FICTION

The First Christmas: A Story of New Beginnings

by Stephen Mitchell
St. Martin’s Essentials. Nov. 2021. 224p. ISBN 9781250790699. $21.99. F
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This unique adaptation/retelling of the Nativity blends established religious narratives, fictionalized viewpoints of known figures, and an omniscient storyteller who occasionally drops into the chapters to add observations but is also the voice of the Interludes, those sections between chapters that encourage deeper reflection on the tale being told. In the foreword, Mitchell (translator and adaptor of religious and philosophical texts, including Tao Te Ching and Gilgamesh) says that this Nativity story is meant to be inclusive of Jewish, Muslim, Christian, and secular readers; inspirational quotes from a variety of sources open the chapters. He keeps a consistent tone through all the different sections, making it easy for readers to stay engaged even as they switch between styles.
VERDICT Readers don’t need a religious background to be entertained and educated by this account of the first Christmas.
Reviewed by Stacey Hayman, Rocky River P.L., OH , Oct 15, 2021
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