Christmas Is a Sad Season for the Poor audiobook

Cheever's story, Christmas is a Sad Season for the Poor was first published on the pages of The New Yorker in 1949. The story is funny and sad at the same time. In this one Cheever explores the question of whether charity is ever truly altruistic, but with a twist. Rather than emphasizing the motives of the giver, he creates a protagonist who exploits the giver. This is my third Cheever story and I am finding that he writes brilliant, intuitive endings. And this one wraps up the essential question with an answer... Of Sorts.

I loved the humor and realness of this Christmas story. I think the elevator man was a natural hustler. 😉

I really like this short story. You really feel bad for Charlie, and want to see him succeed, even though he may not. But the character development is fantastic.

Had heard of Cheever however never read him before. This was interesting, will have to read more before posting an opinion other than to say it's an enjoyable read.

Enjoyed this story. I read it for a library book club.

Christmas is a Sad Season for the Poor by John CheeverThis is a very good short story about the difficult time and the problems that poor people face during the winter holidays, when everyone else is celebrating. I am not a believer- yet- and I find the agitation a bit tiresome, especially when accompanied by loud noises, tacky ornaments and a lot of energy consumed on questionable lights, which send even more carbon into the atmosphere, all in the name of religion. Christ did not mean for people to hang all kinds of silly things in trees, on houses…On the positive side- if this is a pretext to enjoy, have fun it should be welcomed, even if more introspection and fewer fumes into the air would help too.Charlie is the hero of Christmas is a Sad Season for the Poor. He is poor and has to work on Christmas. He obviously resents the perspective of spending this special day taking people to their floors. And he starts sharing with them his dejection.He tells some of those who go to enjoy Christmas that he is poor and his children wait for me, and others hear a different story, where Charlie is a bachelor and still poor.They all empathize with him and call him to give him cakes, salmon, champagne, liquors, duck and turkey, exquisite food and drinks. They give him gifts for his imaginary children and for himself: ties, shirts, lotions and more.Charlie is happy with all the things he received, the generosity poured over him, but he enjoys the drinks a bit too much. When a woman living in the building steps into the elevator, Charlie starts a rather stupid joke and scares the woman. The supervisor gets involved and I will stop here, to avoid revealing too much. Charlie thinks about the children of his landlady, poor and “sad on Christmas”, but with a much better perspective, now that Charlie is going to give those gifts and special food.

Aqui en este breve cuento John Cheever analiza la caridad en plena Navidad y la cuestiona. Charlie es ascensorista y le toca trabajar en navidad; Charlie está resentido con el mundo y por eso usa la navidad para de alguna vengarse por encontrarse solo en esta época tan "feliz". Es un cuento anti-navidad y Cheever aqui destila ironia y mala leche contra la hipocresia navideña.