Card Drawn:
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| So many feels right now. |
So is this the guy they named the "Oh Henry" chocolate bar after?
With Christmas just around the corner, it seems fitting to read a story that takes place during the holidays. Let me just say that I have a soft spot for those heart-warming and sentimental Christmas movies such as It's a Wonderful Life. I have never been able to finish reading A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens but do enjoy the different movie adaptations, especially the Muppet's version. Michael Caine is Scrooge is brilliant. Anyways, let me get back on track here. The Gift of the Magi is such a famous story that it does not warrant a lengthy plot description. Chances are, you more than likely encountered this story before at some point in your life even if it was just through pop culture references. Oddly enough, it only dawned on me that I had actually read this story during elementary school and completely forgot about it. Nevertheless, reading it again after all of these years proved to be a refreshing and delightful experience as if I was reading this for the first time.
O. Henry is not often taken seriously as a writer because of his populism aesthetics but The Gift of the Magi proves otherwise since he has crafted a timeless Christmas classic. Writing sentimental fiction is no easy task and requires a delicate balance between realism and pathos where it is easy to fall into the trap of sappy melodrama. O. Henry somehow manages to pull it off and his masterful use of irony is perfectly executed that packs an emotional-punch to the gut. O. Henry? More like Oh, Irony!
Excerpt:
When Della arrived home, her mind quieted a little. She began to think more reasonably. She started to try to cover the sad marks of what she had done. Love and large-hearted giving, when added together, can leave deep marks. It is never easy to cover these marks, dear friends—never easy.
With Christmas just around the corner, it seems fitting to read a story that takes place during the holidays. Let me just say that I have a soft spot for those heart-warming and sentimental Christmas movies such as It's a Wonderful Life. I have never been able to finish reading A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens but do enjoy the different movie adaptations, especially the Muppet's version. Michael Caine is Scrooge is brilliant. Anyways, let me get back on track here. The Gift of the Magi is such a famous story that it does not warrant a lengthy plot description. Chances are, you more than likely encountered this story before at some point in your life even if it was just through pop culture references. Oddly enough, it only dawned on me that I had actually read this story during elementary school and completely forgot about it. Nevertheless, reading it again after all of these years proved to be a refreshing and delightful experience as if I was reading this for the first time.
O. Henry is not often taken seriously as a writer because of his populism aesthetics but The Gift of the Magi proves otherwise since he has crafted a timeless Christmas classic. Writing sentimental fiction is no easy task and requires a delicate balance between realism and pathos where it is easy to fall into the trap of sappy melodrama. O. Henry somehow manages to pull it off and his masterful use of irony is perfectly executed that packs an emotional-punch to the gut. O. Henry? More like Oh, Irony!
Excerpt:
When Della arrived home, her mind quieted a little. She began to think more reasonably. She started to try to cover the sad marks of what she had done. Love and large-hearted giving, when added together, can leave deep marks. It is never easy to cover these marks, dear friends—never easy.
You can read this story HERE.
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