A Precious Story

I have a precious story that I listen to most Christmases. It's an audiobook that has become a beloved tradition for me. Each year, as the holiday season approaches, I look forward to immersing myself in this wonderful tale. The narrator's voice brings the story to life, making it feel as if I'm right there in the midst of the action. The story itself is filled with heartwarming moments, lessons, and characters that I've come to love. It has a special charm that makes it perfect for the Christmas season. Listening to this audiobook helps me to get into the holiday spirit and reminds me of the true meaning of Christmas. It's a story that I will continue to cherish and listen to for many Christmases to come.

Like a Cup of Christmas Cheer

The Waltons A Homecoming has remained a beloved Christmas movie for countless decades. It holds a special place in the hearts of many, myself included. So, when I happened to stumble upon this novella, I wasted no time in grabbing it.

While the novella does deviate slightly from the familiar story that I have been watching year after year, its narrative voice is every bit as comforting and heartwarming as Papa's cherished recipe. It takes us on a charming journey through a small and idyllic slice of rural Virginia life during the early 20th century.

The descriptions are vivid, painting a picture of a time when life was simpler, yet filled with love, family, and the true spirit of Christmas. It's like taking a step back in time and experiencing the warmth and joy of that era firsthand. This novella is truly a gem, and I can't wait to see how it continues to unfold.

Way better than either of the made-for-TV movies

This story is truly remarkable. It is not only heartwarming but also has a tinge of sadness, which makes it all the more engaging. What makes it even more special is that it is true to the real-life stories I've heard about the hardships of the Great Depression.

As someone who is the second of nine children, I can attest to the authenticity of the relationships portrayed in this story. The bickering among the children may seem like a normal part of growing up, but beneath it all, there is a love that shines through brighter than anything else.

This love is what holds the family together during the toughest of times. It is a love that is unconditional and unwavering, and it is this love that makes this story so powerful and moving.

Overall, I would highly recommend this story to anyone who is looking for a touching and inspiring read. It is a story that will stay with you long after you've finished reading it.

**Title: A Review of "The Homecoming: A Christmas Story" and Its Adaptations**

The audiobook narrated by Milton Bagby was decent, not top-tier but not bad either. I'd rate it around four stars or a high three. I also watched the new "Waltons" Thanksgiving movie from last year. It wasn't terrible, but I don't need to see it again. The revisionist elements require a lot of suspension of disbelief for those who know history.

The new "Homecoming" movie on CW in 2021 was better than I expected, considering my low expectations. It had some improvements, like more believable sibling interactions, but it also took some liberties with race relations that bordered on fantasy.

The original review from 2018 delved into the supposed accidental authorship of Earl Hamner, Jr. based on scenes in the movie and book. The book had different names for the kids compared to the show, and it added a dose of reality that was lacking in the film and TV show. The characters in the book were more believable as products of the 1930s Blue Ridge Mountains during the Great Depression.

When it comes to race relations, the book was more accurate than the show. The show's portrayal of John-Boy's actions in the negro church was highly unlikely for that time and place. The book, on the other hand, had a more realistic take on these events.
In conclusion, this book is a short, well-written, humorous, fun, and touching story that accurately depicts life in the Blue Ridge mountains during the 1930s. It may not appeal to a wide audience, but it's highly recommended for those who enjoy simple, backwoods stories.

Update, 12/11/2023:

The audiobook narration by Milton Bagby had its merits, but it didn't quite reach the highest echelons. It was solid, with no major flaws, yet it lacked that certain something to make it truly outstanding. I found myself giving it a four-star rating, or perhaps a very high three. If I wasn't so familiar with other top-notch audiobook narrators, I might not have been as critical.

I also recently watched the new "Waltons" Thanksgiving movie that came out last year. While it wasn't a terrible viewing experience, it didn't leave a lasting impression either. It had its moments, but overall, it felt a bit lackluster. The revisionist aspects of the movie, especially those related to history, required a significant suspension of disbelief. For example, the idea of a father in the backwoods of Virginia in the 1890/1900s never spanking his children because he didn't believe in physical punishment and remembered his own childhood experiences was a bit of a stretch.

Update, 11/28/2021:

The new "Homecoming" movie on CW tonight exceeded my expectations, which were admittedly quite low. Remakes often have a high probability of going wrong, and this one was no exception. However, it managed to salvage some aspects and make it an enjoyable watch. The movie improved on a couple of things, such as the sibling interactions, which were more believable in some cases.

Nevertheless, the Waltons in this movie were even more progressive and forward-thinking than their 1970s counterparts. The plot took some liberties with race relations, bordering on outright fantasy. The scene where a white family rolls up into a black church for the Christmas Eve service in 1933 Appalachia was highly improbable. While the director did have the black people at the back of the bus, John's decision to join them was still a bit of a stretch. If the characters had been more evenly scattered, I might have had to give up on the movie altogether.

I won't go into too much detail about the rest of the race relation stuff here, as I discuss it further below. Suffice it to say that "The Waltons" was always about making you feel good, even if it required a major suspension of disbelief. For example, the episode where Jason is shocked to discover that some music festival organizers won't let his friend Josh play because he's black. How could he live in the mountains of Virginia for 20+ years in the early 20th century and not expect such a thing?

Anyway, if you're a fan of the original movie or show, you'll probably enjoy the new movie as well. However, the book is still the best of the three, as it contains a greater degree of historic honesty.

Original review, 12/27/2018:

Before I get into the actual review, I need to clear up something. I always thought Earl Hamner, Jr. was an accidental author, and this was based on a couple of scenes in the movie adapted from this book. The movie also served as the basis for the TV show "The Waltons". The sensibilities of the 1970s led to certain scenes being cleaned up for the made-for-TV audience, so you have to read between the lines to understand what was really going on.

John-Boy (aka Clay-Boy in the book, and Earl Hamner, Jr. in real life) has a habit of going up to his room and locking the door. His mother, Olivia, occasionally comes upstairs and pesters him about what he's doing behind that locked door. She eventually notices something under his mattress and asks him about it. Now, we all know that most 15-year-old boys have certain interests, and it's likely that John-Boy was up to something other than writing in a tablet, as he claims. But Olivia just has to push the issue, and John-Boy is forced to come up with a story about wanting to be a writer. This, I believe, is how he accidentally became an author. If he'd been more honest with his mother, he might have pursued a different passion, like basket weaving.

I must confess that I wouldn't want to have such a conversation with my own mother, but I'm grateful that she didn't push me if I told her I was reading when she asked what I was doing. I always made sure to be truthful, even if I wasn't being entirely honest. (I had a sticker with words on my bedside desk that I would look at before answering.) We should all learn the importance of being truthful, even if it means bending the truth a little. It's a lesson that can serve us well in various careers, such as politics, law, or the media.

Something resembling a review starts here:

First, let's clear up the names of the kids, as they're different in the book than in the show. Some of this is guesswork, but it's still interesting to note. There are eight kids in the book and seven in the show. Poor Matt, a middle brother, didn't make it to prime time, although there was an episode where Jim-Bob discovers he had a twin brother who died in childbirth, so that could potentially be Matt (Joseph in the show). Here's a breakdown of the names:

Clay-Boy - John-Boy
John - Jason
Becky - Mary Ellen
Mark - Ben
Shirley - Erin
Luke - Jim-Bob
Pattie-Cake - Elizabeth

Now, onto the book itself. I was pleasantly surprised by how good it was. I'm a fan of the TV show, at least the first few seasons, and Earl Hamner, Jr.'s voice-overs in the show can be quite flowery. I expected the book to be full of purple prose, but it wasn't. In fact, it was much better than I anticipated. The book adds a layer of reality that's missing from the film and TV show. The children in the book are more like real kids, with their own flaws and interests. Clay-Boy smokes cigarettes, gets drunk on eggnog with bootleg whiskey (unknowingly), and argues with his sister Becky. The parents are also more realistic, with Clay, Sr. having his own vices and Olivia being more understanding.

The book also does a better job of handling race relations. While the show sometimes took liberties with this aspect, the book presents a more accurate picture of life in the 1930s South. The scenes involving the black characters are more believable and don't feel as forced as they do in the show.

In conclusion, this book is a great read for anyone who enjoys simple, backwoods stories. It's short, well-written, and full of humor, fun, and touching moments. It may not appeal to everyone, but for those who appreciate a good story set in a bygone era, it's definitely worth checking out.