The Christmas Tide [Hardcover]

Frederick Buechner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 15, 2005

A Christmas gift books for adults and teens, this is a moving account of a child growing out of mystery and into understanding through the death of his father. Ending at Christmas, the hope of the season is the book's true meaning.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"[He] has been one of our most celebrated storytellers." -- USA Today -- USA Today

Plainly told, gently nuanced, the story has appeal for those who beleive in the healing power of memory." Publisher's Weekly -- Publisher's Weekly

From the Publisher

"What I wanted to do in this little book was to convey as directly and completely and as honestly as I could what it felt like to be the ten year old child I was at the time of my father's death in 1936." This story of Teddy Schroeder and his sister Bean is a moving account of a child growing out of mystery (the mysteries of the world) into understanding. As a novel it is simple and evocative, focused on the inner feelings more than outward events. The big event is the death of the narrator's father and what it does to Teddy and Bean. The book ends at Christmas, and while it is not about Christmas the hope of the season is the book's meaning (and the author's intention). At the end, when the children are in church, they sing from the hymn "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" the lines: "This holy tide of Christmas doth bring redeeming grace." Teddy reflects on this, what the word "tide" means and whether it is about the beach where they had been with their father.

Bean asks Teddy, "What is the tide of Christmas if you think you're so smart?" and Teddy replies: "It's the high tide, Bean. It's the Wizard of Oz tide. It's the one that brings you home." "Everybody?" Bean said. "Everybody," Teddy said. "Then he said just one more thing even though he nearly didn't because he was afraid it might make Bean cry the way she had been crying the time he found her under the bridge table. 'Even Daddy,' he said." -- From the author's introduction

This book was originally published as The Wizard's Tide.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 120 pages
• Publisher: Seabury Books; 1ST edition (September 15, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1596270187
• ISBN-13: 978-1596270183
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,432,333 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a reissue - not a new book, October 11, 2005

By 

Derek Luptak - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Christmas Tide (Hardcover)

This book is a reissue of "The Wizard's Tide" under a new title. It's a novel about two kids during the great depression; it's written by Buechner, so of course, it's excellent. Just wanted to make sure no one orders this thinking it's a brand new book by Buechner (though well worth buying if you don't already have it.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The pay off comes in the last few pages, December 16, 2005

By 

Michael J. Vonmoss "The Bookie" (Safety Harbor, FL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Christmas Tide (Hardcover)

This book, as previously noted, is a rerelease of The Wizard's Tide, and is a fictionalized account of Buechner's childhood. Those who have read his autobiographical books will enjoy it much more than those who have not.

Like most of Buechner's books, it is haunting and beautiful, wistful and painful, but with a final note of joy that triumphs over tragedy. The pay off comes in the last few pages. Read it, stick with it, and enjoy it.