Village Christmas

Village Christmas is the sixth book in Miss Read’s Fairacre series about a timeless rural village in the English countryside. This particular entry takes place during the Christmas season and concerns that happiest of events, the birth of a child.

We are introduced to the spinster sisters, Margaret and Mary Waters as they spend their quiet evening addressing Christmas cards and discussing village affairs. They, and indeed many other villagers, are slightly disapproving of their new neighbours who live across the lane from them. The young couple and their children seem overly friendly and too ready to push themselves forward. Then on Christmas Day the pregnant Mrs. Emery goes into labour and is alone with her children as her husband was show more called to assist his parents, the elderly sisters do not hesitate to help out. The birth of a little boy brings all of Fairacre together in rejoicing his healthy arrival and making everyone realize that they have been overly critical of this young family who are simply trying to fit in.

As always the story is charming, the writing gentle and soothing, and the descriptions of a rural Christmas evokes childhood memories. My only complaint was how short this story was. Village Christmas is a lovely, warmhearted story with a timeless message. show less

A predicable but nonetheless a, Happy Christmas, quick read. The Penguin 60s, is a series of small books, all just 60 pages in length and was published to celebrate Penguin’s 60th year of publishing. Miss Read writes about the fictional villages of Fairacre and Thrush Green together with a varied assortment of villagers. Her stories are about a simple way of life, long gone, and I always find them enjoyable.

Ehhh. Pretty pedestrian- a stock Christmas story if ever I read one. Misunderstood newcomers to the village are shunned and talked about until need calls out the best in the neighbors on a Christmas night. All new characters set against a barely recognizable Fairacre. Not my cuppa.

I picked this up at the library after seeing it on a "best Christmas book" list. At 46 pages it was a quick read but not particularly enjoyable. This was my first Miss Read book and I'm not sure I'll try another one.

Nice but a bit overly sweet for me