By Eleanor Whitfield · A Gift Most Rare by Tom Leihbacher
It's Christmastime in the pocket-sized village of Briarcliff Manor. With yuletide spirits flying high, life seems close to perfect in this quaint suburb of Manhattan. But not everyone feels the holiday cheer. While most go about their joyful holiday pursuits, young Charlie Riverton is restless. Compassionate by nature, he's especially mindful of the lonely and forlorn. At the same time, he's the unofficial leader of a close-knit group of sixth-grade buddies. Together they grapple with pre-teen hijinks, newfound freedoms and an emerging, nerve-wracking interest in girls. Meanwhile, there's a curiously gifted newcomer in town. Charlie develops a special friendship with the handsome stranger and together, they set out to craft a God-honoring Christmas gift for the whole community. Along the way, lives are changed and people begin to look at Christmas a little differently. Come spend the holidays in Briarcliff with this feel-good, coming-of-age story set in small-town America in the early 1970s. I'll start us off and then get out of the way — there's too much here for one reader.
This is the pick that made me rejoin the club, honestly. Every scene has a door in it. Someone in chat pointed that out and I lost my mind. Still thinking about that final line.
❤️ 234
Our little side-thread on the middle section was the best part of the month. Structurally it reminded me of last spring's pick, but warmer. Solid four stars, and a full five for the ending.
❤️ 243
This is the pick that made me rejoin the club, honestly. The secondary characters carry more weight than they get credit for. Five stars from me.
❤️ 273
Our little side-thread on the middle section was the best part of the month. It's a quiet book with a very loud ending. Already lent my copy out twice.
❤️ 234
This is the pick that made me rejoin the club, honestly. Every scene has a door in it. Someone in chat pointed that out and I lost my mind. Would happily do a re-read discussion next year.
❤️ 244
The structure is the argument here, and I don't think I clocked that until the discussion. I loved how little it explains itself. Bumping the author's backlist to the top of my stack.
❤️ 273
This is the pick that made me rejoin the club, honestly. The secondary characters carry more weight than they get credit for. Thanks to everyone who posted here — made the read twice as good.
❤️ 244
The structure is the argument here, and I don't think I clocked that until the discussion. Structurally it reminded me of last spring's pick, but warmer. One of my favourites from the archive.
❤️ 283
I had to pause halfway through and just sit with it. The prose does that trick where it's plain until suddenly it isn't. Still thinking about that final line.
❤️ 233
Our little side-thread on the middle section was the best part of the month. Structurally it reminded me of last spring's pick, but warmer. Solid four stars, and a full five for the ending.
❤️ 283
Read it out loud to my partner in the evenings — highly recommend that way. It's a quiet book with a very loud ending. Bumping the author's backlist to the top of my stack.
❤️ 246
Finished this one in two sittings and I'm still turning the last chapter over. The secondary characters carry more weight than they get credit for. Would happily do a re-read discussion next year.
❤️ 216
Read it out loud to my partner in the evenings — highly recommend that way. The dialogue is doing about four jobs at once. One of my favourites from the archive.
❤️ 256
I came in skeptical and left completely won over. The prose does that trick where it's plain until suddenly it isn't. Thanks to everyone who posted here — made the read twice as good.
❤️ 216
The structure is the argument here, and I don't think I clocked that until the discussion. I loved how little it explains itself. Solid four stars, and a full five for the ending.
❤️ 216
I came in skeptical and left completely won over. The pacing wobbles in the third quarter but the payoff earns it. Still thinking about that final line.
❤️ 207
The structure is the argument here, and I don't think I clocked that until the discussion. Structurally it reminded me of last spring's pick, but warmer. Already lent my copy out twice.
❤️ 206
Finished this one in two sittings and I'm still turning the last chapter over. There's a generosity in how the author treats even the awful characters. Five stars from me.
❤️ 246
Perfect winter read. Or summer. Or any month, apparently. The dialogue is doing about four jobs at once. Bumping the author's backlist to the top of my stack.
❤️ 206
I came in skeptical and left completely won over. The pacing wobbles in the third quarter but the payoff earns it. Would happily do a re-read discussion next year.
❤️ 256
