Please welcome back to the blog Jeanne of the Bristol Public Library today with her latest review. For more reading suggestions, make sure you checkout the Bookblog of the Bristol Public Library.
A
Very Scalzi Christmas by John Scalzi
As the title implies, this is a collection of seasonal
writing: sketches, short stories, lists,
etc. There are interviews with Santa’s lawyer, who represents NicholasNorth LLC
in all its litigation, a list of New Year’s Resolutions (some of which involve
NOT inventing vindictive robots), the worst Christmas specials, and an
interview with the Christmas bunny.
My favorites were the short stories. “Christmas in July” begins one warm sunny
morning when people awaken to discover Christmas trees and presents—and not
just any presents, but the perfect present
for each recipient. Naturally, this
causes all sorts of confusion and a great deal of interest from the military
who would very much like to know how every house was infiltrated. “Sarah’s Sister” takes a more serious tone as
a ten year old girl is not exactly thrilled about becoming a big sister,
especially not on Christmas Eve.
I did enjoy some of the interviews, especially the one
with the innkeeper—yes, THAT innkeeper—who explains about the whole animal shed
thing and wonders about the inappropriate gifts brought by those kings.
I think that I would have enjoyed some of the lists
more if I had read them instead of listening to them on cd. There was a cast of readers who did a very
good job, but some things I just find funnier if I read them.
Overall, this is a delightful collection. A colleague introduced it at one of our book
club meetings and it has proved a revelation to some of those readers who
equated science fiction with seriousness.
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2 comments:
Jeanne, I love John Scalzi. I read Redshirts. I've read a few of his other books, but I'm a faithful follower of his on Twitter where he's hilarious. I also follow his Scamperbeasts account about his cats. Loved A Very Scalzi Christmas, but then, I read the book. I'm sure it was different to listen to it.
Hi, Lesa, I've read and enjoyed Redshirts as well. I also read his Fuzzy reboot-- you may have reviewed that. (I pick up a lot of books from your reviews. Thank you!)
I really think it was hearing it because even at the time I was thinking that if I were reading this list of New Year's resolutions I'd be laughing my head off. Hearing it, I anticipated too much. In that little split second when he'd read one resolution and before he got to the second, I'd guess what the next one was mentally and often was right. Same thing with the interviews. I think that's why I liked the stories so much more.
A friend is a big fan and she introduced me to this work-- and his cats. :-) She's working her way through the Old Man's War series.
Thanks for commenting!
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