A lovely selection of Christmas stories with different themes and by different authors. Will be a great read again next year.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Dive into twenty Christmas Short Stories that take into account the true meaning of Christmas. These stories are from different areas of the world. Some are classics and some are newer.

While, I enjoyed these stories, I don't think all of them would be suitable for children. They are spiritually inspired.

This was first published in 2014.

Thanks to Netgalley, and Plough Publishing for the Kindle Version of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

😊 Happy Reading 📚😊

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Short stories by many well-known writers from the past, as well as some less-known ones. With a focus on Christ's birth, these stories are great for family reading. A book that can be enjoyed year after year.

Home for Christmas is an anthology of short stories that celebrate the true meaning of Christmas. Some stories are from well-known authors like Pearl S. Buck and Madeleine L'Engle. Others are little known offerings from different countries. Every story is a gem.

These are the kind of stories you want to read every year until they become part of the family. The wood engraving-style illustrations are beautiful in their simplicity, and add to the overall homey feeling of the book. Home for Christmas is a lovely book that would make a perfect gift for anyone of any age.

book full of stories about warm christmas memories. A good sit by the fire and read to the family kind of book! thank you netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for a review.

I've mentioned in previous years that I love Christmas anthologies. I have a couple of treasuries and I'm thrilled to add this one to my collection.

As with my other anthologies, this one is filled with short stories - there are 20 stories in this one. They are older stories - often the stories aren't subject to copyright laws. This one is unique among my collection in that it has stories that are appearing in English for the first time. I think the only author I recognized is Madeleine L'Engle (author of A Wrinkle in Time among other stories). For me though, this is part of the charm of these treasuries - discovering little known (at least today) authors and story gems.

I like looking up the authors as I read their stories. I discovered that Henry van Dyke has published several Christmas stories but I don't think I've read any of his work. I was kind of surprised that O. Henry's The Gift of Magi wasn't included as it seems to be the story that is most often in common upon these Christmas treasuries. Selma Lagerlöf's story The Christmas Rose is also included in my Normal Rockwell Christmas Book. But otherwise, these are all new stories for me.

As I like to savor these Christmas anthologies, I haven't read all the stories yet. I will read a few more today and tomorrow and then save the rest for next year. I have an e-galley but I'm buying a hardcover copy so that I can display it each Christmas as I do with my other anthologies.

The stories I have read so far are entertaining but definitely have a deeper meaning than the typical fluffy Christmas read. I loved the story set in Cuba called The Three Kings. The three oldest boys at school are selected to be The Three Kings (the wise men from the Biblical story of Christ's birth) and give out toys to the children in town. It's kind of their version of Santa Claus. But these gifts are bought by the parents for the boys to deliver. There is great wealth but also great poverty and it lives in the same neighborhoods - often the poor live next door to the wealthy. The story reminded me of the meme on social media that says parents should stop telling their children that Santa Claus brought them iPads and game consoles because the children who don't get those things from Santa will feel like they haven't been good enough. But that isn't the real moral of The Three Kings. The moral of the story is that the true spirit of Christmas is not in what we get but what we give to those less fortunate.

Other stories feel like folklore and they are just beautiful. Not only are these stories well-crafted but they give a glimpse of what was important in years past - when life was "simpler". These are definitely stories to be cherished. If you are looking for something you can read together as a family or are like me and enjoy stories of old, then this is the book you should be reading today.

My review was published at Girl Who Reads - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2021/12/celebrate-jolabokaflod-with-these.html

I received this book from the publisher through Netgalley for review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
A lovely collection of classic Christmas takes from antiquity. Faith based stories that are filled with life lessons and acceptable for all family members. This is a fine addition to your home library and one for memorable reading year after year.

This book was a hard one for me to get into. I tried reading all of it but unfortunately I finally gave up after I got about 1/3 of the way through it. I guess I was looking for stories that I had grown up listening to and they just were not there. The writing is good but it just was not for me. I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a nice collection of holiday stories. Many are classics that I've read throughout the years, such as "The Other Wise Man" by Henry van Dyke, and "Christmas Day in the Morning" by Pearl Buck. Others, I had never seen before, but all of the stories had a classic feel.

One of my favorites was "Three Yung Kings" which told of three boys chosen to be the Three Kings riding through town distributing presents.

Some of the stories are sent in the far past, and some are set in more modern times. I didn't feel like any of them was too preachy, but they were heartwarming.

This book would make a good holiday gift for self or others - and reading the stories will be a good holiday tradition.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for letting me read an advance copy.

This was a great compilation of authors. It felt like an old fashioned good read for this time of year. I would give this as a gift.

I'm not typically a huge fan of short story collections (I prefer a novel), but these were enjoyable and varied. A great mix of writers and styles.

This is a wonderful collection of stories from across the globe; that feature the true meaning of the season! I enjoyed all the different tales from different cultures and the variety of stories told from long, long ago and those that were from the 2oth century. They all touched my heart in some meaningful way.

Twenty short stories. Twenty contributors. One theme. As many popular singers croon the Christmas song, "I'll Be Home For Christmas," this collection of stories warms the hearts as many people prepare for another busy Christmas season. Just like many of us remember well how a song goes, we too could remember stories better than mere theories or concepts. Stories like "Brother Robber" remind us about forgiveness. The "Three Young Kings" tells of the gospel touches us in spite of our mischiefs and misdeeds. Madeleine L'Engle writes about a "Sister Egg" whose name is often a conversation starter as she ministers to the homeless on the streets. Nikolai Lesskov shares the story of how one could be eloquent about the faith and yet unable to overcome the hurts over injustice. It takes a new revelation of the meaning of Christ's coming that unlocks the path toward healing. Pearl S Buck shares the story of a Christmas Day morning and how a son gave his father a lovely Christmas surprise. Henry Van Dyke begins the story of the three wise men before dropping in a surprise fourth "Wise Man." This man journeyed in faith, playing catch-up after failing to keep up with his three other friends. Adding some drama into the gaps between the birth of Jesus and the trial of Jesus, the story details how this man follows the Person and Life of Christ, to offer his gift of ministry. All the stories were told around what was revealed in Holy Scriptures. From the birth narrative of Jesus, the parables Jesus taught, to the life of Jesus' ministry, the twenty authors focus on a unique theme of the coming of Jesus to show us a compelling picture of the reason why Jesus came to earth.

Apart from the authors mentioned above, some of the other authors come from countries such as Cuba, Germany, Siberia, Palestine, Denmark, Spain, as well the USA, and descriptions of Canada. The stories are intriguing because not only do they come from the pens of some of the most creative literary writers, they are seen from the lens of ordinary people, about the meandering thoughts surrounding Christmas. The story of Barney Hatch the panhandler is one prime example. Like a chain of Christmas lights, author BJ Chute strings together some of the most familiar Christmas symbols such as Church bells, church towers, wreaths, Christmas decorations, Christmas shopping sprees, pine trees, jingles, and even Santa Claus. As the panhandler shifts from asking for donations to becoming a Santa Claus at a store promising to give wishes, he realized that having a few more dollars in his pocket led to a tough call between buying for a little boy a harmonica he promised and a bottle of whisky he wanted for Christmas. It prompts us with the question: "What would you do with your limited resources? Bless someone or to bless yourself?"

Stories have that special touch to communicate anything. The Christmas message has always been about the birth of Jesus, but for much of the world, it continues to be about the busyness of shopping, commerce activities, year-end festivities, and other secular forms of celebrations. With biblical themes flowing through the veins of these stories, readers will enjoy the rich reminders about the spirituality of Christmas. We have all been bombarded by messages that Christmas is a time of giving, of gifting, and of forgiving. This book does not only these but elevates the message through multiple cultures and creative literary lenses. Here's a hint: Don't rush through the stories. There is more than one message within each story. The longer and slower you dwell in them, the more you would discover.

Rating: 4.25 stars of 5.

conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of Plough Publishing House and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

A classic collection that focuses on the religious morals of the season. This book would be a great selection to leave out for perusing during the Christmas season.

Thank you net galley for the advance reader copy of this novel. This was a collection of Christmas stories by various authors. Some appealed to me more than others as usually is the case for a collective work. A good book to add to your Christmas collection.

A collection of 20 classical Christmas stories, I'd read most of them or had them read to me when I was younger. The collection is stories that feature the heart of christmas spirirts and are meant to be shared with those you love and care about. They embody the feeling of the hoilday, family and memories shared with care and good will. You will find stories for every age and every generation. Read, enjoy, share

This book is a treasure trove of stories perfect for reading with your loved ones by the hearth on a cold December evening. When I saw that this collection included a story by one of my all-time favorite authors (Madeline L’Engle), as well as other beloved authors (such as Pearl S. Buck, Henry van Dyke, and Katherine Paterson), I knew I needed to read it.

But before you dive in you should know that these aren’t just sweet, little heartwarming stories about Santa and his reindeer. They are all moving, even intense, stories that point your heart back to Christ. What joy the book brought as each story reminded me of the true meaning of Christmas.

Home for Christmas is a book that every family should have on their shelves to read and enjoy together through the Advent season. I’d recommend you pick up a copy of Home for Christmas for your loved ones. 4 out of 5 stars. 🙂

Many thanks to Plough Publishing and NetGalley for the digital copy of this collection for review purposes. I was not required to give a positive review. All opinions are my very own! 🙂

Contains classic Christmas Stories. A good read. I would recommend this book. I enjoyed this story.
I received this from Netgalley as an ARC for an honest review.

This was a mixed bag for me. Some of the stories were spectacular, others less so. I also felt that the illustrations while expertly executed were a little dark for the subject matter. I will get the book and intend to share some stories with my family, but I'll pass on others.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

The stories represent various cultures and time periods showing the universality of Christmas. With the variety of stories presented in this anthology, readers will definitely find one that will ignite their hearts with the spirit of Christmas. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by the publisher and Net Galley but the thoughts expressed are my own.