Christmas Tales

by William McInnes

I can't help it if I'm a boring conservative dag, but I love Christmas, always have and hopefully always will. Whatever brand of faith you fly under, even if you proclaim you don't have one, Christmas is a time of generosity, good citizenship and decency.

It's the holiday where shopping centres become a sea of dazed shoppers bearing checklists as long as your arm, lunch is a neverending buffet of prawns and ham and your electricity bill is doubly struck by having to run the fan all day and keep those decorative lights blinking through the night.

William McInnes, bestselling author of FATHERHOOD, WORSE THINGS HAPPEN AT SEA, and A MAN'S GOT TO HAVE A HOBBY tackles the silly season in a way only he can - telling stories brimming with good humour and nostalgia, to remind us what Christmas is all about: family.

Genres: Book Club

288 pages, Paperback

Published October 27, 2020

About the author

Darryl William McInnes (born 10 September 1963) is one of Australia’s most popular stage and screen actors.

His leading roles in Sea Change and Blue Heelers have made him a household name. The mini-series Shark Net and My Brother Jack earned him widespread critical acclaim. He has been nominated for numerous stage and screen awards, and has won a Variety Club Drama Award in 1997 and two Logie awards for Most Outstanding Actor in 2000 and 2004.

William grew up in Queensland and has travelled extensively throughout Australia. He now lives in Melbourne with his two children. He was married to the late film maker Sarah Watt.

Reviews

[Carol Seeley Reads]

My View:
One-part cheekiness, one-part fun and one-part memoir, this read is entertaining, hilarious, poignant at times and so relatable.
I really enjoy William McInnes writing style; a mix of witty storytelling (I do wish I could be one of your dinner guests one day, it would be so fun to hear you reminisce), stream of consciousness insights into the life, escapades and thoughts of this popular Australian actor and writer as he recounts Christmas past.

There is wonderful recounting of childhood innocence as Christmas is explored; the gift giving, the myths of Santa (in his many guises), family fun and rituals and then we are privileged to hear more anecdotes, more memories, sweet and bitter sweet.

William McInnes is a natural writer and I enjoy his “tell all” style and humour

[Maya Linnell]

One of Australia's favourite actors, William McInnes turned his hand to novel writing after a prominent career on our television screens, with his first book being released in 2005. His new novel Christmas Tales is a darling collection of stories about Australia's festive traditions and memories from Christmasses past. I read half the book in one sitting, with tears of laughter streaming down my face. It's relatable, touching and captures the dry Aussie humour. The perfect festive read to remind us of the real reason for the season - family. William's tales are told with heart, and while his antics as a rent-a-Santa and haphazard gift choices had me in stitches, the poignant moments, especially his family's Christmas in July after a heart-breaking loss, made me teary. I very much enjoyed this special ode to Christmas, thanks to Hachette for providing the review and giveaway copy.

Full review and interview here https://www.mayalinnell.com/post/will...

[Annette Chidzey]

I have read a number of William McInnes’ novels and as might be expected they are consistently very readable and always engaging. McInnes is an excellent raconteur and he is able to narrate anecdotes in an entertaining and often humerous way. This account is no exception.
However, the recollections in this latest piece of writing were a little disjointed and the narrative at times lacked cohesion bordering on rambling memories.
Despite that aspect, many of his references rang familiar bells with me and reminded me of Christmas antics and practices since I was a small child to this point in my life.

[Jenny (Bookbookowl)]

Thank you so much to Hachette Australia for providing me with a copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review!

my dad is a big fan of William McInnes books and I’ve been meaning to give one a try for a while. I’m really glad I did. What a fun, relatable Aussie book! I was a little dismayed to find how hard I related to many of William’s trips down memory lane (only because it shocked me into owning up to my age 😂) and I got a little thrill out of seeing the suburb where I grew up written down in a book (a thrill we get as Australians because it’s so rare). 

From hilarious moments when William was growing up, to poignant moments in his adult life, Christmas Tales was wistful one moment and giggle worthy the next.   I may never look at shopping centre Santa’s the same way again, but the laugh out loud moments were plentiful and I thoroughly enjoyed joining William in his musings. 

Definitely one to put in the Christmas stocking for any Aussie relatives who like to get that wistful look on their face and start up about ‘the good old days’ (they can read this for their memory lane fix and not bore the rest of the family with their complaints about ‘kids these days’ 😏).

[Peter Langston]

This was an enjoyable read. It again combined the two elements you expect in a William McInness book: humour and nostaglia. If you grew up in the suburbs of any Australia city during the 1950's and 60's, had working parents and gained your pleasures in life from what you did rather than what you owned, there is much to identify with in this book. There always is. Fitting, I guess, this was a Christmas present.
There is something about revisiting which pulls the emotions to the surface. Its like the satisfaction you get from smacking half volleys from a medium pacer to the cover boundary - its great but its not quite as good as lifting the opening bowler back over his head. I loved the familarity and references I could identify with and immediately inhabit but it all felt too ... familiar. Some of what was fresh paint now seems weathered and chipped.
I'd certainly recommend it but I'd probably suggest his earlier work before suggesting you read this one. You'll enjoy this but you'll enjoy things like "Worse Things Happen At Sea" and "Fatherhood" better.

[Kate thebooklover]

OMG this book gave me a right giggle, William McInnes is a master storyteller and the stories within this book are told so splendidly, they are of an era from around when I was growing up when life was a bit simpler and fun was how you made it, I could relate to so much in this book.

The way he describes people is so funny, the name Monger even appeared, which really gave me a laugh as that’s what we often affectionately call one of our best mates.

This book filled my with such joy, it burst and all the Christmas joy I was holding back come flooding out, I have been a bit bah humbug up until this point, but this book definitely got me out of my funk!

[Michelle]

I have a little collection of William McInnes books at home. Most members of my book club are in love with him. Some have named,their children after him. I ran out of things to read on a recent holiday and found this book at a roadside stall in Adelaide River, Northern Territory. About as remote a location as you can get. Always enjoy the McInnes humour. This one has plenty of melancholy too as he remembers his madcap parents of Christmases past. Not his best, but I loved it anyway. He is such a bloke.

[Jos]

McInnes made me smile and laugh and cry with his reminiscing of Christmas. Many an hilarious tale with things that reminded me of my own childhood. And written and read in such a familial way, that I felt like I was sitting with him, having a frothy and a few laughs. Good for anytime you need a bit of a lift and a laugh.

[Kathy GWRH]

Not the best read- sort of wandered all over the place and repeated sections of ‘A Man’s Got To Have A Hobby’( a terrific read and reread)
The title Christmas Tales is a bit of a stretch as a lot of the stories were only vaguely Christmas connected.
Not a keeper for the bookshelf, straight to the op shop box.
ps it didn’t help the book’s cause by bagging Love Actually 😆

[Mabearbooks]

A thoroughly entertaining book that is filled with classic Australian wit. The central message of the book is that Christmas is about families and extended families. This book is sure to invoke a sense of nostalgia for some readers of Christmas in Australia .

[Narelle]

Good fun, a great Christmas read.

[Rachel Shoults]

Very good I loved it . I red a chapter at the end that was reading into another virgin of my life . Covid and zoom phones call and Rachel the lawyer.
So cool .

[Nicola]

Delightful book that is redolent of so many Australian experiences. A welcome break between more confronting non-fiction. Loved it.

[Rosemary Murphy]

I loved this book. So many stories that took me back to my own childhood. Lots of laughs and a few tears.

[Prue Mansfield]

Read as an audio book on 3 longish car journeys over Christmas/New Year. Laughed until there were tears, and sometimes the tears were from poignancy. He read it himself. A lovely seasonal read.

[Helen]

Funny, moving, and so Aussie. I love William McInnes - a man whose hobby is living life.

[Gill]

A collection of funny stories and memories about Christmases past. The best and most meaningful chapter is the last one, though. I'll leave it at that, happy Christmas!

[Meg]

Lovely!

[Susan C]

A gentle book which reminisces about the place of Christmas in Australia through the eyes of the author. Divided into story chapters, there was much that was familiar - the odd shapes of 'real' Christmas trees, dealing with the leftovers (including the prawn shells), and the memories associated with the collection of Christmas ornaments over the years (purchased, gifted, and handmade - or should that be school made). Although he fails to consider that the reason for the popularity of Christmas in July, is that its the only month where a 'hot' traditionally European Christmas meal can be tolerated from an ambient temperature point of view. Often laugh out loud funny.

[Mary Mckennalong]

Loving this book by William McInnes. I grew up in his hometown around the same time and loving memories he shares that ring true for me.

Merged review:

Love McInnes’s rambling style. Easy to read, enjoyable spinner of yarns!