This was quite a surprisingly good read. It is my bookclub’s December read and I really enjoyed it. It is actually several letters written by 3 generations of women in the same southern family. These are the familiar X-mas letters that people like to send with their X-mas cards that tell friends and relatives all the things that happens in their life that particular year. Scattered within the letters are some recipes. Some I’m thinking of jotting down and trying myself. This was a unique way to tell a story and I really enjoyed it. If you are interested in reading a pleasurable X-mas story, this is my recommendation.BIRDIE'S BOILED CUSTARD3 Eggs3 Cups Milk1/2 Cup Sugar1/2 teas. vanillaBeat eggs, add sugar and milk. Cook in double boiler until mixture will coat a spoon. Add vanilla when cool.STICKS AND STONES1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted4 1/2 teas. Worcestershire sauce1 1/2 teas. salt8 cups Chex or Cheerio Cereal1 cup nuts1 cup pretzelsMix well, bake 1 hour at 250 degrees, stirring every 15 minutesMARY'S CARROT CAKE2 cups sifted flour2 teas baking powder1 1/2 teas baking soda2 teas. cinnamon1 1/2 teas. salt2 cups sugar1 cup salad oil4 eggs 2 cups finely grated carrots1 8 1/2 oz can flaked coconut1/2 cup chopped nutsPreheat oven to 350 degrees. Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Add sugar, oil and eggs; beat well. Add carrots, nuts, and coconut; blend thoroughly. Pour into 3 9 inch round layer cake pans that have been greased and floured. Bake in moderate oven 35 to 40 minutes. Remove from oven, cool a few minutes in pans. Turn out on wire racks and cool thoroughly. Fill layers, and frost top and sides of cake with cream cheese frosting. CREAM CHEESE FROSTING1/2 cup butter1 8 oz. package cream cheese1 teas. vanilla1 lb. confectioner's sugar.Combine butter, cream cheese, and vanilla; cream well. Beat sugar in, adding milk if necessary.BILL'S FAVORITE FUDGE1 12 OZ. package of chocolate chips4 c miniature marshmallows1 cup peanut butterMelt peanut butter and chocolate chips over low heat until smooth. Gradually stir in marshmellowss. Pour into 9 inch square pan and chill until firm. Cut into squares.ORANGE-MINT SHERBET4 cups orange juice1/4 c. chopped mintBlend and freeze in ice cream freezerNDIWOZ ZA MPRIU WOTENDERA2 bunches fresh greens, mustard or spinach1/2 teas. salt1 bunch of green onions1/2 teas. black pepper3/4 cup peanut butter1/2 cup waterCooked RiceWash and cook greens until tender. Add onions & cook briefly. Make paste of peanut butter & water, pour over greens. cook slowly for 5 minutes. Serve over rice.How to get stains out...Hairspray removes a ballpoint ink stainPut meat tenderizer on fresh bloodstainsSalt on Red Wine StainsWhite vinegar and water for pet urine
I will miss reading about the lives of the women who wrote the Christmas letters in this book. I felt I had come to know them. Since the letters were sent to various recipients, which differed from year to year, the content of each letter was chosen accordingly by its writer. However, some items in the letters seemed to be included mainly to remind the writer of experiences she did not want to forget. My only complaint about this Kindle version is that the cover of the book as it appears in my carousel has no title, no author, in fact no words at all; it has only an off-white linen appearance.
Do You like book The Christmas Letters (2002)?
Read for Evening Edition Book Club 12/1999 & Southern Voices 12/2006Another book club selection, one that I read many years ago, but each reading brings new insights. This is a Christmas rendering by three generations of women, starting with Birdie in the 1940's, and ending with Birdie's granddaughter, Melanie, in 1996. All the women are living in the South, basically NC. I like the history of times: the wars, love, children, infidelity, hardship, and the everyday living. The men are all secondary characters, we just glimpse their existence. The thought that bothers me, is that the families do not seem to get together for the holidays--why?? Also, the women seem to blindly accept what the husband decides, they seem to lack spirit. Still a fun holiday read.Read for Evening Edition 12/2009
—Debbie Maskus
This book started out great, told in the fashion of Christmas letters that spanned three generations. I really liked Birdie Pickett and the letters that she wrote to family members. It was a great glimpse into days gone by from 1944 and through to the early 1960's. Then Mary, her daughter, took over. I liked her letters too, until the last two years where I thought she got way too personal for a Christmas letter. Forget the third generation as this daughter only wrote one letter. I think the author should've stopped with Mary if she wasn't going to develop Melanie's character...really, why bother? Anyway, if you enjoy reading Christmas letters with the added bonus of recipes then you may enjoy this one.
—Staci
Browsing at the local library for some holiday reads, I was drawn immediately to this little novella by the collage-like holiday wreath of over-the-years letters/stamped envelopes/sepia-toned photos making up the cover of author Lee Smith's The Christmas Letters. I love the concept (boldface the word 'concept') of the book - the stories of three generations of a family tied together through Christmas letters over a span of 52 years, the last letter coming full circle in the young lady being interested in tying together the family history; the letters themselves that made up the story were not to my taste ... maybe overly done as Christmas letters sometimes are.
—Linda
