typical barriers to white-black relations are dealt with, but not as dramatically as in other novels. In fact, I'd say that racial injustice was mostly glossed over; it was mentioned, illustrated in a few ways, but then placed aside to get to the heart of the story--love, in all its forms.
Don't misunderstand me--I wouldn't classify this as a romance novel. It's definitely dramatic fiction. As you read it, you find yourself hoping, praying, that Noni and Kaye would just get of their own way and find each other. So many times I wanted to reach in and shake Noni--couldn't she see that Roland is a poor choice for a mate? I felt Kaye's anger and frustration when she wouldn't listen to him. At the same time, I wanted to slap Kaye and tell him to get over himself! Shelve the pride and tell the girl you love her! Each new chapter (which tells the story of the couple where they are at that point in time), I would anxiously wait to read that Noni and Kaye are together, finally. But whether that happens or not (and I will not spoil that for you), the love between them can't be denied. It's not just passion or attraction, it's a deep abiding love, the kind that can only begin with a lifelong friendship and commitment to one another. Kaye and Noni are each an extension of the other, and nothing--not tragedy, not outside forces, not their own stubbornness--can break that.
This complex blend of platonic and romantic love between the protagonists is the driving force behind the story, but it isn't the only sentiment Mr. Malone expresses. He deftly captures the love between a deeply flawed father and his daughter (Noni). Once we get to know Bud Tilden, we understand why Noni loves him so much, and why she makes the choices that she does, even if Kaye can't seem to understand for himself. Malone touches on this relationship in concert with others that aren't as special, are in fact toxic--Noni and her domineering, hyper-critical mother; Wade and his father and sister (Bud and Noni); Jack and his alcoholic son, Roland; Noni and Roland. All those bad relationships touch Noni, whereas while Kaye knows the pain of losing his mother, he has the full support and love of the rest of his family. This inability to empathize with Noni is one of the reasons Kaye is often frustrated, and can't understand why Noni does what she does. The only good, pure love is between Noni and Kaye, but it keeps being tainted by all the other relationships. Still, there is a hopefulness in this novel that one of these Christmases, their love can transcend all the rest. They are soulmates, afterall.
I really don't want to spoil the ending, so while you may guess what happens, I won't go into specifics. Suffice it to say, you should have a box of Kleenex ready. The good, soft, three-ply kind. You're going to need it.
The Last Noel is a beautifully written story by a talented author. You'll be thinking of it long after you've put it down.
September 11, 2011
I read this during the Christmas holiday after my husband died. Strange as this may sound this book helped me at a time when reading books was something I loved but couldn't imagine ever doing again. I hope this makes sense. If not oh well it makes perfect sense to me
December 18, 2023
A very special friendship that spans 40 years. Exquisitely written with characters you will not forget.
I am rarely moved to tears by a book. Well, that’s not always true, I can be a cry baby, if the story really gets to me.
And well...
This one did. I kept thinking I knew where the story was going to go and then the author just kept surprising me with all these twists and turns. And then…
My heart…
Kleenex, please.
I am rarely moved to tears by a book. Well, that’s not always true, I can be a cry baby, if the story really gets to me.
And well...
This one did. I kept thinking I knew where the story was going to go and then the author just kept surprising me with all these twists and turns. And then…
My heart…
Kleenex, please.
January 2, 2013
The real question here is why this book is on my "read" and not my "abandoned" shelf. Here's what I learned from this book:
1. It's hard growing up as a smart African American in North Carolina in the 1960s. But with the support of a loving family, you can become a rich doctor.
2. It's even harder growing up as a beautiful blonde from a rich old money family. You're destined to have major family strife and die an early death, despite your essential goodness.
This is the kind of book that explains something about a character 4 paragraphs ahead of where that information is important to advancing the plot. Christmas is used throughout to make it even more over-the-top sentimental. Bah, humbug.
1. It's hard growing up as a smart African American in North Carolina in the 1960s. But with the support of a loving family, you can become a rich doctor.
2. It's even harder growing up as a beautiful blonde from a rich old money family. You're destined to have major family strife and die an early death, despite your essential goodness.
This is the kind of book that explains something about a character 4 paragraphs ahead of where that information is important to advancing the plot. Christmas is used throughout to make it even more over-the-top sentimental. Bah, humbug.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 12, 2012
This one was either cheap or free from B&N. I had liked another Michael Malone I read recently so I picked this one up, too.
Noni and Kaye grow up together in the small town of Moors, North Carolina. Noni is the "princess" of Heaven's Hill, her family's estate. Kaye is the grandson of Aunt Ma, the housekeeper at Heaven's Hill. Aunt Ma has lived at Heaven's Hill her whole life as her family has done for nearly 200 years when her great-grandmother was brought there as slave. The two children become fast friends from the moment they meet when Kaye climbs into Noni's bedroom on Christmas Eve to see if she wants to go ride that new sled she got on the newly fallen snow. They are both seven years old, though Noni is a couple of hours older, having been born on Christmas Eve while Kaye was born early on Christmas morning.
Over the years the two bond and become best friends despite the difficult race relations of the 60's and 70's. Each chapter finds Noni and Kaye on Christmas Eve, celebrating their respective birthdays and catching us up on what has happened during the intervening years. We see Noni grow into a beautiful woman living a difficult life, while Kaye goes on to become a heart surgeon. They end up on different paths but come together year after year at Heaven's Hill for their birthdays.
Although somewhat predictable, the ending had me in tears. Very touching and a real love story with a unique telling.
Noni and Kaye grow up together in the small town of Moors, North Carolina. Noni is the "princess" of Heaven's Hill, her family's estate. Kaye is the grandson of Aunt Ma, the housekeeper at Heaven's Hill. Aunt Ma has lived at Heaven's Hill her whole life as her family has done for nearly 200 years when her great-grandmother was brought there as slave. The two children become fast friends from the moment they meet when Kaye climbs into Noni's bedroom on Christmas Eve to see if she wants to go ride that new sled she got on the newly fallen snow. They are both seven years old, though Noni is a couple of hours older, having been born on Christmas Eve while Kaye was born early on Christmas morning.
Over the years the two bond and become best friends despite the difficult race relations of the 60's and 70's. Each chapter finds Noni and Kaye on Christmas Eve, celebrating their respective birthdays and catching us up on what has happened during the intervening years. We see Noni grow into a beautiful woman living a difficult life, while Kaye goes on to become a heart surgeon. They end up on different paths but come together year after year at Heaven's Hill for their birthdays.
Although somewhat predictable, the ending had me in tears. Very touching and a real love story with a unique telling.
December 29, 2012
A few weeks ago The Last Noel was offered as a free book on both Nook and Kindle. If you downloaded it but haven’t gotten around to reading it, do yourself a favor ... read it!! The story is not about Christmas but each chapter takes place on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day...the birthdays of the two central characters. It’s well written and has everything one looks for in a book. It is a beautiful story about friendship and love that binds people with different racial backgrounds together. Social issues such as segregation and racial tensions in South Carolina during the 60’s bring back memories for those of us of a certain age. You will laugh and you will cry. I fell in love with Noni and Kaye, on page one and they continue to be with me long after the end of the story. Some stories you just don’t want to end ... this is one of them. If you’re a fan of Nicholas Sparks, you will love this story, albeit not quite as mushy! It is a true love story at its best.
I think I have found a new favorite author!
I think I have found a new favorite author!
December 17, 2021
Find this book wherever you can then grab a box of tissues and sit down! This is a holiday story of an interracial friendship/relationship told over a 40 year time span. This was such a BEAUTIFUL story and so many of these characters were lovable and sweet. My heart swelled and broke in 12 chapters as this was definitely an emotional read for me. Loved it from start to finish!
March 26, 2012
This book was a bit of a chameleon, or a surprise. I started out entertained and interested, but as it wore on, it failed to captivate me, and just when I was thinking maybe I'd set it aside in favor of something else, I realized that even though the writing wasn't that exciting and the story flagged in spots, I really wanted to know how it ended. I thought I knew how it would end, but I was wrong. It was utterly unpredictable to me, and I appreciate that in a story because it's so seldom the case. I ended up loving the device he used to get through the story - of a friendship that spans a lifetime - of popping in to check on the protagonists every Christmas. I couldn't wait to see when he'd shine his light on them next. Heartbreaking but worth a read.
December 22, 2021
What a tear jerker! This takes a friendship between a boy and girl through 40 years. It is a delightful story from age 7 to age 40.
October 31, 2021
This book was one of the best books I’ve read in awhile.
The theme dealt with love, acceptance and the different
backgrounds and cultures that shape us as human beings.
I was enthralled with the way the author handled the subject. The reader could sense the deep feelings and conflict the characters felt throughout the book. It was so real and drew the reader into the lives and feelings of the characters.
I highly recommend this book.
The theme dealt with love, acceptance and the different
backgrounds and cultures that shape us as human beings.
I was enthralled with the way the author handled the subject. The reader could sense the deep feelings and conflict the characters felt throughout the book. It was so real and drew the reader into the lives and feelings of the characters.
I highly recommend this book.
December 21, 2013
This is really a 3 and a half stars book. A good Christmas book that spans 4 decades. The story of an interracial friendship in North Carolina, that follows the course of the friendship from the early 60's to 2003.
Read
December 21, 2017The structure--twelve chapters that each take place on or near a particular Christmas in the thwarted love story of Kaye King and Noni Tilden--makes this a good holiday choice while at the same time requiring too much summary, to cover the intervening time between the Christmases, at the expense of actual scenes. Still, Malone is a good writer, and the final chapters are poignant and sad.
December 3, 2024
Beautiful story. Would have been 5 stars, but the ending was too sad for my liking.
December 6, 2025
A coming of age story about true love and friendship with a tearful ending . A very good read.
December 4, 2012
When I get a book like this, after a few pages I usually ether toss it in the trash or delete it from my nook reader. Not this time. After a few pages I was hooked. This book offers a deep insight into southern society. It covers the period for the 60's through the 90's. Malone paints vivid word pictures that all all to real. This story could have been about anyone that can trace their roots back more then a few generations in the south. It is a tragic love story, about a forbidden love, what could have been, but wasn't, it is heart warming and sad. Not my kind of story, but I could not put it down, I read it in two sittings. If you want to learn about the southern heritage, the mores, the hidden unspoken truths, the changing south, if you would like to know why we southerners think it the grandest place on the face of the earth, then read the book. I am so glad I read this book and am actually looking forward to occasionally reading more like it, especially if Michael Malone wrote it. This is a great book. Read it.
December 6, 2012
Well, heavens to betsy (whatever that means)! I was expecting to like this book then was expecting to hate it and have to admit that I'm half and half. I didn't hate it nor did I love it. I skimmed several parts that seemed irrelevant then boo hooed my eyes out at the end. Yes, that is a spoiler! If you don't like tear jerkers even, stay away from this one. It was a good reminder of what kind of lives people lived in the south beginning in the '60's. Hard for a black man and hard for the rich white woman. Both lives fueled by the expectations of others. Yes, they did find each other and the story over the years is told in this book. Worth the time? Only if you like tear jerkers and are willing to either skim or read through the history of the characters I might pick up another by this author.
December 28, 2012
I enjoyed this book about two kids who meet on Christmas Eve, the day she turns 7 and the day before he does. Kaye, the boy (also known as John), is a poor black child from Philadelphia who's visiting his grandmother, whose family has worked for the girl's for generations. The girl, Noelle, also known as Noni, is a descendent of the Gordons, the rich family who founded the town generations ago. The story is told over the course of 12 Christmas Eves during Kaye and Noni's relationship. It's at times touching, frustrating and heartbreaking.
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She dies at 40, after having his son 11 years earlier and never telling him until her death bed. Even knowing that was coming, I still cried my eyes out.
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She dies at 40, after having his son 11 years earlier and never telling him until her death bed. Even knowing that was coming, I still cried my eyes out.
December 2, 2012
I just finished washing my face and drying my tears after finishing this book! What a beautiful love story! I bought the Nook version as an "oh well" sort of deal (might even have been the "Free Friday" offering), and I am so glad I did. The story of a neighboring children, a poor black boy and a rich white girl, and their lives through several generations. The guideline of the story you can find anywhere, but I was genuinely touched by the friendship these two people shared throughout their lives, good times and bad.
January 2, 2014
This was such a beautiful, touching story.
Though the title implies a holiday read, it was so much more. The story takes place over 40 years. Each part of the story is told at Christmas time. The book touches on subjects such as family, friendship, racial and social issues, and love. The characters are well developed and the writing is solid.
I rarely give 5 star ratings and save them for the few books that really move me. This was one of those books.
Just a fair warning: don't be caught without tissues while reading. You will need them.
Though the title implies a holiday read, it was so much more. The story takes place over 40 years. Each part of the story is told at Christmas time. The book touches on subjects such as family, friendship, racial and social issues, and love. The characters are well developed and the writing is solid.
I rarely give 5 star ratings and save them for the few books that really move me. This was one of those books.
Just a fair warning: don't be caught without tissues while reading. You will need them.
December 13, 2013
The book is centered around the 12 days of Christmas, each taking place in a different year and tells the story of the gift of love and friendship. This is not really a Christmas story, but I think it is a wonderful story to read during the holiday season because it makes you think about what is important.
I loved this book; I revieved a free copy from Barnes and Noble's free fridays for my nook. It was very heartfelt and tissues are required!
I loved this book; I revieved a free copy from Barnes and Noble's free fridays for my nook. It was very heartfelt and tissues are required!
November 21, 2014
Well wasn't that a lovely little gem of a book? Broken down into twelve chapters, each celebrating twelve different Christmases between the 1950s to the 2000s, it is a story of Kaye, the little black boy that first comes to visit the little white girl, Noni on Christmas eve when they are each around 7 years old. Both share their Christmas birthdays over the years. Remember to keep those tissues handy when you reach the final two Christmas chapters.
October 13, 2015
Fans of Nicholas Sparks and Richard Paul Evans will love this book.
An emotional roller-coaster of the friendship-turned-love between a white girl who lives a privileged life in the North Carolina 60's and the African-American boy-next-door whose family is employed there.
The story covers decades of their relationship, the heartbreaks, joy and alway-there bond between them.
I really enjoyed this book and will look for more from this author.
An emotional roller-coaster of the friendship-turned-love between a white girl who lives a privileged life in the North Carolina 60's and the African-American boy-next-door whose family is employed there.
The story covers decades of their relationship, the heartbreaks, joy and alway-there bond between them.
I really enjoyed this book and will look for more from this author.
December 23, 2012
I was thinking this would be warm-hearted and Christmas-y.
Well, it was. Both. But not what I wanted.
A friendship story, a love story, a story of times that change and things that last. For all of that, I liked it.
But pay attention to the title. This has an ending. And the ending didn't enhance my holiday spirit. I'm all sad now.
Well, it was. Both. But not what I wanted.
A friendship story, a love story, a story of times that change and things that last. For all of that, I liked it.
But pay attention to the title. This has an ending. And the ending didn't enhance my holiday spirit. I'm all sad now.
December 26, 2015
I found this book to be a very heart warming story of two very different people who became close friends. Their relationship and its challenges many posed by their different race and social class, is revealed through descriptions of many different Christmas seasons, from their first meeting at age seven until the death of one. A very heart warming book on goodness, friendship, love and sharing.
December 13, 2012
Powerful story of two children born on Christmas as they grow up together and apart. As I read the final Christmas chapters on the commuter train home last night, I realized that I had tears in my eyes.
January 6, 2013
What a beautifully written book! The author wrote with such compassion and style that you just wanted to savor each page. The story sucked you in from the first few paragraphs and never let you go!!! I wish I wasn't done!!!! I will add Michael Malone to my favorite author list!
January 31, 2016
A beautiful, sad, sweet love story. I loved the chracters Noni & Kaya. Their love is doomed from the start, the time is not right, they live in North Carolina and one is African American, the other white. Get your kleenex!!
December 7, 2012
A wonderful dynamic story spanning several decades. I don't know how I came across this gem but I am glad I did~ the perfect holiday treasure!
December 25, 2012
A beautiful story of love unrealized.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 344 reviews