The Christmas Shoes

The Christmas Shoes
By Donna VanLiere

I am going to start this review with a general statment that I think will speak to the entire series of Christmas focused books by Donna VanLiere. I have already finished The Christmas Note and I am now a quarter of the way through The Christmas Shoes and I can already see a recurring theme with these books. These books take the reader to a place that resembles their own lives. The writer manages to interject senarios that you can see yourself in and the stories that are being told always manage to strike a chord with your heart. Reading them during the Christmas peoriod really help you get in the spirit of what Christmas is all about. Having said that, I have continued with the series past Christmas 1) because I am enjoying the stories and 2) because they are such short books I can manage to actually read the entire book and get them back to the library within the check-out deadline.

So, I knew this one would be a tear jerker before I even started it ( based on the Chrismas song "The Christmas Shoes"). I really don't know why I do this to myself.
This story begins with a school aged child whose mother was dying and intertwines several other unrelated characters who somehow all have an impact on this small child and their family.

The story being told is not a complicated one and it's one that we can all relate to, starting families, reaching for goals, working through hurdles in life, but ultimately this is a story of love and loss and how we as human beings should make sure we do not take life for granted and cherish every minute together.

I would highly recommend this book any time of the year, not just at Christmas!

P.S. Don't foget to have a box of tissues next to you when reading this one.