Almost 20 years ago, I first saw the film made from this story. It was late one winter night and I couldn't sleep. I turned on the television and found a story with a play type of format. The film had been on for who knows how long, but no matter, I was intrigued by the characters very quickly. The television guide had no listing for what I had seen. I almost felt as if it was a story meant for me alone. After it was over, it haunted me for quite some time, and it took some library research to find out the title and that it was written by Truman Capote. Since then, I've read this story many times, and always enjoy each and every page.
This is such a heart warming tale and the simplicity in which it's written is truly brilliant. It's told through the words of a seven year old boy and relates his memories of Miss Sook Faulk, and the Christmas tradition that they shared during the Great Depression years. The story is autobiographical, and the boy is Truman Capote.
Miss Faulk was Truman's elderly cousin, but she always called him "Buddy." This was in memory of another Buddy who died long ago when she was a girl. Miss Faulk remained a child herself in many ways. The story centers around their Christmas tradition of making fruitcakes for the people that they admired and loved.
This book can be read to or by all ages. The story endures because the love between the characters is so real, and the delight that they have in sharing with others is what we all want Christmas to be.