2.5/5 rounded down

What would happen if Jesus Christ met Santa Claus? This is the question that Strassberg asks in this novella.

December on 5C4 follows Nick and Josh, 2 patients on a psychiatric ward who resemble both Christ and Santa, with uncanny backstories to boot.

To be honest, this novella takes an interesting and unique concept and executes it in the most boring way possible. The story is very slow going, did not keep my interest well and does not have a satisfying payoff.

The backstory of Josh with his strict Ashkenazi Jewish background and the slight discussion of homosexuality and religion was done relatively well. However, I did find the hard F slur by his also Jewish boyfriend on page 2 completely unnecessary, seemed mostly for shock value. I also would have appreciated some more explanation/context to the Hebrew words used in this book, even in just a glossary format. To a non-hebrew speaker these parts could be quite confusing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Mindbuck media for providing an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own

“December on 5C4” by Adam Strassberg
WoW !!
I read the description; wondered if choosing to read this offering was a mistake. I am ever so glad I chose this read. I was totally entranced (?) as I just couldn’t put it down. I found some harsh truths nestled within this gem of a story. Maybe you will find the same ones I did… maybe you will only be entertained.. but in any case.. I hope you will be glad you chose this story, too. Happy Reading ! !

How would things go down if Jesus met Santa Claus? What if it happened in a psychiatric ward?

December of 5C4 is a quirky holiday book that blends Judaism, Christianity, the magic of Santa Claus, and modern life and medicine. I remember asking my catechisms teacher as a child how would we know Jesus came back or if no one would believe him and he would just be locked up in a mental institution? Yes, I was that weird precocious kid asking adults questions they didn't want to answer, lol. This book attempts to ask this question of us. What would it take to believe in something that just seems unbelievable? Introspective, funny in that roll-your-eyes way, gritty, and thought provoking, this would be a great book for those looking for a non-traditional holiday read.

Oh, and the dad jokes were on point.

Thank you to NetGalley and Mindbuck Media | Nat 1 Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

This story is written by a retired psychiatrist who ‘<i>uses the intersection of psychology, religion, mythology, and magical realism to explore the human condition’</i>, which made for a very different, and very interesting glimpse into how others find themselves questioning how they live their lives compared to those who live average lives.

When Josh and Nick end up in the county psychiatric facility around the same time, they share their stories of how they ended up there. Josh ran away after having sex with a male cousin, and Nick somehow managed to get caught in someone’s chimney.

An interesting, sometimes harrowing, glimpse into the lives of those who live on the edge of reality.

Pub Date: 01 Dec 2024

Many thanks for the ARC provided by Mindbuck Media / Nat 1 Publishing

I’m not sure what to say about this book. While the story line was intriguing- a Jesus figure and a Santa figure together on a psychiatric unit- the story was slow developing and never fully gelled for me. In spite of this it was both humorous and thought-provoking.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc of this book.

This book was unique and i enjoyed reading it. I don't believe I've ever read this concept before and it was interesting. I do want to read it again and focus on the folklore aspects more. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

Schizophrenic patients often say they are Jesus or Santa Claus. Adam Strassberg says in an afterword that he never worked in a hospital where a "Jesus" and a "Santa" met, but he wondered what might happen if they did...and what if their identification with Jesus or Santa allowed them to embody even a small part of their powers?

So here Josh N. and Nick K. find themselves in the county psychiatric facility at the same time. Josh ran away from a strict Hasidic Jewish family after a homosexual encounter with a cousin at the mikvah. Nick was caught in someone's chimney, stoned on cocaine and unwilling to explain that, in order to avoid a run-in with human traffickers, he was delivering gold bullion to three sisters to buy them out of latter-day slavery to the creeps who brought them to--is this America? The county sounds like upstate New York or maybe New England, but the city where Josh has been a homeless street preacher and Nick has been a businessman also seems to be within walking distance of the places where Jesus lived. The whole story is surreal anyway. When men want to be Jesus and Santa Claus enough to live like them, their story probably has to be surreal.

At dinner Josh blesses water that seems to turn into wine. In occupational therapy Nick makes toys for everyone out of felt and popsicle sticks. During outdoor time Josh seems to know how each of a series of other patients' situations fits a Beatitude. Nick hands out sweet treats and toys--did he bribe an attendant to bring them in, or do they magiically appear in his red robe? And so on. They get the original stories of Jesus, Santa, and Saint Nicholas all mixed up, but they're so sincere...

This book is a nice reminder of how the real stories go and what the winter holidays really mean to those who celebrate them.