Christmas is Almost Here

So here we are, the Monday before a Wednesday Christmas. Two sleeps and we are at the glories of Christmas morning. In all of the bustle of preparation, I nearly always arrive at Christmas Eve exhausted and with my social battery nearly empty. And every year I try to take it slower, do things differently, and somehow save a little bit of energy. But it doesn’t really happen and it’s okay to accept that, while I will still try again next year, being a bit tired is just going to have to be one of Christmas’ imperfections. Because there are many of them and they don’t make the holidays any less magical.

Plus, I have a lot to be grateful for this season — our financial situation is better than it’s been in a long time, we’re starting to get better at work/life balance, Wesker’s kidney function is actually improving instead of declining, and everyone is happy and healthy. I will always hold tight to that.

The Warmth of Wodehouse

P G Wodehouse is a writer that millions turn to for a pick-me-up. He specializes in humorous stories of the English and American upper crust, some of which border on satire but most of which are just simple stories of innocent shenanigans full of bon mots, zingers, and ridiculous twists and turns of fate. I have by no means read Wodehouse extensively, but I am in a reading slump and could use some cheering up. I also couldn’t quite resist the draw of a festive collection of stories.

Did Wodehouse deliver? Yes! These stories were wonderful and delightful tales that are the perfect distraction from more serious literature or an overwhelming to-do list. They are easily shareable and beg to be read out loud. If you want a laugh, you will find one here. However, be warned that Wodehouse is not immune to ageing and some of these stories contain content that is doing it poorly. It’s not enough to render any story unreadable, but there are definitely a few pinch points here.

The Collection

I was expecting, based on the title, to get a collection of purely Christmas, party, winter holiday, or holiday stories here. Instead, the book contains thirteen tales organized by month with two for December. Also? They are not all from the Jeeves and Wooster universe. Admittedly, it was a bit difficult to get beyond that initial disappointment, especially because it feels like the summary on the inside flap seems to tap dance around this editorial decision. But I gave it a chance anyway, and the tales themselves were as delightful as advertised.

Even if the stories weren’t all festive, at least the book design was. From the cover and gold foil lettering to the beautiful green paper used to line the covers, this book screams Christmas. If you are looking for a last-minute gift for a voracious reader, this would not disappoint.

Is It Festive?

Is it? I find that long after I have finished the book, I am still asking this question. Certainly, both December selections are. ‘Jeeves and the Yule-tide Spirit’ and ‘The Knightly Quest of Mervyn’ are both very holiday-centric and I could even argue that ‘The Metropolitan Touch’, which features a pageant, has a holiday flavour too.

However, there are quite a lot of stories about, golf which kind of put a halt to the holiday magic. They aren’t badly written — in fact, ‘The Magic Plus Fours’ was one of the best tales of the collection. But I question why, when there is so much Wodehouse to choose from, so many of these stories were included.

In conclusion, I don’t really have a conclusion for you. You’ll have come up with an answer for yourself because, really? What’s festive depends on the individual and their idea of what festive is and is not. Sometimes it’s just about frivolity, warmth, and humour. In which case, even the golf stories are a perfect fit.

Happy Holidays!

I wish everyone the best of the holiday season. May you be surrounded by the warmth of friends and family, and may your new year be full of wonders!