A Christmas Memory

Gather ‘round and hear Brad Craft—who admits to having wanted to be Holly Golightly as a teenager—read Truman Capote’s recollection of yuletide bliss. His story “A Christmas Memory” revisits his Christmas past as a 7-year-old in rural Alabama, as he and his sixty-something cousin prepare fruitcakes to mail to those they admire. Adventures along the way include buying illegal whisky for cake soaking and getting tipsy on the leftovers. Craft, University Book Store’s used book buyer, first heard Truman’s holiday tale in San Francisco, and was later inspired to start a Seattle reading. Perhaps not as well-known as Capote’s Breakfast at Tiffany’sor In Cold Blood, Craft feels it’s “the most perfect thing he ever did” because “it was close to his heart.” Although Capote’s Christmas is not all “harps and happiness,” Craft observes that his story has a “warm fuzzy factor” that has brought audience members to tears. This year he says he’ll do his best not to tear up while reading, but if you plan on going to hear him, bring tissues.
Tue., Dec. 4, 7 p.m., 2007