Esther's Gift (Mitford Christmas) [Hardcover]

Jan Karon (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 21, 2004

Readers flocked home to Mitford last Christmas, making The Mitford Snowmen a New York Times bestseller.

In Esther's Gift, Esther Bolick is filled with the holiday spirit as she prepares to bake the annual batch of her famous-and utterly scrumptious-orange marmalade cakes. Right after Christmas Eve service at Lord's Chapel, she and Gene will deliver a two-layer marmalade to each of seven friends and neighbors, all of them favorite Mitford characters. Then Gene calculates what it costs to bake this legendary cake, and Esther is stunned. Is it worth it to spend so much money on people who haven't always measured up to her expectations? The answer is clear. She'll cut her list back-way back.

This decision makes perfect sense until the lyrics of a Christmas carol steal into her heart, and help remind her what a gift really means.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Esther isn't so sure that she should spend so much time and money making her famous two-layer marmalade cake for holiday gifts but then she remembers the meaning of Christmas.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Jan Karon writes to "give readers an extended family and to applaud the extraordinary beauty of ordinary lives."

Product Details

• Hardcover: 37 pages
• Publisher: Viking Adult; Gift edition (October 21, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670031216
• ISBN-13: 978-0670031214
• Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #223,842 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jan Karon is the author of the bestselling series of nine Mitford novels featuring Father Timothy Kavanagh, an Episcopal priest, and the fictional village of Mitford. Set in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Karon's Mitford books include At Home in Mitford; A Light in the Window; These High, Green Hills; Out to Canaan; A New Song; A Common Life: The Wedding Story; In This Mountain; Shepherd's Abiding; and Light from Heaven. The Father Tim Novels include "Home to Holly Springs" and last fall's release of "In the Company of Others," set in County Sligo, Ireland. There are over 40 million Mitford and Father Tim novels, childrens books, and CDs in print.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Slight, but enjoyable read, November 15, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Esther's Gift (Mitford Christmas) (Hardcover)

This is an attractive book which would be a nice little "extra" present for someone who enjoys the Mitford series. I have to caution potential buyers, though, that the story itself can be read in about 10 minutes, and may appeal most to readers familiar with the Mitford characters (if you're familiar with their various personalities, it adds to your enjoyment of the story--Karon doesn't have room here to go into any character development or much detail about anything.) I think it is worth Amazon's reduced price, but I wouldn't pay full price for it, even if it does contain the recipe for Esther's famous cake!

40 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoy A Holiday Gift From Mitford, November 2, 2002

By 

Nancy R. Katz "NancyK18" (NJ) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Esther's Gift (Mitford Christmas) (Hardcover)

As the month of October ends with Thanksgiving right around the corner, our thoughts turn to the holidays celebrated in December. Jan Karon, the author of the highly successful Mitford seies, last year provided her readers with a Christmas story called The Mitford Snowmen. This year she provides us with an even more enjoyable story, Esther's Gift.

Esther Bolick is known far and wide for her orange marmalade cakes which she presents to Mitford friends as holiday gifts. But this year while thinking about buying doilies and the high cost for them, Esther asks her husband, Gene, to calculate the cost for each cake she prepares. Upon hearing the staggering amount of each cake including her labor, Esther begins to scratch names off her list of those she feels has either slighted her or can do without her cake. Then as she listens to the words of Christmas carols and imagine these people opening the door and receiving the cakes from her and her husband, Esther realizes the true spirit of giving during the holiday season. And within a few hours left Esther lovingly prepares these cakes which rest on the doilies she originally thought way too expensive. And then after Church, she and Gene go to deliver the cakes which are very much a part of the Mitford traditions.

This is an enjoyable short read. It will certainly appeal to the many readers who enjoy Jan Karon's books. And for those not familiar with the Mitford series it will serve as a nice introduction to both Mitford and the author Jan Karon. I suggest this as a lovely gift for the holidays or as an addition to any readers holiday books. And as an added treat Esther's recipe is included in the book. I hope you will prepare this cake to give to friends as gifts or will serve it in your homes during the holidays season. And as thoughts turn to shopping, wrapping, cooking and entertaining, I wish to all a happy and healthy holiday season.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Karon Disappointment, November 14, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Esther's Gift (Mitford Christmas) (Hardcover)

I hesitate to call it a book -- in essence a SHORT story. If you eliminate the illustrations, the item is about 15-20 pages. I'm disappointed with this Karon release. I feel like I've been exploited. J. Karon is laughing all the way to the bank. SAVE YOUR MONEY!