Speed Reviewing Returns!

I haven't done a speed review post in a long time. I should really try to do them once a month.

  
4 Stars - A Christmas Memory, by Truman Capote is the classic memoir of Truman Capote's childhood in rural Alabama. Until he was ten years old, Capote lived with distant relatives. This book is an autobiographical story of those years and his frank and fond memories of one of his cousins, Miss Sook Faulk. The text is illustrated with full color illustrations that add greatly to the story without distracting from Capote's poignant prose.

This is a warm, sweet, and sad story. I loved the relationship between the boy and "his friend" (his elderly cousin). You go with them to pick out a Christmas tree, you watch them make Fruit cakes, and while they are making each other Christmas gifts. The ending is a little sad, but I liked that too.
This was a very short story, quick read, and my version had beautiful pictures which was a nice added bonus. This book was very well done!

3 Stars - The Wish, by Francis Ray - Be careful what you wish for. That's the lesson a fine brother with a wounded heart learns when an eccentric old woman grants him a wish for true love--if he's not too blind to see it.

This was an OK story. It was cute, sweet. It didn't wow me, but didn't turn me away either. I really liked Andrea, the niece of the old woman, and I really wanted her to get Her wish too.
Here's a cute quote - "Pleeazze." Elaine waved her slender manicured hand. "Since when has a man been able to come to a decision without the help of a woman?" - How true! LOL
This was a nice quick, clean-ish read (talk of sex, but nothing graphic). Great for the holidays.
.99 at B&N - HERE, and at Amazon - HERE  (It was worth buying and reading).

5 Stars!!!!! - The Christmas List, by Richard Paul Evans - James Kier, a very shrewd businessman, is not a well liked man, having to step on quite a few toes to get to where he is today. One day he sees his own obituary in a newspaper and reads some not so nice things about him on the internet. The comments basically melt his heart. He sets a plan into motion with help of his secretary to right his wrongs and make amends to the people he hurt the most.

Loooved this book! After reading this I wondered - why did I wait so long to read a Richard Paul Evans' book? This was a wonderful story! It was kind of like the Grinch Who Stole Christmas! The character development was excellent, the story line was excellent, everything about it was excellent! This was a very well done, very clean, very interesting, very heartfelt, and a little sad at times. I very highly recommend it!
9.99 from B&N - HERE, and from Amazon - HERE  (or just get it from the library for free!)