Miracle and Other Christmas Stories

Connie Willis

Christmas is one of Connie Willis' favorite times of the year. Although her real life is fairly normal - family, church, choirs, etc. But her imaginative life has a wonderful twist that makes the rest of us appreciate the gift of her writing.

Miracle and Other Christmas Stories is a collection of short stories with Christmas as the central background theme. They are wonderful, witty, and winning.

The Christmas season in the United States brings out the best and worst in people. The stress makes us cranky and annoyed. But what if everyone suddenly becomes full of peace and light? What if smiles and kindness abound in crowded stores, traffic jams, and long bank lines? Is it possible that people are being taken over by aliens and being turned into pod people? And what is with those hats, anyway?

Lauren knows if she can capture Scott's eye at the office Christmas party, they could develop a relationship. She shops for the perfect dress and works on ways to get his attention. When a spirit appears claiming to be her guardian angel, Chris, her life turns topsy turvy. Perhaps Fred, the nerdy guy in the office, can help her get rid of Chris.

There is the detective who appears to be a combination of Sherlock Holmes and Hercules Poirot. He agrees to go to a country home for Christmas to solve an intriguing mystery. Instead he and his assistant find themselves in a bizarre world of intelligent simians and family discord.

This is a glimpse at three of the stories. The characters spread throughout the book include a harried choir member, a tomboy who secretly wants a doll, the curmudgeon author who insists on a book signing on Christmas Eve, delaying the staff's time off, and the secret Santa who gives the perfect gift.

All the stories are brief vignettes of an important moment in someone's life that makes that person start looking at the world and Christmas in a different way - OK, often a skewed way.

Sit back by the fireplace, hot cocoa in hand, tree lights in the background, and enjoy these stories. No matter what your opinion of the holiday, you'll find something to catch your interest.