Festive Sprits by Kate Atkinson
Published by Doubleday, 2019
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
A slim collection of three stories set during the festive period. In general, they explore the more melancholic side of the holidays, when feelings of loneliness and dissatisfaction are often heightened. That said, Atkinson weaves humour and warmth throughout; the strength of her characters’ voices giving us a sense of who they are incredibly quickly.
One of the stories ended on a bizarre, tonally jarring moment of magical realism that didn’t work for me, but the other two stories worked very well. Overall, they perfectly capture the bittersweet blend of nostalgia, sadness, and joy that so often go hand-in-hand at Christmastime. Lucy’s Day in particular is about finding small moments of genuine contentment in a life dictated by anxiety and burnout – something most of us can probably relate to at the moment.
This was such a great taster of what Atkinson can do, and I’m excited to explore more of her work.
The Wren-Boys by Carol Ann Duffy
Published by Picador, 2015
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Narrative driven and simply told, yet bolstered by vivid imagery, this ranks among my favourite Christmas poems from Duffy so far.
Dermot Flynn’s illustrations are a beautiful, well-matched accompaniment, bringing to life the crisp, winter landscapes painted by Duffy’s words.
Callum McLaughlin 