A Stubborn Sweetness and
Other Stories for the Christmas Season
By Katherine Paterson
Publisher: Westminster John
Knox Press
Published: Aug 30 2013
ISBN: 9780664239152
Amazon Synopsis:
A Stubborn Sweetness and Other Stories for the Christmas Season is a collection of modern-day short stories by Katherine Paterson,
award-winning author of Bridge
to Terabithia and The Great Gilly Hopkins- both
loved by children and adults for over twenty years. This compilation includes
stories of real-life people such as a shopping mall's night watchman, a lonely
widower, a pregnant teenage
runaway, a political prisoner in China, a grieving
mother, and a privileged American, who have forgotten the true meaning of
Christmas because of loss, pain, greed or circumstances. Through unexpected and
uplifting ways, each is reminded of the first Christmas story and the vision of
hope and peace it offers the world. They realize that even in the darkness, the
light and song of Christmas can be seen and heard.
This heart-warming gift book, filled with stories of real people
finding hope, courage, and faith amidst life's circumstances, radiates the
spirit of the season and reminds each of us what Christmas truly means.
Originally written to be read during her church's Christmas Eve service, this
collection of holiday stories is perfect for individuals, families, and
churches to read and share during the season.
[The song of Christmas] is not louder. It
is swallowed up quickly in the cry of anger or the clack of greed. No, the song
is not louder, but it persists. It comes, as it had come to me beside my
[dying] father's bed, a melody of the most stubborn sweetness, for which we are
never prepared. And we turn away from it again and again and again.
'But oh, my child,' I said to the empty
night, `even though the song is not louder, it is stronger. And someday it will
find you--out there alone in the darkness.' - From the story A
Stubborn Sweetness
Book Links:
My Thoughts:
This book is filled with
inspirational Christmas stories from a variety of different eras, settings and
backgrounds. They will warm your heart and ready you for the true meaning of
the season.
This book includes 15 stories
that take place from Bethlehem to China to America and span 2000 years from the
time of Jesus’ birth to the present day. There is something for everyone in
these stories whether they celebrate the Christian traditions of Christmas or
not, for these stories are about loving and caring for one another
I gave this book a rating of
4 stars. I would recommend it to everyone!
Thank you to the publisher,
Westminster John Knox Press, through NetGalley for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for a
fair and honest review. I was not
required to provide a positive opinion. All thoughts are my own.
About the Author:
Katherine Paterson has twice won both the Newbery Medal and
the National Book Award. She received the 1998 Hans Christian Andersen Medal as
well as the 2006 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award for the body of her work. An
active promoter of reading and literacy, she lives with her husband, John, in
Barre, Vermont. They have four children and seven grandchildren.
Contact the Author:
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