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Festive Spirits: Three Christmas Stories
The perfect Christmas gift: three festive tales from the brilliant pen of Kate Atkinson.
68 pages, Hardcover
First published October 3, 2019
3 people are currently reading
1162 people want to read
About the author
Kate Atkinson
78 books12.2k followersKate Atkinson was born in York and now lives in Edinburgh. Her first novel, Behind the Scenes at the Museum, won the Whitbread Book of the Year Award and she has been a critically acclaimed international bestselling author ever since.
She is the author of a collection of short stories, Not the End of the World, and of the critically acclaimed novels Human Croquet, Emotionally Weird, Case Histories, and One Good Turn.
Case Histories introduced her readers to Jackson Brodie, former police inspector turned private investigator, and won the Saltire Book of the Year Award and the Prix Westminster.
When Will There Be Good News? was voted Richard & Judy Book Best Read of the Year. After Case Histories and One Good Turn, it was her third novel to feature the former private detective Jackson Brodie, who makes a welcome return in Started Early, Took My Dog.
She is the author of a collection of short stories, Not the End of the World, and of the critically acclaimed novels Human Croquet, Emotionally Weird, Case Histories, and One Good Turn.
Case Histories introduced her readers to Jackson Brodie, former police inspector turned private investigator, and won the Saltire Book of the Year Award and the Prix Westminster.
When Will There Be Good News? was voted Richard & Judy Book Best Read of the Year. After Case Histories and One Good Turn, it was her third novel to feature the former private detective Jackson Brodie, who makes a welcome return in Started Early, Took My Dog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews
December 16, 2019
I have been reading a short story each day.
It says it has 80 pages when in fact it’s 68. The rest are taken up advertising her other books.
Lots love Kate Atkinson's books. I thought I’d try with her small festive collection.
I can see why her books are loved by many. Her writing in well presented and flows really well for us readers.
The first story.
ᒪᑌᑕY’ᔕ ᗪᗩY
This was a great little story about Lucy and her “motherhood”. Food for thought.
I loved a quote from Lucy in this story.
Lucy had met her husband Stephen and fell for him right away.
“He would have made a good politician-he had good teeth, and hair, and lied easily”
I loved that about Lucy. Her observations, beliefs and honesty.
2*
Story 2
ᖴEᔕTIᐯE ᔕᑭIᖇIT
I liked this one much better.
It’s a bit of a longer tale with a funny quirk at the end.
3.75*
Story 3
ᔕᗰᗩᒪᒪ ᗰEᖇᑕIEᔕ
I liked this one much better. It was short but held my attention much better.
A man and his dog, and his Mother!
All these are obviously based around some sort of festive theme. A good introduction to this authors work and (I imagine) her quirky sense of humour.
It says it has 80 pages when in fact it’s 68. The rest are taken up advertising her other books.
Lots love Kate Atkinson's books. I thought I’d try with her small festive collection.
I can see why her books are loved by many. Her writing in well presented and flows really well for us readers.
The first story.
ᒪᑌᑕY’ᔕ ᗪᗩY
This was a great little story about Lucy and her “motherhood”. Food for thought.
I loved a quote from Lucy in this story.
Lucy had met her husband Stephen and fell for him right away.
“He would have made a good politician-he had good teeth, and hair, and lied easily”
I loved that about Lucy. Her observations, beliefs and honesty.
2*
Story 2
ᖴEᔕTIᐯE ᔕᑭIᖇIT
I liked this one much better.
It’s a bit of a longer tale with a funny quirk at the end.
3.75*
Story 3
ᔕᗰᗩᒪᒪ ᗰEᖇᑕIEᔕ
I liked this one much better. It was short but held my attention much better.
A man and his dog, and his Mother!
All these are obviously based around some sort of festive theme. A good introduction to this authors work and (I imagine) her quirky sense of humour.
December 25, 2019
A lovely few short stories, very festive and fun. I love the way Kate Atkinson writes.
December 11, 2019
Kate Atkinson is one of my favorite writers. I also love Christmas-themed books. Fiction for Christmas is limited primarily to romance novels (I don't read them), mysteries (mostly cozies that are not my first choice), and short stories, my first choice. These three stories feature a family with four challenging children, an older couple obsessed with social status, and finally a middle-aged man, with only one friend and a dog. A quick and entertaining read.
December 24, 2021
Anyone who knows Kate Atkinson's work won't be surprised that the stories in this slim collection aren't the sort of holiday tale meant to give you the warm fuzzies, but they're rewarding in their ways, especially if you're a fan of Atkinson's sardonic voice. I liked the first one best.
February 27, 2020
Festive Spirits is a collection of three Christmas-themed short stories by popular British author, Kate Atkinson.
In Lucy’s Day, a heretofore atheist mother finds something incredibly moving about seeing her feral girls and her placid baby boy (as the Christ child) in the school’s Nativity play.
In Festive Spirit, the unappreciated wife of an MP has some enchanted help in putting him in his place.
In Small Mercies, a single son faces his first Christmas alone.
Three excellent little doses of Atkinson magic.
In Lucy’s Day, a heretofore atheist mother finds something incredibly moving about seeing her feral girls and her placid baby boy (as the Christ child) in the school’s Nativity play.
In Festive Spirit, the unappreciated wife of an MP has some enchanted help in putting him in his place.
In Small Mercies, a single son faces his first Christmas alone.
Three excellent little doses of Atkinson magic.
December 21, 2019
The short stories here highlights how the festive season can actually be painful, especially when we’d gone through a hard year. It’s the time of year that often makes us contemplative - how’d I get to this point in life? Is this what I’d wanted all along?
My favorite story in this book was “Festive Spirits”, because of its mistery at the end. The other two were ok, a bit depressing lol.
My favorite story in this book was “Festive Spirits”, because of its mistery at the end. The other two were ok, a bit depressing lol.
December 20, 2024
A charming little collection of three Christmas stories by Kate Atkinson, published in 2019, but I’d not come across it until I found it in the excellent Lindsey Lodge Hospice shop in Epworth a couple of days ago. An ideal stocking filler if still in print. Anything by Kate Atkinson is guaranteed to be a joy to read, and these tales are just that, featuring her hallmark dark wit and ear for dialogue. Lucy’s Day, the first story in the book seems to me the best of the three, a masterpiece of sardonic domesticity which packs a great deal into its small format pages.
December 2, 2019
My first Kate Atkinson and a positive introduction. This isn't a cheery Christmas collection but I enjoyed it a lot. I particularly liked the final sorry - Small Mercies - which highlighted how lonely Christmas can be. The final line made me tear up. Highly recommended.
November 5, 2019
Marvellous. Short and perfectly formed.
December 22, 2019
1.5*
In a word, dull. Unfortunately all 3 stories felt very mundane to me - I wouldn’t recommend this book as a Christmas present!
In a word, dull. Unfortunately all 3 stories felt very mundane to me - I wouldn’t recommend this book as a Christmas present!
December 16, 2023
I haven't read many of Kate Atkinson's books, but love what I have read. A God In Ruins is one of my all time favourite books and Teddy Todd one of my all time favourite characters.
Her writing always makes me feel and the same was true of Festive Spirits.
I didn't like all of the characters. I haven't had the same experiences as all of the characters. But in spite of this, I think it shows what an author she is that I felt completely drawn in to each story and in so few words too.
"Would her children be happy? Lucy wondered. Probably not. Hardly anyone was. Little moments - that was the best you could ask for, an epiphany here and there, the occasional short-lived burst of joy. The world turning one more time. The sun coming up, the spring returning, a baby waking up and smiling at you. Little lights in the dark."
"Gerald felt guilty; he did not normally indulge in fits of melancholy. There were so many people in the world - most people, in fact, if he thought about it - who were worse off than himself that Gerald always tried to be grateful for what he had, to be thankful for the small mercies that life sent his way."
Her writing always makes me feel and the same was true of Festive Spirits.
I didn't like all of the characters. I haven't had the same experiences as all of the characters. But in spite of this, I think it shows what an author she is that I felt completely drawn in to each story and in so few words too.
"Would her children be happy? Lucy wondered. Probably not. Hardly anyone was. Little moments - that was the best you could ask for, an epiphany here and there, the occasional short-lived burst of joy. The world turning one more time. The sun coming up, the spring returning, a baby waking up and smiling at you. Little lights in the dark."
"Gerald felt guilty; he did not normally indulge in fits of melancholy. There were so many people in the world - most people, in fact, if he thought about it - who were worse off than himself that Gerald always tried to be grateful for what he had, to be thankful for the small mercies that life sent his way."
December 21, 2021
Festive Spirits is a beautiful little book containing three stories by the incomparable Kate Atkinson, each with a Christmas theme.
Whilst the volume of stories is slim, and the stories themselves are short, just like a perfectly painted miniature or a nouvelle-cuisine style plate of gourmet food, they are exquisitely, skilfully, and artfully constructed, so that they delight the reader, in the way that only a brilliant writer like Kate Atkinson can conjure.
It can often be hard to find time to read at Christmas and these stories are perfect if you only have a few short, precious minutes to spare, but want or need a brief respite from the festive chaos surrounding you.
But don’t think that these stories offer the usual seasonal fictional fare, which usually tends to be romance or crime.
Instead these stories offer insights into the lives of 3 very different individuals, providing a wry, quirky, contemplative or thoughtful perspective on them: Lucy is a mother with no faith and 3 boisterous and challenging children taking part in the school nativity; Sarah is wife to a faithless politician; Gordon is facing his first Christmas alone.
There is no froth or tinsel or saccharine, but they are superbly crafted, incredibly perceptive, and beautifully observed, and they offer the gentle reminder that for some, the festive season is not all gift-wrapped and beribboned with happiness.
Perfection in short story form.
Whilst the volume of stories is slim, and the stories themselves are short, just like a perfectly painted miniature or a nouvelle-cuisine style plate of gourmet food, they are exquisitely, skilfully, and artfully constructed, so that they delight the reader, in the way that only a brilliant writer like Kate Atkinson can conjure.
It can often be hard to find time to read at Christmas and these stories are perfect if you only have a few short, precious minutes to spare, but want or need a brief respite from the festive chaos surrounding you.
But don’t think that these stories offer the usual seasonal fictional fare, which usually tends to be romance or crime.
Instead these stories offer insights into the lives of 3 very different individuals, providing a wry, quirky, contemplative or thoughtful perspective on them: Lucy is a mother with no faith and 3 boisterous and challenging children taking part in the school nativity; Sarah is wife to a faithless politician; Gordon is facing his first Christmas alone.
There is no froth or tinsel or saccharine, but they are superbly crafted, incredibly perceptive, and beautifully observed, and they offer the gentle reminder that for some, the festive season is not all gift-wrapped and beribboned with happiness.
Perfection in short story form.
December 21, 2021
A slim collection of three stories set during the festive period. In general, they explore the more melancholic side of the holidays, when feelings of loneliness and dissatisfaction are often heightened. That said, Atkinson weaves humour and warmth throughout; the strength of her characters’ voices giving us a sense of who they are incredibly quickly.
One of the stories ended on a bizarre, tonally jarring moment of magical realism that didn’t work for me, but the other two stories worked very well. Overall, they perfectly capture the bittersweet blend of nostalgia, sadness, and joy that so often go hand-in-hand at Christmastime. Lucy’s Day in particular is about finding small moments of genuine contentment in a life dictated by anxiety and burnout – something most of us can probably relate to at the moment.
This was such a great taster of what Atkinson can do, and I’m excited to explore more of her work.
One of the stories ended on a bizarre, tonally jarring moment of magical realism that didn’t work for me, but the other two stories worked very well. Overall, they perfectly capture the bittersweet blend of nostalgia, sadness, and joy that so often go hand-in-hand at Christmastime. Lucy’s Day in particular is about finding small moments of genuine contentment in a life dictated by anxiety and burnout – something most of us can probably relate to at the moment.
This was such a great taster of what Atkinson can do, and I’m excited to explore more of her work.
December 18, 2020
Sometimes it can be hard to carve out reading time in the run up to Christmas, but Kate Atkinson’s Festive Spirits is a wry, pocket-sized collection of only three short stories that will brighten any dark December day. Great to read with a coffee, or as a little gift, or perhaps a stocking filler. Atkinson’s writing is as sharp as a Christmas tangerine – ‘Beatrice, Maude and Millie – had been furious babies, red-faced, clutching their fists like tiny boxers, bellowing their way through the dark watches of the night. They hadn’t improved much since, whereas Ben was placid, contented, almost stupefied.’
Also, all author’s royalties and profits from the sale of the collection are donated to the Sightsavers charity.
Also, all author’s royalties and profits from the sale of the collection are donated to the Sightsavers charity.
January 2, 2024
This was my Christmas book club read. Three very quick to read and easily forgotten short stories. I am not a fan of short stories but also not Kate Atkinson either (having read 3 previous novels). Unfortunately not a good start but the book did have a beautiful cover and it was written especially for the Sightsavers charity.
December 7, 2022
Reading this feels as exciting and otherworldly as reading a YA novel as a prepubescent girl. What I mean to say is they are adult stories about middle aged adults! And I very much enjoyed peering from the top of the stairs into their worlds - thank you Kate!
January 2, 2024
Christmas through contemporary characters: at the Nativity with your cleaner/friend as your husband is too busy, separated from a cheating spouse and lastly lonely with your dog.
I thought the last story was witty and had touches of, ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’.
I thought the last story was witty and had touches of, ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 4, 2024
Three very enjoyable looks at how we view Christmas. Two of them are rather self-consciously derivative but still original and quite funny, and one is just a delight with a quirky ending and is easily my favourite.
December 13, 2020
A few fun, festive short stories to get me over the 20 books in 2020 goal 🎉
December 16, 2020
Enjoyed these stories. Kate Atkinson is one of my favourite authors, and I think she excels at writing short stories. Three very quirky takes on the festive season.
December 10, 2020
Not what I was expecting from festive short stories, but it can't always be jolly all the time at Christmas.
The third story was my favourite. I'm not very used to short stories, having not read many of them but I am up to reading more.
Also did Sarah murder her husband in the second story? That's the impression I got!
The third story was my favourite. I'm not very used to short stories, having not read many of them but I am up to reading more.
Also did Sarah murder her husband in the second story? That's the impression I got!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 19, 2024
Ngl this was pretty teary :( beautiful but jeez this felt like the part in love actually where Emma Thompson is crying in her bedroom. But honestly very lovely and glad I read it
December 22, 2023
Three little gems from one of my all-time favorite writers. Her writing is so clever and goes right to the heart.
January 31, 2024
Kate Atkinson is a talented short story writer and these three stories are no exception. I’ll probably reread them every year.
December 27, 2019
Ordinary....but that's the point. These beautifully written stories allow brief immersion into three ordinary lives. Given the length (or shortness) of the stories you would only expect a glimpse but KA swiftly narrates these lives using relationships, everyday activities and touches of irony.
This book lost 1 star because it was incredibly short. There were 68 pages of fairly large print. Although the stories worked as they were, they were over far too quickly and double the length would have felt about right .
This book lost 1 star because it was incredibly short. There were 68 pages of fairly large print. Although the stories worked as they were, they were over far too quickly and double the length would have felt about right .
November 25, 2019
Normally I like Kate Atkinson and the stories themselves are fine.
But I wouldn’t give this as a Christmas present. Except to someone that hates Christmas or that I didn’t like very much.
All very depressing.
But I wouldn’t give this as a Christmas present. Except to someone that hates Christmas or that I didn’t like very much.
All very depressing.
December 16, 2019
Disappointing work from Kate Atkinson; all three of the stories here are reasonable slices of life but fail to really say anything interesting or new.
Good surface level prose but definitely lacking the inpact of her full-length novels.
Good surface level prose but definitely lacking the inpact of her full-length novels.
November 23, 2019
Nice little pick me up. The last story was perfectly Christmassy.
December 18, 2019
A very slim book with gigantic writing.....Atkinson is amazing :)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews