The Joy Of Christmas

Rating:
Summary: The Joy of The Joy of Christmas
Review: I received The Joy of Christmas as a gift and have found it to be full of delightful moments that seemed as if the author must have been around for my childhood holidays. She successfully conjured up the smells of cinnimon, pine smoke, fresh christmas trees, and good things baking in the oven. I was often overcome by childhood memories of my Christmases past and with the precious memories of my children around the tree.

When I find myself becoming overwhelmed by the approching holidays I simply pick up my copy of The Joy of Christmas and randomly turn to a page and start reading. It immediately lifts my spirits and reminds me what the holidays are all about. Ms. Paulson's recipes, crafts and quotes always give me ideas that I can put to good use in making my own holiday special. I recommend this book to everyone as a gift, a stocking stuffer, or simply as a holiday support system. Give yourself a treat, now.

Rating:
Summary: This is not Christmas!
Review: Jane Paulson has no clue of the real meaning of Christmas! This is a load of hogwash. A better name for
the book would be The Commercial Side of Christmas!

DO NOT BUY!

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Memories
Review: Last year I put The Joy of Christmas out in my living room because I loved the title and the cover. During the weeks leading up to Christmas, I found myself picking it up more and more often. I found it irrestible. It was fun to read. It kept me in the Christmas spirit. It helped me keep the Christmas season in the right perspective. It made me think of Christmases past. As the title suggests, this book is pure joy!

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Memories
Review: Ms. Paulson writes of Christmas in a manner that is at once universal and personal. It makes me feel like we've been through many Christmases together.

Rating:
Summary: A Real Christmas Treat
Review: This is a charming book you will read over and over, and pick up something new each time. A real treat to curl up with. Make a cup of tea or hot chocolate and enjoy! You'll find ways to create memories, and be reminded of some of your own. There are lots of good quotes (even from Hamlet!) and bits of history. A great gift for hostesses, teachers, friends, and yourself!

Rating:
Summary: A disappointing, incomplete hodgepodge
Review: This was a huge disappointment ... It is a flimsy pocket book sized paperback (i.e., more like a mystery or romance novel), written as a hodgepodge of ideas/tips/sentiments, with 1-3 short blurbs on each page -- and no rhyme or reason to the sequence. (The concept might have worked very well had the author taken the time to marshal her thoughts, rather than flitting from subject to subject w/o really acknowledging any of them.) I resented reading about how much she loves making and serving glogg, snickerdoodles, etc., with no hint of her recipes. People who don't own Susan Branch's Christmas cookbook won't be too thrilled to learn that the waffles and pots de creme from there are a staple in the author's home, but at least I can look those up. I still might have liked the book if it had provided more information/details, such as the actual letter that appeared in the "Sun" ("Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus") -- but, just mentioning it in a sentence seemed like little more than a waste of time. The whole book was in that context -- just short, fleeting references, usually a short sentence or two long (yet comprising an entire page), and barely describing anything sufficiently to make it meaningful. Don't waste your money.