L V

Just like the movie, this book has a little of everything. It’s a behind-the-scenes treat for die-hard fans. A tribute and honor to an accomplished author and screenwriter who tried for over 15 years to make this, his absolute favorite written piece, come to life on the silver screen. It’s a shout-out to the entire cast and crew for supporting one another and giving all of themselves to a piece of work they all believed in. It’s a nod to the technology of the VCR.

It’s a walk down memory lane thinking back on Andre the Giant’s gentleness and kindness, his physical pain, his utmost professionalism, and his monumental fart—the one that caused the cast to do too many retakes from the hilarity of it all. And above all else, it’s a personal heartfelt love letter and thank you from Elwes (Westley) to Rob Reiner. Reiner’s love of the book, respect for the author, and dedication to hand-picking each and every character is what truly made this movie the classic masterpiece that it has become.

Elwes’s gratitude and honor for being chosen to be Westley really shines through. You can sense that all of the hard work he and the rest of the cast and crew put into the movie was not for the glamour or fame, but for the respect they had for Reiner; they didn’t want to let him down. It speaks volumes about the type of director Reiner was, and I am happy that he got to read how Elwes and the rest of the cast felt about working with him. May he rest in peace.

“…it’s the process itself that I remember most and how much fun it was to go to work every day. I would say it was as close to a perfect movie making experience as I have ever had or expect I’ll ever have. That’s a rare thing on the movie set and it all starts with the director.” -Cary Elwes

If it weren’t for this deep reading slump I’m in, it wouldn’t have taken me so long to read. It’s a fairly quick read. I cared for the characters and even in this slump, I still kept wanting to know how their story would end. It was sad and uplifting all at once.

I picked this audiobook as a “blind read.” Life’s demands and this unshakable flu have only allowed me to listen to it in bits here and there. But every time I had to put it on pause, no matter how much time lapsed, I’d think about the characters. The author does a beautiful job in weaving a character (a different one for each chapter) into another chapter and spotlighting the human condition, good, bad and indifferent. Their stories of struggle, pain and resilience will stay with you.

Cozy stories that make a good palette cleanser in between those heavier reads. The book was narrated by the author who has a delightful accent and a kind of smile to her voice. If you’re looking to invest in the characters or storyline, this book isn’t for you. If you’re in between reads and just need a quick little something that won’t make you feel or think too deeply, give this one a try.

From the author’s daughter: “We are more than heirs to his literary property. We are heirs to his ideas and his values… The Greatest Gift is as compelling today as it was nearly 80 years ago because in this story lies a powerful message about the significance of the lives of all of us.”

I adore It’s a Wonderful Life in all its forms. The movie makes me cry every time I watch it. The Lux Radio version is great to cozy up to and listen to near the fire; pretending you're in days of yore, before TV. And The Greatest Gift, the original short story from which the film is based, is a wonderful read. The illustrations are just beautiful. This time around, I listened to the audiobook version. The afterword, told by the author’s daughter, makes me love this story (and movie) even more.

The idea for the story came to the author on Feb 12, 1938 in a dream, completely formed from start to finish. He wrote his first draft in April of that year but wasn’t happy with it and in the Spring of 1943 he finally tried to get it published. No magazine wanted it. He used his own money to make 224 pamphlets and sent them out as Christmas cards.

In March 1944 he received an offer for the movie rights. The movie premiered on Dec 14, 1946. But it’s all the little things that happened from the moment the idea was conceived to the time the film was made that are just remarkable.

Learning how this little story has impacted soldiers that were at war, those who had just come back home, the actors/director of the movie, the author’s daughter, and countless others ever since is just…wow!

If you’re looking for a Christmas themed book and haven’t read this story yet, read it. Then watch the movie. If you love it as much as I do, go the extra mile and listen to the Lux Radio Theatre show. It’s on Spotify and other platforms. Perhaps purchase a few copies and give them away as stocking stuffers. Have a very merry Christmas and a wonderful life!

Humans and elves alike have their flaws, but a friendly ear and a kind heart can sometimes make things a little better. A cute Santa origin story loaded with action, humor and magic.

What fun and light hearted stories-each one better than the next. Wodehouse’s work never fails to put a smile on my face. If you ever need a fun and brief something to read, look to Wodehouse.

A bitter-sweet tale that is just perfect for Christmastime. At the heart of the story is the reminder to keep what’s most important in your life your top priority. And that the love of a parent for its child is unmatched.

What fun and light hearted stories-each one better than the next. Wodehouse’s work never fails to put a smile on my face. If you ever need a fun and brief something to read, look to Wodehouse.

A murder mystery told and wrapped up in a few short hours. I think this brief read met the author’s goal to liken the fun, festive Christmas goers as well as the Scrooges. What I appreciate most are the plausible motives and means to execute the crime. Some of the books I’ve read recently were so over the top that this more realistic, short novella was a breath of fresh air. I mean, as much as it could be, considering murder is involved. With that said, it could have done with a few more twists and turns, but it provides enough as is to leave the reader satisfied.

A murder mystery told and wrapped up in a few short hours. I think this brief read met the author’s goal to liken the fun, festive Christmas goers as well as the Scrooges. What I appreciate most are the plausible motives and means to execute the crime. Some of the books I’ve read recently were so over the top that this more realistic, short novella was a breath of fresh air. I mean, as much as it could be, considering murder is involved. With that said, it could have done with a few more twists and turns, but it provides enough as is to leave the reader satisfied.

Holy smokes did she make a meal out of the unveiling. If I had to sit there and listen to Poirot explain why he considered us all plausible murderers then talk us through his deductive reasoning, ruling out each and every person in the room until he got to the killer, there would have been another murder: mine, self-inflicted. It was a fine read, but those last few chapters just trudged on. Plus, there was nothing Christmasy about this book except its cover. I’ll give another one of her mysteries a try. I think I just chose the wrong one at the wrong time.

“In another Christmas story, Dale Pearson, evil developer, self-absorbed woman hater, and seemingly unredeemable curmudgeon, might be visited in the night by a series of ghosts who, by showing him bleak visions of Christmas future, past, and present, would bring about in him a change to generosity, kindness, and a general warmth toward his fellow man. But this is not that kind of Christmas story, so here, in not too many pages, someone is going to dispatch the miserable son of a bitch with a shovel. That's the spirit of Christmas yet to come in these parts. Ho, ho, ho.”

This was a fun little farce. The audiobook’s narrator had a slight touch of something charming in his voice that reminded me of the author/narrator from one of my favorite holiday movies, A Christmas Story. With that said, I was expecting a lot more…I dunno… wonder with my murder??

Even though I never knew where this weird story was taking me, it felt like some of the pieces to get there, to the Christmas miracle, was rushed. The fun and crazy characters we meet in the beginning lose their sparkle along the way. It’s like the book pans to one set of characters that I start connecting with and then the storyline scrambles elsewhere, and I’m left thinking about how said characters could’ve made the next scene better had they not been tossed to the side; with me left wondering how the predicaments we last saw them in get resolved.

Overall, I enjoyed the humor and found it refreshing from its alternative, the holiday romance paperback. I’m glad I read it, but I don’t think I’ll have the need to read it again, (like a yearly Christmas tradition) which is what I was kind of hoping to get from this read.

Updated Review: A wonderful holiday read for the young and old alike. It’s a reminder that we all have a place here, no matter our status. We all deserve to be loved. And when we are truly and deeply loved, we become real. Thanks, Mom, for giving me my hind legs and making me real. I will always love you ♥️

“…Shabbiness doesn't matter…Once you are Real you can’t be ugly, except to people who don’t understand.”

Old Review: “The mechanical toys were very superior, and looked down upon everyone else; they were full of modern ideas, and pretended they were real.”

“What is Real...?”

“... It doesn't happen all at once... You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept.”

That's a lesson for all the “superior” mechanical beings out there with sharp edges who think that because of their status at work, lineage, etc. feel they can turn their noses on the plain old velveteen rabbits of the world. I can't believe I've lived as long as I have without reading this great children's classic. It should be distributed at every birthing.

“The mechanical toys were very superior, and looked down upon everyone else; they were full of modern ideas, and pretended they were real.”

“What is Real...?”

“... It doesn't happen all at once... You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept.”

That's a lesson for all the “superior” mechanical beings out there with sharp edges who think that because of their status at work, lineage, etc. feel they can turn their noses on the plain old velveteen rabbits of the world. I can't believe I've lived as long as I have without reading this great children's classic. It should be distributed at every birthing.

After an underwhelming Book 2, I am glad I stuck with it and read Book 3 - it had more of a Stephen King flair. There was even mention of a certain sinister clown… I won’t say anymore. I’ll just include the quotes that stayed with me the most:

“People are turning away from women’s rights, from science, from the very notion of equality. They’re turning away from truth.”

“When faced with the choice of doing the right thing or nothing at all, you do what’s right. Every single time.”

“For me, you were the biggest miracle of all, Mom.”