FOR CHRISTMAS Gifts of the Magi and Christmas By Injunction

In these two heartwarming, unadorned, and very American holiday short stories--"Gift of the Magi" and "Christmas By Injunction"--Timothy Patrick Miller's well-modulated gentle drawl perfectly captures O. Henry's optimistic good humor and early-twentieth-century pacing without sounding sentimental or old-fashioned. Both stories find characters making serious sacrifices in the search for perfect Christmas gifts, discovering in the end that it's their love that makes their lives special. O'Henry seems to have become passé these days, which is a shame, because under the warmth and care of Miller's voice these surprisingly moving tales are brimming with the true spirit of Christmas. And that never grows old. B.P. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/ MAY 07]