![](/uploads/bookImages/c/christmasPearlThe_4775.jpg)
by Dorothea Benton Frank
Hardcover- $12.30
Theodora is the matriarch of a family that has grown into a bunch of truculent knuckleheads. While she's finally gotten them all together ...
Overall rating:
How would you rate this book?
Member ratings
Although I found the book to be just mediocre, it made for good discussions of member's own family Christmas traditions and family dysfunctions.
I was personally a little offended by the implications in the book that all modern Christmas traditions are shallow and fake, while the "old-fashioned Christmas" (which in the book involved quality time and traditions with a hired housekeeper and not actual family) was superior.
It was clear after discussion in our group that although people celebrate Christmas in different ways, the traditions leave lasting and cherished memories - no matter what the traditions might be.
If you are looking for a feel good book and a quick read, then this is your book.
We had a bit of nostalgia last night while we met to discuss "The Christmas Pearl." We began by cooking several of the recipes Ms. Frank provided in her book. The food was great! We then reminisced about our own childhood Christmases and even those of our parents. We even had a few "Pearl"s in our past which was fun to hear about. A delightful book!
Didn't really like anything about the book at all.
The best that can be said for this book is that it's short. Still, I had to force myself to finish it. If it had been even 10 pages longer, I would have just quit reading.
Family dysfunction is resolved through the magical return of the patron\\\\\\\'s nanny. The mysterious lady shows up to be a cook over the holidays and prepares magical recipes to solve the woes of the family members creating a more harmonious family.
One daughter is likeable and seems to grow as a person. There isn\\\\\\\'t enough character development for me to care about the rest of the clan.
Just a good southern Christmas story, fun, light and quick for the holidays
Book Club HQ to over 88,000+ book clubs and ready to welcome yours.
Get free weekly updates on top club picks, book giveaways, author events and more
![](images/button-close-x-fs8.png)