Reading The 1000 Books to Read Before I Die

 The Night Before Christmas... A Retrospect by James Romano Hello 1000 Bookies!!  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!  Our next stop on our travels through literature lands us at a classic poem— A Visit from St. Nicholas or as the poem is more recognized-- The Night Before Christmas .  This classic tale of a father spying on Santa Clause was written by Clement Clarke Moore and is the cornerstone of American Christmas literature, helping birth the holiday traditions we hold dear.  The poem led to the popularization of Santa Claus.  Moore was twice President of what is now Columbia University, where he was Divinity and Language Professor. Unfortunately, he also owned slaves which is a mark on his reputation.  His famous poem was published anonymously in 1822. Legend has it that Moore wrote A Visit from St. Nicholas as a Christmas present for his children.  However, the truth is far more interesting.  In 1822, the Christmas we know was a...

 A Christmas Memory Revisited by James Romano Hello 1,000 Bookies!!  Today on our journey through literature we stop in the southern United States during the Great Depression.  As we celebrate the literature of the holiday season, we will discuss today, A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote.  Purchase any collection of Christmas literature (and believe me I have several) this tale is included in each.  Written by Truman Capote, who was an eccentric writer and celebrity— A Christmas Memory tell the story of his last Christmas living with relatives in rural Alabama.  Capote is known for writing the original true crime book, In Cold Blood (one of the 1,000 Books to Read Before You Die ).  In Cold Blood describes the true story of a murder of a family in the 1950s in rural Kansas.  Capote also wrote the classic story, Breakfast at Tiffany’s which because the film most associated with actress Audrey Hepburn.  A Christmas Memory is quite a cute...