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A Town Divided by Christmas
It began with a quarrel over which newborn should be the baby Jesus in the town's Christmas pageant. Decades later, two scientists arrive to study small-town genetic patterns, only to run up against the invisible walls that split the leading citizens into two congregations that can only be joined by love and forgiveness. And maybe a little deception, because there might be some things that people just don't need to know.
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First published November 6, 2018
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About the author
Orson Scott Card
891 books20.6k followersOrson Scott Card is an American writer known best for his science fiction works. He is (as of 2023) the only person to have won a Hugo Award and a Nebula Award in consecutive years, winning both awards for his novel Ender's Game (1985) and its sequel Speaker for the Dead (1986). A feature film adaptation of Ender's Game, which Card co-produced, was released in 2013. Card also wrote the Locus Fantasy Award-winning series The Tales of Alvin Maker (1987–2003).
Card's fiction often features characters with exceptional gifts who make difficult choices with high stakes. Card has also written political, religious, and social commentary in his columns and other writing; his opposition to homosexuality has provoked public criticism.
Card, who is a great-great-grandson of Brigham Young, was born in Richland, Washington, and grew up in Utah and California. While he was a student at Brigham Young University (BYU), his plays were performed on stage. He served in Brazil as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and headed a community theater for two summers. Card had 27 short stories published between 1978 and 1979, and he won the John W. Campbell Award for best new writer in 1978. He earned a master's degree in English from the University of Utah in 1981 and wrote novels in science fiction, fantasy, non-fiction, and historical fiction genres starting in 1979. Card continued to write prolifically, and he has published over 50 novels and 45 short stories.
Card teaches English at Southern Virginia University; he has written two books on creative writing and serves as a judge in the Writers of the Future contest. He has taught many successful writers at his "literary boot camps". He remains a practicing member of the LDS Church and Mormon fiction writers Stephenie Meyer, Brandon Sanderson, and Dave Wolverton have cited his works as a major influence.
Card's fiction often features characters with exceptional gifts who make difficult choices with high stakes. Card has also written political, religious, and social commentary in his columns and other writing; his opposition to homosexuality has provoked public criticism.
Card, who is a great-great-grandson of Brigham Young, was born in Richland, Washington, and grew up in Utah and California. While he was a student at Brigham Young University (BYU), his plays were performed on stage. He served in Brazil as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and headed a community theater for two summers. Card had 27 short stories published between 1978 and 1979, and he won the John W. Campbell Award for best new writer in 1978. He earned a master's degree in English from the University of Utah in 1981 and wrote novels in science fiction, fantasy, non-fiction, and historical fiction genres starting in 1979. Card continued to write prolifically, and he has published over 50 novels and 45 short stories.
Card teaches English at Southern Virginia University; he has written two books on creative writing and serves as a judge in the Writers of the Future contest. He has taught many successful writers at his "literary boot camps". He remains a practicing member of the LDS Church and Mormon fiction writers Stephenie Meyer, Brandon Sanderson, and Dave Wolverton have cited his works as a major influence.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 231 reviews
November 12, 2018
The scientific method collides with southern small town culture and a local mystery in this charming and insightful novella. Review first posted on Fantasy Literature:
Two post-doc academics ― Dr. Delilah (Spunky) Spunk, an economist, and Dr. Elyon Dewey, a geneticist ― are sent to Good Shepherd, North Carolina to do a genetic and sociological study. The hope is that by studying a relatively genetically isolated population, they can prove or disprove the theory that certain people carry a “homebody marker": a genetic tendency to remain in their native community or return to it. Spunky, the more personable of the two, is charged with interviewing the townspeople and convincing them to give genetic samples; Elyon (“that most tragic of personality types: The relentless extrovert with zero social skills”) is to do the genome analysis of the samples.
When Spunky and Elyon arrive in Good Shepherd, one of the first things they notice is two big churches facing each other across the town square, with nearly identical names: First Episcopal Church of the Nativity and First Episcopal Nativity Church. The local alderman, Eggie Loft, explains to Spunky that there’s a fifty-year division between the Episcopalians, so deep that none will cross from one church to the other. Each church puts on the Nativity pageant at exactly the same time, with identical scripts. If anyone still alive knows the underlying reason for the religious duel, they’re not saying, but apparently it had something to do with which baby was chosen to play the Baby Jesus in the Nativity pageant eighty-seven years ago.
Elyon’s abrasiveness is so off-putting to Spunky that she avoids his company as much as possible, choosing to spend time with the townspeople instead ― especially Eggie Loft. Eggie is intelligent and has a great sense of humor, but his deep ties to Good Shepherd make it difficult for Spunky to see any future in a relationship with him. Meanwhile, Elyon has hired a local girl, Jozette, to cook and clean for him. Despite her lack of any college education or understanding of any part of Elyon’s work, the two grow closer … though Spunky wonders if it’s mostly because Jozette wear low-cut tops and bends over in front of Elyon every time she has a chance.
The plot of A Town Divided by Christmas is fairly slight and meanders in a way that distinctly reminded me of laid-back, small-town vibes. The witty banter and humorous commentary make the leisurely journey a delight, though.
A Town Divided by Christmas (originally passed out by the Cards in 2017 as a Christmas gift) has a timely message for our world, where so much focus is given to the things that divide us. It’s not science fiction or fantasy, but it is an entertaining and humorous mix of scientific methods and romance and interpersonal relationships generally.
Two post-doc academics ― Dr. Delilah (Spunky) Spunk, an economist, and Dr. Elyon Dewey, a geneticist ― are sent to Good Shepherd, North Carolina to do a genetic and sociological study. The hope is that by studying a relatively genetically isolated population, they can prove or disprove the theory that certain people carry a “homebody marker": a genetic tendency to remain in their native community or return to it. Spunky, the more personable of the two, is charged with interviewing the townspeople and convincing them to give genetic samples; Elyon (“that most tragic of personality types: The relentless extrovert with zero social skills”) is to do the genome analysis of the samples.
When Spunky and Elyon arrive in Good Shepherd, one of the first things they notice is two big churches facing each other across the town square, with nearly identical names: First Episcopal Church of the Nativity and First Episcopal Nativity Church. The local alderman, Eggie Loft, explains to Spunky that there’s a fifty-year division between the Episcopalians, so deep that none will cross from one church to the other. Each church puts on the Nativity pageant at exactly the same time, with identical scripts. If anyone still alive knows the underlying reason for the religious duel, they’re not saying, but apparently it had something to do with which baby was chosen to play the Baby Jesus in the Nativity pageant eighty-seven years ago.
Elyon’s abrasiveness is so off-putting to Spunky that she avoids his company as much as possible, choosing to spend time with the townspeople instead ― especially Eggie Loft. Eggie is intelligent and has a great sense of humor, but his deep ties to Good Shepherd make it difficult for Spunky to see any future in a relationship with him. Meanwhile, Elyon has hired a local girl, Jozette, to cook and clean for him. Despite her lack of any college education or understanding of any part of Elyon’s work, the two grow closer … though Spunky wonders if it’s mostly because Jozette wear low-cut tops and bends over in front of Elyon every time she has a chance.
The plot of A Town Divided by Christmas is fairly slight and meanders in a way that distinctly reminded me of laid-back, small-town vibes. The witty banter and humorous commentary make the leisurely journey a delight, though.
“I just remembered,” said Eggie, “that the food here isn’t very good.”A Town Divided by Christmas also has something deeper to say about the many things that can divide people: science vs. religion, urban vs. rural, education vs. common sense, and so on. The religious Christmas pageant duel is symbolic of the divisions between people. But Card is also exploring the ways that people can bridge the divide. Even the dueling Christmas pageants, it turns out, have a certain harmony.
“It’s as good as whatever Elyon is having for dinner in his apartment, with less cleavage.”
A Town Divided by Christmas (originally passed out by the Cards in 2017 as a Christmas gift) has a timely message for our world, where so much focus is given to the things that divide us. It’s not science fiction or fantasy, but it is an entertaining and humorous mix of scientific methods and romance and interpersonal relationships generally.
December 21, 2018
Book Reviewed by Stacey on www.whisperingstories.com
Doctor Delilah Spunk, known as Spunky, an economist, and Doctor Elyon Dewey, a geneticist are sent by their professor to a small town in North Carolina called Good Shepherd to do some testing on the folk who live there. They are sent there because people grown up, work and die in Good Shepherd, rarely anyone moves away. They are to get the DNA of all 10,000 residents and for them to answer a few questions about their lifestyle to see if a ‘homebody marker’ is present in their DNA.
The town is a strange place split into two after a falling out about which child should play the baby Jesus in the Christmas Nativity eight decades ago. It was always the child born closest to Christmas that got to play the part but two boys were born days apart and the youngest was ill, so the older child go was chosen. This split the congregation and now there are two churches with the same name and half the folk go to one and half to the other.
The book is very strange and I had mixed feelings about it. There was a lot going on, for me, too much for a 144-page book. The two doctors despised one another, well Spunky despised Dr. Dewey, whilst he thought he was God’s gift to all women and wasn’t impressed that Spunky didn’t like him. Spunky had her eye on another person – One of the residents.
The story was interesting but not being particularly into science, nor religious, I think it was a little lost on me. The characters worked well and the plot was intriguing I just don’t think it was a book that I full managed to get my teeth into and enjoy.
Doctor Delilah Spunk, known as Spunky, an economist, and Doctor Elyon Dewey, a geneticist are sent by their professor to a small town in North Carolina called Good Shepherd to do some testing on the folk who live there. They are sent there because people grown up, work and die in Good Shepherd, rarely anyone moves away. They are to get the DNA of all 10,000 residents and for them to answer a few questions about their lifestyle to see if a ‘homebody marker’ is present in their DNA.
The town is a strange place split into two after a falling out about which child should play the baby Jesus in the Christmas Nativity eight decades ago. It was always the child born closest to Christmas that got to play the part but two boys were born days apart and the youngest was ill, so the older child go was chosen. This split the congregation and now there are two churches with the same name and half the folk go to one and half to the other.
The book is very strange and I had mixed feelings about it. There was a lot going on, for me, too much for a 144-page book. The two doctors despised one another, well Spunky despised Dr. Dewey, whilst he thought he was God’s gift to all women and wasn’t impressed that Spunky didn’t like him. Spunky had her eye on another person – One of the residents.
The story was interesting but not being particularly into science, nor religious, I think it was a little lost on me. The characters worked well and the plot was intriguing I just don’t think it was a book that I full managed to get my teeth into and enjoy.
April 8, 2018
My wife got this book as a Christmas gift from the Cards. It's a romantic comedy, of sorts, about a sociologist who goes to study why people stay in a small town. She ends up falling in love with the small town and one of its inhabitants. The dialogue was fun. A point of irritation was the characterization of modern science as hopelessly biased, full of internal politics, and basically worthless. There may be subfields like that (and sociology probably harbors some of them) but in my experience scientists are almost unique in the way their desire to get it right outweighs almost any other consideration. Of course bias and desire for publications and citations creeps in, but you often see scientists changing their mind when new contradictory data is collected. Do you see that in a book club, a company, a trade union, a political party, an artistic movement, or a religion? Who uses statistics to quantify their uncertainty at all? Who has "replication crises" where they go back to reexamine their conclusions at all? There's a reason that science moves forward over time and enables new technologies, and that wouldn't happen if it were all a shadowy cabal intent on retaining power.
December 6, 2024
Ooof. This was bad. This was really bad.
A Town Divided by Christmas synopsis promised an intriguing blend of small-town charm and sci-fi, like a Hallmark movie with a twist. I mean Orson Scott Card wrote this so the Sci Fi will play a big role right? Nope! Maybe they'll be some kind of subversion of the genre? Nope!
I liked the idea of researchers finding themselves in the middle of a small town rivalry based around a Christmas pageant. It sounded goofy but charming. I was expecting something that Frederick Backman might write. Nope!
The synopsis and the concept it promised was really just a thin backdrop for the story of a big city girl falls for a simple country boy which... I mean I was expecting but I didn't think Orson Scott Card would just play it straight like that.
The characters were totally unlikeable and self satisfied. There was never any tension between anyone. I struggle to even call these characters. They're stereotypes. The dialogue leaned heavily on clichés, making it hard to connect with the story. For an author known for his sharp ideas and layered storytelling, this was a surprisingly bland romcom.
The best thing I can say about it is that it's short.
0.5 ⭐️
A Town Divided by Christmas synopsis promised an intriguing blend of small-town charm and sci-fi, like a Hallmark movie with a twist. I mean Orson Scott Card wrote this so the Sci Fi will play a big role right? Nope! Maybe they'll be some kind of subversion of the genre? Nope!
I liked the idea of researchers finding themselves in the middle of a small town rivalry based around a Christmas pageant. It sounded goofy but charming. I was expecting something that Frederick Backman might write. Nope!
The synopsis and the concept it promised was really just a thin backdrop for the story of a big city girl falls for a simple country boy which... I mean I was expecting but I didn't think Orson Scott Card would just play it straight like that.
The characters were totally unlikeable and self satisfied. There was never any tension between anyone. I struggle to even call these characters. They're stereotypes. The dialogue leaned heavily on clichés, making it hard to connect with the story. For an author known for his sharp ideas and layered storytelling, this was a surprisingly bland romcom.
The best thing I can say about it is that it's short.
0.5 ⭐️
December 17, 2019
A pleasantly amusing Christmas tale.
December 18, 2018
Cute Christmas read, and not at all what I expected from Orson Scott Card.
April 15, 2019
Reading challenge included a Christmas book, so in an effort to avoid sappy holiday books, I chose one by a famed Sci-Fi author. UGH. I feel like Card wrote this hoping it would get picked up by the Hallmark Channel. So cheesy.
December 29, 2018
This was quite a different read, which tried to amalgamate science with religion. Dr Delilah Spunk (Spunky) and geneticist Dr Elyon Dewey were sent to the town of Good Shepherd for a study to find out if certain people carry the 'homebody' gene, where they live in one place all their lives from birth to death. Spunky being friendlier moved well with the townsmen and Elyon with local girl Jozette.
My first book by author Orson Scott Card, the story wandered down the lanes of the Good Shepherd Town, which was split into two sections based on a feud nearly 90 years ago, including its churches. Eggie was the most interesting amongst the townsmen, soon liked by Spunky. The main characters were like cacti, didn't seem to like each other. The dialogues were quirky, the romances cute.
The whole book gave off a small town vibe, it was more of a short Christmasy story about the divisions amongst people over unnecessary issues. An enjoyable read which left me thinking quite a bit.
My first book by author Orson Scott Card, the story wandered down the lanes of the Good Shepherd Town, which was split into two sections based on a feud nearly 90 years ago, including its churches. Eggie was the most interesting amongst the townsmen, soon liked by Spunky. The main characters were like cacti, didn't seem to like each other. The dialogues were quirky, the romances cute.
The whole book gave off a small town vibe, it was more of a short Christmasy story about the divisions amongst people over unnecessary issues. An enjoyable read which left me thinking quite a bit.
November 12, 2018
A very clever, very enjoyable Christmas story
Utterly likeable quirky characters. A clever story with a bit of a surprise twist at the end. Even a romance that's real romance, not body parts and heavy breathing. A little peek into Southern culture without condescension or sneering. Oh, and comedy. Card does comedy so seldom it's always a bit of a surprise, but there a few chuckles in this tale.
If I had a carp it'd be that the characters' repartee was SO witty that I'd be afraid to open my mouth around any of them lest I be instantly judged a dullard. But that's true of pretty much all of Card's books, so it didn't spoil my enjoyment.
I'm going to read this every Christmas from henceforth, along with A Christmas Carol. Well done Orson.
Utterly likeable quirky characters. A clever story with a bit of a surprise twist at the end. Even a romance that's real romance, not body parts and heavy breathing. A little peek into Southern culture without condescension or sneering. Oh, and comedy. Card does comedy so seldom it's always a bit of a surprise, but there a few chuckles in this tale.
If I had a carp it'd be that the characters' repartee was SO witty that I'd be afraid to open my mouth around any of them lest I be instantly judged a dullard. But that's true of pretty much all of Card's books, so it didn't spoil my enjoyment.
I'm going to read this every Christmas from henceforth, along with A Christmas Carol. Well done Orson.
December 19, 2018
I have read better by this author. It's not bad, just kind of average. The whole "Hallmark Christmas movie" joke would have been better if it didn't end up going that way I think. Or if it went that way without that joke being made. It was a little too obvious for my tastes. Not bad, but not absolutely smashing either. 3, slightly disappointed, stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 20, 2018
Pretty corny.
December 24, 2018
Strange little book. Not at all what I gathered it would be about after reading the flyleaf. We read it out loud as a family and had some laughs.
December 27, 2024
This is basically a Hallmark tv movie. Good old fashioned fun.
December 20, 2018
I'll admit that my curiosity got the better of me on this one, but really how could I resist what was being called "a Hallmark Christmas movie written by the author of Ender's Game?"
Card does Hallmark?
A...dare I say it...Hallmark Card story?
Okay, okay, I'll stop.
Turns out, that is exactly what this books...except a bit better. I will admit that I probably haven't sat through an entire Hallmark movie, but I managed to burn through this little book in about a day. The book pokes fun at itself by not being shy about its Hallmarky inspirations, but manages to tell a cute little rom-com story without being too maudlin or cheesy. I don't think I rolled my eyes even once. My main complaint is that the story didn't feel all that...for lack of a better term..."Christmasy" to me but that's probably my own personal tastes coming through (I'd rather listen to "White Christmas" a hundred times in a row than hear "Last Christmas" even once).
All told "A Town Divided by Christmas" is an interesting little thing. I suppose I enjoyed my time with it, but I don't think it's going to enter my "Christmas Book" rotation.
Card does Hallmark?
A...dare I say it...Hallmark Card story?
Okay, okay, I'll stop.
Turns out, that is exactly what this books...except a bit better. I will admit that I probably haven't sat through an entire Hallmark movie, but I managed to burn through this little book in about a day. The book pokes fun at itself by not being shy about its Hallmarky inspirations, but manages to tell a cute little rom-com story without being too maudlin or cheesy. I don't think I rolled my eyes even once. My main complaint is that the story didn't feel all that...for lack of a better term..."Christmasy" to me but that's probably my own personal tastes coming through (I'd rather listen to "White Christmas" a hundred times in a row than hear "Last Christmas" even once).
All told "A Town Divided by Christmas" is an interesting little thing. I suppose I enjoyed my time with it, but I don't think it's going to enter my "Christmas Book" rotation.
October 25, 2018
I read the ARC of this novella after meeting Mr. Card at Book Expo. The story is charming without being sentimental. The characters are quirky, witty folks who are fun to spend time with. In today's divisive and contentious world, this book gives hope that people of good will can overcome differences. A Town Divided by Christmas is the perfect holiday gift.
February 11, 2019
I've heard great things about Card, and I love Christmas books, so I thought I would give this a try. Especially as the synopsis caught my attention with it being about a town that was divided because no one could decide who would play the baby Jesus during a nativity play one Christmas. That led to the congregation being split and a secondary church being created. Both churches had the same name almost, just with slight differences.
Elian is one of those nerdy guys who has absolutely no sense of humor, no personality, and is strictly scientific in all things. Well, at least it seems that way. He did surprise me from time to time with his snarkiness, and is directness was refreshing.
Spunky, real name Delilah - yes, named after the biblical Delilah (sore subject) - who prefers being known by her last name, may be a scientist, but she doesn't play by scientific rules and is pretty "normal". She was my favorite part of the whole book, though Eggy, real name Eghbert, was a close second.
This book isn't so much about what divides the town, or even why they're there, but more of a discovery of who Spunky truly is, the secrets that Elian hides, and learning the social norms of a very small town.
I liked this book, but I didn't love it. I probably won't pick up a paperback copy or download the kindle version of it. There are areas that I feel could have been fleshed out more, but it was a good read.
Elian is one of those nerdy guys who has absolutely no sense of humor, no personality, and is strictly scientific in all things. Well, at least it seems that way. He did surprise me from time to time with his snarkiness, and is directness was refreshing.
Spunky, real name Delilah - yes, named after the biblical Delilah (sore subject) - who prefers being known by her last name, may be a scientist, but she doesn't play by scientific rules and is pretty "normal". She was my favorite part of the whole book, though Eggy, real name Eghbert, was a close second.
This book isn't so much about what divides the town, or even why they're there, but more of a discovery of who Spunky truly is, the secrets that Elian hides, and learning the social norms of a very small town.
I liked this book, but I didn't love it. I probably won't pick up a paperback copy or download the kindle version of it. There are areas that I feel could have been fleshed out more, but it was a good read.
August 28, 2018
Something very diferent from the Enderverse but i see here more a contemporary novel with something sciences that the opposite is i think went see OSC in the front cover of any book. But is very funny to have for christmas
Interesante leer algo fuera del enderverse por OSC perono tiene ese nivel de asombro que me dejo el resto de sus obras e suna historia contemporanea linda para leer cerca de navidad.
Interesante leer algo fuera del enderverse por OSC perono tiene ese nivel de asombro que me dejo el resto de sus obras e suna historia contemporanea linda para leer cerca de navidad.
December 24, 2023
I don’t know how I feel about this novella. It felt directionless except to justify staying in the same town all your life, which is not a vibe. The characters lol. The one truly off-putting character was both Jewish and asked if he was autistic? So that’s umm not great. This came out in 2018. No one had any motivation except the main two characters and the love interest, and he barely had any agency outside of being stock supportive boyfriend ™️. The “villain” was only nominally introduced before his one and only real antagonistic scene and then that issue was squashed immediately. The premise of “oh cute town divided by an old feud” seems fun, but there was no there there. Everything just kind of… ended? Okay the more I write, the more I realize this was just not good. And the man who wrote Enders Game wrote this?! What is happening?
December 25, 2022
A fun Christmas read. Recommended by a co-worker and it was a good one.
December 29, 2019
Actual rating for me is 3.5. It was a sweet story, but a little typical. Definitely not what I was expecting from Orson Scott Card.
December 3, 2022
Short fun read. It wasn’t too cheesy, just cute.
December 17, 2022
A simple little story about how a long-running feud over casting for a Christmas pageant kept a town apart for decades.
Read
February 1, 2024Somehow a story about Christmas and genetics, two of my favorite things, was one of the stranger things I’ve read.
Wasn’t a mystery or thriller yet the ending felt like something you’d see in an episode of psych or monk
Wasn’t a mystery or thriller yet the ending felt like something you’d see in an episode of psych or monk
December 16, 2020
Dit las ik tijdens het tekenen van mijn kerstkaart om een beetje in de kerstsfeer te komen.
Twee wetenschappers (waarvan eentje eigenlijk nauwelijks een rol speelt in het verhaal... Een beetje een vreemde keuze) gaan naar een plaatsje genaamd Good Shepherd in de Appalachen. Ze moeten middels DNA onderzoek en interviews zien uit te vogelen wat de oorzaak is dat mensen in een klein dorp vaak generaties lang daar blijven en waarom sommigen die wel vertrekken vaak binnen een paar jaar terug zijn. Is dat cultureel.bepaald of zijn er een soort huismussen-gen in het spel.
In dit dorp staan twee kerken van dezelfde denominatie recht tegenover elkaar. Een kloof die zo'n tachtig jaar geleden ontstaan is, maar waarom?
Ergens hoopte ik door de naam van Orson Scott Card dat er ergens een Science Fiction element tevoorschijn zou komen maar dit is uiteindelijk gewoon een lekker zoetsappig, romantisch kerstverhaal. Het zou zo een Hallmark film kunnen zijn. Wel gewoon goed geschreven en de moeite waard.
Twee wetenschappers (waarvan eentje eigenlijk nauwelijks een rol speelt in het verhaal... Een beetje een vreemde keuze) gaan naar een plaatsje genaamd Good Shepherd in de Appalachen. Ze moeten middels DNA onderzoek en interviews zien uit te vogelen wat de oorzaak is dat mensen in een klein dorp vaak generaties lang daar blijven en waarom sommigen die wel vertrekken vaak binnen een paar jaar terug zijn. Is dat cultureel.bepaald of zijn er een soort huismussen-gen in het spel.
In dit dorp staan twee kerken van dezelfde denominatie recht tegenover elkaar. Een kloof die zo'n tachtig jaar geleden ontstaan is, maar waarom?
Ergens hoopte ik door de naam van Orson Scott Card dat er ergens een Science Fiction element tevoorschijn zou komen maar dit is uiteindelijk gewoon een lekker zoetsappig, romantisch kerstverhaal. Het zou zo een Hallmark film kunnen zijn. Wel gewoon goed geschreven en de moeite waard.
December 1, 2018
I have not read many OSC books. I know he is considered a great science fiction writer. To get in the Christmas spirit, a Christmas story written by OSC sounded interesting. The story of two post-doc researchers collecting genomic data in a small NC town during the holiday season did not interest me.
OSC is a good writer. I found myself looking up a few new words.
OSC is a good writer. I found myself looking up a few new words.
December 7, 2018
I fell in love with this quiet little story. Card really captures the feeling of a small town and its inhabitants. I knew the types of people who lived there. I even understood how the division in the town could stay so firm so long. From this passage near the opening of the book on, Card had me hooked. "Only then did Spunky notice the churches. She realized that to Elyon, it was bound to look like a large number, but Spunky grew up in a church-going town and so the churches were, to her, like lawns — you only noticed them if they weren’t well tended." I know that town.
It isn't really science fiction, so if that is what you are expecting, you might want to move on. It is simply fiction about people in a small town. If you like Jan Karon's books, this could well appeal to you.
It isn't really science fiction, so if that is what you are expecting, you might want to move on. It is simply fiction about people in a small town. If you like Jan Karon's books, this could well appeal to you.
July 6, 2021
This is a novella by Card that looks at a town with two feuding Christmas pageants. That is really just the backdrop for a story that looks at the contrasts between a PhD student studying the town history and a local resident. The book is a bit on the nose, but overall I enjoyed it. Card is one of the few SciFi/Fantasy authors that will portray religion or small town values in any positive light. I really appreciated that about the story. So it was fine, a nice quick read, but nothing I'd go out of my way to recommend to anyone.
December 28, 2022
Very short and very sweet. Very Hallmark movie, as well. I wanted something Christmasy and know if I didn't get into this now I wouldn't get into it until next year. I'm glad I spent a few hours today listening and reading this. It was heart warming even if a little over the top with the sweetness. I've read a few of Card's novels and each of them have been very different, but all well written. I enjoyed this nice little story and you probably would too.
January 3, 2019
This is a Christmas movie in book form. I was fun to read at Christmas but could be read at any time. It has a strong woman and other cute characters, a little mystery, and a little romance. What more can you ask for?
January 3, 2023
Total change of pace from what I've been reading! Nice Holiday listen with a rather different, but creative, plot.
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