I struggled with this one, which was disappointing as it sounded so promising. The collection is a mixed bag from around the world and different centuries. It certainly shows the varied literary approaches to Christmas and the different views of it.

Many of the older stories were depressing and not about Christmas so much as they were set at Christmas. There were some heartwarming stories and a few that really showed the miracle of Christmas. The stories are fairly short so when you want a quick read, this is a good book. The variety of stories is also good.

My problem was that most of the stories failed to engage me and it was a struggle to keep reading. I did like the stories by O. Henry, Hans Christian Andersen, Ray Bradbury and a few others. But overall, the collection was disappointing.

For the past few years I haven’t been “in the Christmas spirit.” I don’t necessarily mean that I’ve been a Grinch or a Scrooge; rather, I’ve found myself dissociating from the hustle and capitalistic drive of the holidays and, instead, focusing on being more present and appreciative of time spent with friends and family. Reading this collection really warmed my heart and I’d recommend it to others who may also find themselves lacking in holiday cheer. If you’re anything like me, this book reminds me that my desire for togetherness at the holidays is more important than any shiny new toy or gadget from Santa.

I was going into this book thinking it was something else completely. Yes it’s Christmas stories just not what I was expecting.
Just because this book wasn’t for me doesn’t mean someone else won’t love it.
Definitely give it a read.