Christmas with the Buddenbrooks - 3.75 stars (charming - hustle & bustle of Christmas Day from child's point of view ) Anatol—Dear ... lady!? [She gets into the taxi, it drives off as he watches it disappear. He stands still for a moment, looks at his watch and rushes off. Curtain]

We nodded. “You’re funny,” Frieda said. “Why don’t you just go to the Grunewald forest and steal one?” I have seen Father outraged many times, but never as outraged as he was this evening. He went pale as chalk. “Are you serious?” he asked hoarsely. Frieda was very surprised. “Of course,” she said, “that’s what everyone does.” “Everyone!” Father echoed, “everyone!” He stood up stiffly and took my hand. “You’ll permit me,” he CHRISTMAS SHOPPING Arthur Schnitzler- A play about too old lovers meeting while Christmas shopping. Reminds me of Guy de Maupassant's writing, Very Good 1892 In the Outer Suburbs (Stamm) - 2 stars (not much to do with Christmas - or Germany for that matter - it takes place in Manhattan)

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However, there are some production choices which confused me, taking me out of the reading experience, and thus preventing me from giving this a 5/5 star review. I was very confused as to why works from Austria and Switzerland are included in this "A Very German Christmas" collection, so an explanation or confirmation that these had originally been published in the German language would have helped. I defer judgement to Austrian and Swiss readers as to whether presenting their country's works in this way is offensive or not. Later, when the servants were all sitting at the evening meal, Moss-Maggie was with them at table. During the morning service she had been out in the churchyard, cowering on her husband’s grave; and after High Mass my father went and found her there and brought her with him to our house. They could get nothing out of her about the event of the night, save I enjoyed almost all and a couple were outstanding! Merry Christmas with some sad and happy endings. I quite enjoyed reading this collection of short stories and poems as part of this year's Christmas season celebration. I was familiar with The Brothers Grimm and E.T.A. Hoffmann contributions, and was also introduced to many other good authors. Some stories are just silly, like "Every Year Once Again--The Client Gift", while others are quite heart-wrenching, like "The Separation". Peter Rosegger's "Christmas Eve" is one of my favorites for how it envelopes readers in the spirit of the season, has some action set in the wintery wilderness, and concludes with a nuanced moral message (also features a very good dog).

In this collection, classic works by the Brothers Grimm and Thomas Mann intertwine with more recent stories from writers like Peter Stamm and Martin Suter to bring together the greatest festive tales from Austria, Switzerland and Germany. From a child lost in a snowy, pine-scented forest meeting an unlikely saviour to old lovers reuniting during a last-minute dash across the city for presents, each story creates magical moments of reflection and rediscovery.

and gesticulating, now waving his arms in imitation of the conductor, now playing the various roles. Several members of the family gathered behind him, laughing and shaking their heads in amusement. Hanno watched with genuine delight. After a while, however, to everyone’s surprise, Christian suddenly stopped. He fell silent and a restless, earnest look passed over his face; he rubbed his hand across his bald head and then down his whole left side. He turned around now to his audience his eyes as if deep in thought. Then he got up again. “Well, my boy, have fun with it,” he said, stroking Hanno’s hair. “But not too much. And don’t neglect your schoolwork because of it, do you hear? I’ve made my share of mistakes.... But now I’m off to the Club. I’m going to the Club for a bit,” he called to the other adults. “They’re having a Christmas party, too. Until later.” And he left, walking down the columned hall on stiff, bowed legs. Now we did begin to feel sad. Not very sad; but at any rate it was enough for Frieda to furrow her brows even more than she usually did and ask us what was up. We had got used to keeping our troubles to ourselves, but not this time; and Father told her. Frieda listened carefully. “That’s it?” CHRISTMAS WITH THE BUDDENBROOKS Thomas Mann- Different members of a family enjoy Christmas together with some uncomfortable incidents.-1901 Good