Christmas Tales

Let it Snow John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle
published 2008; 352 pages

It was the night before Christmas.

Well to be precise, it was the afternoon before Christmas. But before I take you into the beating heart of the action, let’s get one thing out of the way. I know from experience that if it comes up later, it will distract you so much that you won’t be able to concentrate on anything else I tell you.

My name is Jubilee Dougal. Take a moment and let it sink in. (1)

This seems to be my month for short stories; Let it Snow is a collection of three interconnecting Christmas stories – novellas, actually. What I enjoyed most about the format of this book is that the small details from one story, interesting but inconsequential, become critical plot points in later stories.

Author John Green (Looking for Alaska), Maureen Johnson (13 Little Blue Envelopes), and Lauren Myracle (TTYL) set their stories during a blizzard in a small town. Their individual voices work well together – so much so that it wouldn’t take a lot to convince me that all three were written by the same author (a book like James Roy’s Town).

I’ll admit that I picked this book up simply because I’m a John Green fan (very much so), but the book as a whole was fabulous, and I’ll definitely be looking out for books by both Myracle and Johnson. All three authors weave together romance and humour in an entirely charming way. These are characters whom you might have known in your own youth. 4/5

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• 100+ Reading Challenge
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Purls, and Cables, and lace – oh my!

Knit Two Kate Jacobs
320 pages; published 2008

“…over the years the feeling had become more definite  that either Peri would keep things going at Walker and Daughter or it would be time to close up the doors to the yarn shop. The desire to keep everything just as it once had been—to freeze time—remained very strong among the group of friends... [s]temming from some natural fantasy they all shared but never discussed: that everything needed to be kept just so for Georgia. For what? To want to come back? To feel at home? Because making changes to Georgia’s store, without her presence or consultation, would mean things were really final. Wouldn’t it? That all the moments the members of the Friday Night Knitting Club and the family of Georgia Walker had experienced, the good and the bad, had truly happened.”

It has been five years since the events of The Friday Night Knitting Club, five years since Georgia’s death, but the members of the Walker and Daughter knitting club are still going strong. They may not meet every week, and they may not always knit, but they’re still there for each other to depend on, cry with and yell at.

But five years is a long time. Lucy’s hopes for single motherhood aren’t as shiny as they once were, KC is grudgingly spiralling into middle-age, Dawn’s long-sought for pregnancy isn’t as easy (or as supported) as she would have anticipated, Catherine and James are far from dealing with Georgia’s absence and Peri’s guardianship of the store isn’t as rewarding as her own business. And perhaps most jarring of all, Dakota is no longer the eleven year old “muffin girl” mascot of the group - she has her own plans for her future, ones that new father James doesn’t necessarily support, and may even - dare she say it - have nothing at all to do with the store.

I read The Friday Night Knitting Club earlier this year for book club; it was a nice light read that I enjoyed for it’s sense of family, and it’s incorporation of knitting not only as part of the plot, but the structure. I picked up this sequel expecting more of the same, and wasn’t disappointed in this regard. It was a nice continuation of the characters and storylines that had been established in the first novel. The progression and development of characters were as to be expected, but enjoyable (if a little sugary in places) all the same - with Dakota’s coming-of-age in light of her mother’s death being particularly well done, I thought.

Overall it was a ‘nice’ book - which may seem a little unenthusiastic, but it’s the truth all the same. Did I enjoy it? Yes. Did I recommend it to my cousin who had particularly enjoyed the first book? Of course. But would I heartily recommend it? Perhaps not. If you absolutely loved the first and would like to see what happens next, then by all means grab it, you won’t be disappointed. But if you were satisfied with the ending of the first, then perhaps skip over this one. 3/5

Poor sickly vamps…

The Reformed Vampire Support Group Catherine Jinks
328 pages; published 2009

Vampires are meant to be so glamorous and powerful, but I’m here to inform you that being a vampire is nothing like that. Not one bit. On the contrary, it’s like being stuck indoors with the flu watching daytime television, forever and ever.

If being a vampire were easy, there wouldn’t have to be a Reformed Vampire Support Group. (4)

Nina writes vampire novels; epic adventures in which her heroine, Zadia Bloodtone, is sexy and able to turn into a bat as she, yet again, save the day. Basically do and be everything that Nina is not. For Nina, being a vampire, especially a ‘reformed’ one, is far from glamorous: there’s the daily bouts of nausea, the constant haemorrhaging and the fact that surviving on a feast of guinea pigs is just, well, messy.

Somehow she could never imagine Zadia Bloodstone living her life.

She’s far from alone in this horrendous lifestyle, however, for the few vampires who live in Australia are part of the Reformed Vampire Support Group. While certainly an odd mix, they’ve come to depend on each other throughout the indignities of their existence.

But then one of their number is killed and their routine, if not comfortable, lives are upturned. There’s a vampire killer out there (and let’s face it, how to kill them isn’t exactly the world’s best kept secret) and who knows which one of them could be next.

The Reformed Vampire Support Group was in equal parts gross and hilarious. At the Sydney Writer’s Festival last month, Catherine Jinks said that she was tired of the perfect vampires and floating around and wanted to tell “the truth” of their existence. She certainly succeeded; these are vampires the likes of which I’ve never seen.

I’d recommend it as a nice alternative to some of the more glamorous or impressive vampire books out there – especially if you’d like something without the overwhelming romance, or are looking for something with a touch of humour. Though I should note that it is a touch dark in places and is very much geared at the 15-17 age bracket over the younger YA readers. 3.5/5

K1, p2 ... oops I dropped a stitch

The Friday Night Knitting Club
Kate Jacobs
424 pages; published 2007

Knit and Purl: These stitches are the fundamentals of knitting and are the basics of every garment. The knit stitch is a series of flat, vertical loops that produces a knitted fabric face and the purl stitch is its reverse. One side is smooth, the other bumpy. Knit is what you show the world; purl is the soft, nubbly underside you keep close to the skin. (177)

Walker and Daughter is a small knitting store in the heart of New York City; it stocks yarn, needles and friends.

When Georgia Walter found herself pregnant and alone, she (with the help of business-woman-come-fairy godmother Anita) turns her knitting hobby into a business, and then a way of life to support herself and her daughter Dakota.

A decade later, Georgia’s sense of control over her life starts to crumble as her daughter reaches her frustrated teens; a friend whose betrayal still sings lands back in her life; and James, her former lover suddenly reappears. None of this is what Georgia expected and she’s not quite sure how to handle it all.

But Georgia finds support and salvation in the most unexpected of places: a group of regulars who take it upon themselves to turn up in her store every week – the Friday Night Knitting Club.

Friday Night Knitting Club was our book club read for last month and it was met with mixed responses. For the most part, I enjoyed it. It was a light, quick novel and fairly predictable in places but I had anticipated that going in. Some of the characters I thought interesting – I liked Georgia, control-freak though she was – but others were underdeveloped, even superfluous to the story.

Basically, it’s not a book out to win any literary awards but if the plot interests you or you have a secret passion for knitting or cupcakes then I’d give it a go. Did I love it enough to want to own my own copy? Not really. Did I enjoy it enough to want to read the sequel? Sure did. 3.5/5

Other Reviews

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First thing I did was steal a body...

Repossessed
A.M. Jenkins218 pages; published 2007
I don't like the term "demon". It carries quite a bit of negativity with it. It implies a pointy tail and cloven hooves. I prefer the term "fallen angel". That is, indeed, what we are. The difference between us and the angels who didn't fall from grace is that the Unfallen were, are, and always will be faithful, stalwart, and obedient. That is their nature, just as it is their nature to rejoice in worship and contemplation of the vastness of the Creator's perfection. We, the Fallen, wondered, questioned, confronted, eventually demanded, and in general, pushed the edges of the envelope until the envelope burst.

[...] the Unfallen don't hang out with us peons much anymore.

I've never really liked those guys. (p 9/10)

Kiriel is one of the Fallen, one of the angels who supported Satan in his uprising. But after spending millenia in the bowels of Hell, reflecting the sorrows of the sinners under his jurisdiction while living out his own eternal punishment, things have become a little stale and he decides to take a little vacation.

In order to take this vacation, Kiriel hijacks the body of the unassuming Shaun seconds before he dies - Kiriel thinks this perfectly acceptable, after all, he was going to die anyway, and his possession merely eliminated much of the pain the boy would have felt anyway. Taking over his body, however, also means taking over his life and Kiriel finds himself immersed in the sensations and emotions of human life - and more specifically, the world of a seventeen year old.

Kiriel knows that his 'vacation' won't go unnoticed forever though - it is, after all, completely against the rules - but he intends to enjoy it for as long as 'humanly' possible.

angeloftheLord: Kiriel, you are trespassing in direct contravention of the Creator's wishes. This is a warning: Return to your duties or you will be punished.

All the warmth had left my fingertips.

trojanxxl: who is this?

Bloo-bloo-bloop!

angeloftheLord: You must return to your duties immediately.

An eternity of wishing to speak directly to my Creator, I thought in despair - and this is how He finally contacts me? Through AOL Instant Messenger? (p 97/8)


While I loved the premise of the novel, and found it cute funny in places, I did have my issues with it. For instance, it took less than twenty pages for Kiriel to turn to his first major exploration of humanity: masturbation. This leads into his central (not only, but major) quest for the novel: sex. He sets his sights on one girl and pursues her for the entirely with little (some but not much) regard for the reality of the situation or the fact that this is a real person he's trying to catch here. Perhaps this would appeal more to a male, seventeen-year-old audience, but, for me, it had quite a large negative impact on what should have been a good book.

That said, however, it did have it's redeeming qualities. The presentation of Kiriel as a fallen angel (as opposed to a 'demon') who, despite his backing of Satan ("The Boss"), sincerly and desperately wishes to retain the communication with, and love of, God ("The Creator") was both fascinating and moving. Similarly, the unrecognised acts of redemption Kiriel undertakes during his illicit 'vacation' are quite touching.

It was an okay book - shifting to quite good in places - but overall I feel that the story had the potential to be much better than it was. 2.5/5



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