The Christmas Letters Audiobook

" Okay, it's a little over three months until Christmas so, of course, I am already anticipating the holidays. I have already purchased several gifts and wrapped one. But who am I kidding? I will let the holidays sneak up on me like they do every year and then I will run around like my hair is on fire. Plus, I probably won't be able to find the gift that's already wrapped until a few days after the tree is taken down. It's a tradition. But I digress. One of the aspects of the holiday season that I find most fascinating is the Christmas letters that come tucked into cards. While I love catching up with friends, I think that it's interesting what people put into their holiday letters and what they leave out. Reading between the lines is part of the fun. Lee Smith taps into this holiday tradition in The Christmas Letters. Spanning 1944 to 1996, these letters were written by three generations of women in a Southern family. Not only do they chronicle family stories and detail the emotional ups and downs of family life, they also reveal changes that occurred in American society in the second half of the 20th century. "

" The Christmas Letters follows three generations of women from 1944 through 1996 (when the book was published). It was a very quick read since each section is composed entirely of letters. It was also an interesting look at how each generation changed from the previous one, but the women still kept in touch with friends and family through an annual "christmas letter". "

" Lee Smith novella about Birdie Puckett who writes a letter describing life on a NC farm to her mother and sister. Parts two and three are about Birdie's daughter and granddaughter writing letters. These letters link the three generations. "

" A 3-Generation Book that shares a little of their lives... was interesting . A bit sad when you see how the circle of Life goes by in such a flash...Enjoyable read... "

" Short, moving book following a family's Christmas letters through the years. "

" Lovely epistolary novel "

" What a fun little read. Okay, it wasn't always fun, was a little predictable, but I enjoyed it. "

" This book had me hooked at first. It's a book of letters from 3 generations of southern women and their lives. I can't say too much without spoiling but I loved the first half or two-thirds of the book but then it started to lose me as the story gave a turn which turned me to Kleenex. "

" A short lovely tale of a young woman becoming a wife and mother told through the dreaded "Christmas Letters." Quick read. "

" Although a very quick read, this book took me back to Lee Smith's fantastic Fair and Tender Ladies. I really enjoyed the characters, and would love to know more about the anthropologist! "

" I was really excited about the premise of this book - family and friend Christmas letters sent by three generation of women. It was okay. Maybe it would have been better if I hadn't been so excited about it . . . "

" This was a short read, but very good. Interesting to read about the different eras and then to learn what the truth was behind some of the letters. "

" I have a soft spot for stories told by correspondence. This one sided grouping of letters written by three generations of the same family read like diary entries.It first appeared in an issue of Good Housekeeping, perfect for that short format. "

" This was fantastic. I love how well-developed the characters were in such a compact collection of letters. "

" Not only is this a story of 3 generations of one family, but it is also a running commentary of our times, 1944 until 1996. The characters reach out to grab you as they have real lives, though even more real towards the end than you could imagine. "

" Three generations of family Christmas letters.....sounded like great premise and reminded me all of all letters my mom and her relatives used to write...but didn't really enjoy it that much, just kinda didn't work for me "

" Re-read this little jewel for December book club. "

" Start to finish, this novella flows like water. I loved reading it and identifying with the three women characters--Birdie, Mary and finally Melanie. There's a little of me in all of them. Great book! "

" I have written Christmas letters since 1984, so was drawn to read this story. Three generations of women share their lives, and their recipes, in this book. I enjoyed it very much. "

" This book is written entirely in Christmas letters by 3 generations of women in the same family. It was an okay read, but I like to delve more into the characters' lives and this just skimmed over highlights and lowlights over a period of years. "

" Quick read. Good book for the holidays "

" Three generations of women reveal their hearts in this series of Christmas letters spanning the years of 1944 through 1996. A little gem of a book. "

" Nice light holiday reading. "

" eh. i read it for bookclub and found it mildly entertaining. i wouldn't have finished it otherwise. a little too sentimental for my tastes, but i think kindly of the main character. "

" This was our December 2008 Book Group selection. It was good and fast. a nice story for this time of year. "

" A pleasant holiday surprise. Women whose love for their families blossoms from every page of their writing. Birdie's voice is the best developed, and I found her story most interesting. I wish the Christmas letters I got were so sweet. "

" I liked the the progression of time starting in the 1940's to present day. "

" eh. i read it for bookclub and found it mildly entertaining. i wouldn't have finished it otherwise. a little too sentimental for my tastes, but i think kindly of the main character. "

" Worth reading….brought back memories of the 70’s and how we were. "

" A little dessert of a book. Not the best of Lee Smith but nice to read and a it would make a good stocking stuffer. The book is comprised entirely of Christmas letters over three generations of women. I'd recommend it as a quick read for those who enjoy Lee Smith. "

" A short lovely tale of a young woman becoming a wife and mother told through the dreaded "Christmas Letters." Quick read. "

" a little too predictable, but I liked how it was all written on letter form "

" This was a nice Christmas book about the lives of a family of women passing down the tradition of writing a Christmas letters. It was very real and touching. "

" Just as I was ready to quit reading this book it picked up a bit. Fast read little to it. "

" I really liked this short book. It was very good but the ending was a little abrupt. I would recommend it. "

" Fun, easy read. I have to admit that i'm always intriqued by those Christmas Newsletters that arrive each year. You have to wonder, just what are they leaving out? "

" This was fantastic. I love how well-developed the characters were in such a compact collection of letters. "

" Lee Smith novella about Birdie Puckett who writes a letter describing life on a NC farm to her mother and sister. Parts two and three are about Birdie's daughter and granddaughter writing letters. These letters link the three generations. "