…and to all…

 

(c) 2017, Soho Press. All rights reserved.

I don’t as a rule like holiday-themed works of art. There are exceptions. Christmas Is a Special Day, an album of Christmas songs by Fats Domino, remains a favorite (in part because it was gifted to me by The Man himself, but that’s another story). I also listen repeatedly to Come On Christmas to Dwight Yoakam, and read The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg and “The Gift of the  Magi”  by O Henry a few times as well. Those are the exceptions to the rule, however.

I added one more holiday item to the list this year. It can be found in a recently published anthology titled The Usual Santas which is published by Soho Crime. I was immediately struck by the concept of the collection, that being to take the imprint’s roster of authors and commission Christmas-themed crime and thriller stories from them. It’s a wonderful collection from beginning to end. There is one story that stands out, however, that being “Chalee’s Nativity” by Timothy Hallinan. Tim writes a memorable series about Poke Rafferty, an expatriate American living in Bangkok, which is where “Chalee’s Nativity” is set. Rafferty does not poke his nose under the story’s tent, but Hallinan’s ever-keen eye for observation is fully and accurately street-tuned in this story about two orphans swept up onto the rough and dangerous streets of Bangkok at Christmastime. I have read this story every single day since I first encountered it in October, and will probably continue to do so long after this Christmas has passed. I won’t say that I haven’t complained about anything since I first read it, but this account of mind-numbing poverty, ill fortune, and charity of spirit has renewed my appreciation for what I have, from the moment when I wake up in the morning to the time when I close my eyes in the evening. If you get a chance in the run-up to the holidays please find a copy The Usual Santas and read it (as well as the other stories in the collection). You will be thankful.

Since we are talking about appreciation for what we have, please know that as we wind down 2017 that I appreciate you, and you, and yes, you for coming by this page and spending a few minutes with us here at TKZ and, if you are so inclined, commenting. It means a lot, more than you probably realize. I hope that all of us will continue to make your visit worthwhile.

Best wishes. See you in 2018, if the Good Lord is willing and the creek don’t rise.

 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

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A confession: I had a post all written and ready to go, zip, zap, rock ‘n’ roll, but something about it was bothering me. I checked this and checked that, looked here and there, got an idea about what was causing my hesitation, and verified the source. Lo and behold, one of my fellow TKZers had written an excellent post on the identical topic a couple of weeks ago. You will see mine eventually, though not for awhile.  We like to provide variety here at The Kill Zone. Unfortunately, it’s somewhat late and I don’t have another topic to write about. So…

…let me thank you for stopping by on what is probably the busiest weekend of the year. If you are having trouble thinking of what to give that special someone, might I suggest that, rather than stressing out, they would probably rather have you — “nice you” — rather than 1) a present or 2) “stressed you.” Just a thought.

With that in mind…if you can take a moment, tell us: What is the best present you’ve ever given? What is the worst?

Thank you again for all of your visits, all of your comments, and all of your contributions this year. I get choked up thinking about it. But don’t tell anyone. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and we’ll see you, God willing, in a few weeks.