A Very Southern Christmas: Holiday Stories from the South's Best Writers

by Charline R. McCord (Editor), Tim McLaurin (Contributor), Tim Gautreaux (Contributor)

Down below the Mason-Dixon line, it's hardly the land of sleigh bells, snow shovels, and a winter wonderland. What could possibly go on in the South at Christmastime?
A Very Southern Christmas burrows beneath all the fluff and window-dressing and goes straight to the heart of our most cherished holiday. Discover writing by some of the South's best contemporary fiction writers, from Pulitzer Prize-winners Robert Olen Butler and Richard Ford to the work of long-established literary lights Barry Hannah, Lee Smith, and Donna Tartt to recently emerging talents such as Julia Ridley Smith. In a collection of ten heartfelt stories, writers gather all the elements of the Christmas season--past and present, joy and sadness, disappointment and surprise, confession and concealment, humor and pathos--to create unforgettable images of the holiday. Accompanied by Wyatt Waters's vibrant watercolors commissioned specifically for this collection, this beautiful anthology promises to be a treasured keepsake.

Genres: Christmas, Short Stories, Fiction, Holiday

214 pages, Hardcover

First published November 5, 2003

Reviews

[Donna · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was SO disappointed by this book. I think Christmas, I think inspiration, I think uplifting, happy, celebrations, redemption, etc. Nah, not happening between these covers.

Out of the 10 short stories 2 of them are reasonably close to these expectations. Ppl are dead, dying or in rehab. Houses burn down & the terminally ill occupant ends going to a borrowed trailer to live out his dying days.

Man, do yourself a favor & DON'T pick up this book unless you are looking for a bah humbug experience.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read only the Donna Tartt story.

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing and the stories were all very good, but this is like a southern gothic collection, in that almost all of them are major bummers.

~This Charmed Day by Tim McLaurin, 4*: Really sweet Christmas memories
~Deputy Sid's Gift by Tim Gautreaux, 3*: Writing is pretty good, but what a downer
~New Dresses by Mary Ward Brown, 3*: Same as the last
~Creche by Richard Ford, 4*: Excellent writing, can't tell where this one is going
~A Christmas Pageant by Donna Tartt, 4*
~The Ayatollah of Due East by Valerie Sayers, 4*
~Snow by Robert Olen Butler, 4*
~The Holiday House by Julia Ridley Smith, 3*
~Peaceful was the Night by Fred Chappell, 4*
~Angels Passing by Lee Smith, 3*

[LA · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not your mama's set of Christmas stories. Donna Tartt has a dark, wry one, and Willie Morris's made me cry.

[Greg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some were good, some were bad. Some were interesting, some were disturbing.

[Missy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boy do I wish I had read the other reviews before I picked up this one. Awful, awful, awful. I couldn't get past the first 4 stories. The first story was charming and well written and stirred up many sweet images of my own childhood in South Carolina. Beyond that, I couldn't find one likable character.
A stolen truck, insensitive in-laws and disease, and crude language, if that's your idea of Christmas topics, this is the read for you. It's not lost on me that the only story I enjoyed, wasn't even written for this book, but was instead pulled from the prior work of an author who unfortunately passed away before he could write a contribution.
If you, like me, enjoy a Christmas story that is uplifting and celebrates the season, you won't find it here.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were three stories in this book that made it able for me to give it four stars.
They were: "This Charmed Day" by Tim McLaurin
"Peaceful Was the Night" by Fred Chappell
"Angels Passing" by Lee Smith
The other stories, in my opinion, were too tragic or depressing especially for Chistmas. I like to read uplifting stories at this time of year and especially this year since many of us are unable to have family with us.

I hope all of you have a blessed Christmas and or Holiday!
Beverly

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable collection of short stories featuring a variety of Christmas themes by contemporary Southern writers.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am glad I live north of the Mason Dixon line at holiday season.

[DJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

great short stories!

[Jeanne (love2cook) · Rating 2 out of 5]

A southern collection of short stories with a Christmas connection. A different kind of read for me. It was okay.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of short stories by Southern authors with a Christmas theme. My favorite was Deputy Sid's Gift, set in Louisiana. Some of the stories are heart-warming, some disturbing, but all have a real Southern flavor and are well-told.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I cherry picked stories by authors I like, or that grabbed me in the first few paragraphs. The story by Donna Tartt was weird and good. The story by Lee Smith made me cry. A festive read for late December.

[Mimi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this because it had a story by an author I wanted to read. Most of the stories are quite wonderful, and certainly not necessarily cheerful christmas stories. A 3.5 or more.