Did Reisz intentionally make this five stories so I could read one story a day from solstice to Christmas like an advent calendar? Probably so. ’Tis the season. Merry happy.
Serious question though, why is The Scent of Winter so good? (A: because The Prince is so good and it’s thirty-three years later.)
“It shouldn’t have been that simple, but it was. A little more light where before there was darkness. A little more beauty where before there was emptiness. All the bad things that were there before were still there, but at least there was one more small good thing in the world.”
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Original review:
December Wine — What consistently gets me about Tiffany Reisz is her take on theology. The nativity at the end really really got to me.
The Christmas Truce — my favorite Christmas novella now, ousting Cecilia Grant from her spot. So thoroughly lovely with the triangle of friendships between Kingsley, Søren, and Nora.
Poinsettia — The ending touched a place inside me that’s still sore, years later, and it made me cry. See above re: Tiffany Reisz’s theology.
“Christ called the clergy hypocrites, but he dined with prostitutes. He would have liked you more than me. Even more, Christ would have loved you more than he loved me. I know this. It hurts me and humbles me to say it but it is true—you’re closer to God in your brothel than I am in my church. Jesus had a great fondness for women named Magdalena, after all.”
The Scent of Winter — okay no, this is my new favorite Christmas novella. The hawk and the hare.
Blood and Snow — this needed to be the bookend of December Wine. The two sides of the same story.
“Joy and terror—they’re twins, you know. Joy is born first. Then terror a few minutes after. Joy arrives when you recognize what you have. Terror comes on its heels, terror that you’ll lose the thing that gave you all that joy.”