A Muddier Christmas

A new blog post and a bit of news

Watching “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” and re-reading Claire Keegan’s novella, Small Things Like These, are two treasured holiday traditions. The former is an annual, lighthearted viewing insisted on by my husband and three teenage sons; the latter happens in the quieter, contemplative moments I sneak alone.

Though vastly different holiday stories, this year, I noticed both contain a before-bed conversation in which each story’s husband and wife discuss their approach to the holiday season.

While in “National Lampoons,” Ellen Griswold tries to lower Clark’s wild expectations of a good old-fashioned family Christmas, in Small Things, Eileen tries to convince Bill that the injustice and cruelty he’s witnessed at the local convent is not a problem that concerns him, and he should, for the sake of the family, keep his head down and not stir up any trouble.

This morning, posted on The Reformed Journal, is a new essay I’ve written about those contrasting scenes, expectations, and a Muddier Christmas. I hope you’ll take a few moments to read it.

I also hope, if you’ve never read Small Things Like These, you’ll also make time this Christmas season to do so. It’s an impactful slender novel, and the audiobook is equally stunning.

A bit of news:

I’m happy to share that the softcover of Enemies in the Orchard will be released at the end of March!

We hope the paperback’s lower cost will make the book even more accessible to classrooms and schools.

If you are a teacher (or love someone who is), please feel free to reach out directly to me about options for using the book in class — or consult these classroom resources. I’m always more than happy to work with schools and teachers to make the book more meaningful—and real— for students.

Holiday Greetings

Finally, wherever this holiday season may find you, I hope there are small moments of peace and joy — and time with a good book!

Dana