In the mailroom early this morning I discovered a small box with my name on it. "Ah," I thought, "that must be the book I ordered as a Christmas present." But, I was wrong. It was a book, but this one was from MJV who books me often. The gift, the book and the author were all surprises.
Who'd a thought that Truman Capote wrote a Christmas book? Not I. A Christmas Memory...also includes "One Christmas" and "The thanksgiving Visitor." These are three enchanting stories. Apparently they are fictionalized autobiographical events from Capote's childhood.
Capote as a child was sent to live with four adult cousins in Alabama. This is a situation which he remembers with fondness. He and cousin, Miss Sook, become best friends. She's considered somewhat compromised by other adults. She displays the wisdom often evidenced by the marginalized. As Christmas approaches Capote writes about her, "She would like to give me a bicycle (she's said so on several million occasions) 'If only I could, Buddy. It's bad enough in life to do without something you want; but confound it, what gets my goat is not being able to give somebody something you want them to have.''' PP 22-23 It's so much the pain of poverty, the limits it puts on giving.
It's a short book, 107 pages. so I carved out time from busy day of doing nothing and gladly read it cover to cover. Thanks MJV for a delightful Christmas story.
Takk for alt,
Al
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