"... The Fairway Players were a close-knit team who came together to support each other when the need arose. It's clear that our sense of duty and comradeship never dies and that family - whatever it may mean to you - is a bond that stretches beyond our blood ties to those we share our precious time on earth with. That, for me, is the true meaning of Christmas."
- The Christmas Appeal by Janice Hallett
I loved The Appeal, Janice Hallett's debut novel, so I'm delighted she wrote a Christmas novella in the same style with the same cast of characters. The novella is told in emails, text messages, police reports, newspaper articles, etc. and features The Fairway Players, a small community theatre group in England.
A few years have passed since the action of The Appeal, and The Fairway Players are preparing their annual December pantomime to raise money to repair the church roof. The play is Jack and the Beanstock, and in a controversial move, the director insists a HUGE decades-old beanstock prop be removed from long-term storage to become the centerpiece of the production. In the midst of the performance, the prop splits apart, a shocking discovery is made, chaos ensues, and the police investigate.
I enjoy mixed media books and love feeling like a voyeur while reading all of the correspondence; this was my favorite aspect of The Christmas Appeal. I laughed numerous times while reading the snarky messages shared between various family members and their "frenemies." I also enjoyed picturing the physical humor that takes place. The mystery storyline felt weak and was almost unnecessary to the plot for me.
While it isn't mandatory to read The Appeal before The Christmas Appeal, readers will better understand the history and 'power dynamics' between key characters if they do. It's best to read this in print; email messages are always annoying in audiobooks.
Many thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for the review copy of this festive novella.
- The Christmas Appeal by Janice Hallett
I loved The Appeal, Janice Hallett's debut novel, so I'm delighted she wrote a Christmas novella in the same style with the same cast of characters. The novella is told in emails, text messages, police reports, newspaper articles, etc. and features The Fairway Players, a small community theatre group in England.
A few years have passed since the action of The Appeal, and The Fairway Players are preparing their annual December pantomime to raise money to repair the church roof. The play is Jack and the Beanstock, and in a controversial move, the director insists a HUGE decades-old beanstock prop be removed from long-term storage to become the centerpiece of the production. In the midst of the performance, the prop splits apart, a shocking discovery is made, chaos ensues, and the police investigate.
I enjoy mixed media books and love feeling like a voyeur while reading all of the correspondence; this was my favorite aspect of The Christmas Appeal. I laughed numerous times while reading the snarky messages shared between various family members and their "frenemies." I also enjoyed picturing the physical humor that takes place. The mystery storyline felt weak and was almost unnecessary to the plot for me.
While it isn't mandatory to read The Appeal before The Christmas Appeal, readers will better understand the history and 'power dynamics' between key characters if they do. It's best to read this in print; email messages are always annoying in audiobooks.
Many thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for the review copy of this festive novella.
