The Christmas Pig: A Fable

by Kinky Friedman

Book Overview

It's a Christmas tale only a man called Kinky could tell. King Jonjo Mayo the First is in a bind. Every Christmas, he commissions an artist to paint a traditional nativity scene to be dramatically revealed after midnight mass. This year, though, the date is mere weeks away, and he still has not yet found his painter. The king decides to take a chance on a peculiar, mute boy whose artistic genius and clairvoyance are rumored throughout the kingdom...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1416534989
• ISBN13: 9781416534983
• Release Date: November 2006
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Length: 162 Pages
• Weight: 0.51 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.3" x 7.2"

Customer Reviews

Sad but beautiful

I thought it was going to be funny, based on Mr. Friedman's comments general behavior, but it quickly became quite unusual, and then turned into a poignant and lovely story. The book I read was from the local public library, but I enjoyed it so much that I am purchasing it for my own bookshelf.

The Christmas Story with a Twist

Kinky is an excellent writer of somewhat offbeat mysteries. This was a foray into different waters for him. I believe this is one of the best books I have read in the past couple of years and I read about a hundred books per year. This story about an artistic boy who doesn't speak and a pig who does gives meaning to the truth of the Christmas story; this truth is most often ignored or lost during the chaotic frenzy of gift buying. Defintely a five star. I'd reccomend it to anyone who likes fables and/or the Christmas story. Paul Amundson

The real meaning of Christmas

I was expecting humor, but what I got was a wonderful, heartwarming story of a little boy and his best friend who just happens to be a pig. This is a true Christmas story. Read it!

Meaning in Nativity

Don't judge this book by its cover. After reading its 162 pages, I feel that Mr. Friedman has succeeded in interpreting the nativity scene anew in a pertinent, meaningful, unforgettable way. I would never have guessed. I would recommend it for readers 12 and above - the plot takes place in a time when heretics were starved or burned to death, and there is a mention of that on the first page. And the ending is not easy, not trivial. But if you persevere through the first chapters you will meet a 10 year old boy orphan artist Benjamin who has never spoken a word in his life, never felt at home, never missed anything or anyone. You will also meet Valorie, a talking pig. Do persevere! You will be glad you did.

Classic

Read this book; it is the essence of Christmas. Bejamin, a ten year old artist, struggles to both paint a traditional Nativity and to explain to his friend Valerie, a pig, why she alone of all the animals in the family barn cannot be shown with the Baby Jesus. Benjamin learns about friendship and love, and we all learn that Love truly comes at Christmas. I smiled, I laughed, and I cried. This is a classic. Thank you, Mr. Friedman.