Reading Journal 2023: A Christmas Story
Author: Jean Shepherd
My first though after finishing this book- if they ever remake A Chrirstmas Story it needs to be Wes Anderson
I actually had no idea the classic Christmas movie was based on a book. It’s actually more of an anthology, or a collection of essays, each depicting one of the iconic scenes from the movie. Now don’t get me wrong, I love the classic film. It remains and has been a holiday favorite ever since I first saw it. The prose of this book is operating on a whole ever level. Its not just the quality of the writing, which infuses the quirkiness of the material with real sincerity and depth, its that it captures those uncensored moments of being a child and growing up in a world much younger than our own right down to the smells and the sensations. From the nature of play, to the excitement of recieving something in the mail, to watching our parents fight, to the anticipation of christmas, to racing home to listen to that favorite radio show, to those crazy childhood stories to those memorable neighbors (we get a whole lot more of the Bumpus’ here). Everything felt pitch perfect.
If the film is a whole lot of fun, the book is a real delight and joy. An easy read too. seperated as it is into 6 short episodes.
Now to get on with dreaming about that Wes Anderson adaptation.
The Stories of my Life 