This is a nice little holiday read, perfect for when you need a quiet hour with a cup of tea in the midst of the all the Christmas chaos. I have a few of these small Christmas books that I to re-read every year, but this one is new to me. The title was vaguely familiar though and I'm wondering if there might have been a tv movie with the same name. It's a pretty good plot for a holiday movie.

"Christmas On Jane Street" is a true story, and that always makes things a little more interesting, but the writing in this one was lacking a certain something that might keep it off my "favorites" list. I find I'm sometimes disappointed with stories that are told "with" an authour who is helping get it down on paper. They feel a little stiff to me.

Favorite or not, it's still a good story with all the requisite elements for a satisfying Christmas story: family relationships strained and restored, friendly neighbours coming to each others aid and children testing the boundaries and spreading their wings. It all adds up to a low level of sappiness that is more than tolerable in a Christmas story. If you can watch "It's A Wonderful Life" with it's off the charts sap level and enjoy it, you'll be fine with "Christmas On Jane Street".

The corner of Jane Street and Eighth in New York City is where Billy Romp, his wife and three children set up their Christmas tree stand every year. They live on the tree lot in a tiny camper from Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve and become part of the neighbourhood where they are welcomed and taken care of by local residents and shop owners. This is the best part of the story to me. It's reassuring, life-affirming to read how generous and helpful people truly want to be even when there is no material reward in it for them.

The story centers around Billy and his relationship with his oldest daughter. all parents he's having difficulty letting go of the tight control we keep over our kids when they are little and he feels the pain we all feel when they begin to step away from us and out into the larger world. I'll leave it at that and let you discover the rest for yourself.

I enjoyed this book. I do wish I had waited till tomorrow to read it though because our first big snowstorm of the season is coming and this would have been the perfect book for a snow day. I think it's time to move my Christmas books up from the bottom shelf and see what I can find for a lovely long day of reading and watching the snow fall. That sounds quite picturesque but in truth we usually get a wicked wind that drives the snow sideways past the rattling front window and we often lose our hydro in a storm. That, however, is reality and I don't think I'll consider it right now. Tomorrow will be here soon enough. 2011 christmas5 s Libby356

This small volume is a pleasant enough read, especially at first, as the true story unfolds. The Romp family sells Christmas trees in New York City every holiday season, from Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve. What makes it even more interesting is that they live in Vermont, and travel in a camper to the Big Apple, and they live in the camper on Jane Street, where they sell their trees.

I enjoyed the charming, anecdotal tone in the first half of the book or so. But it's a slim book, and quite of bit of it from the halfway point to the end is about the author's struggles with his pre-teen daughter. Is she pulling away from him? She's not including him in things! She just walked past and didn't even look at him! She's dressing in fancy clothes, does that mean she doesn't love her family anymore? He grounds her, she rebels more. Oy. While I give him points for honesty--what parent hasn't felt rejected by a teenager?--it felt unpleasant to read about, and I didn't him very much through most of that. They reconcile and he buys a single rose for his wife to apologize for acting an ass but I can't help but wonder if his wife felt I did by that point: too little, too late, pal.

Adding to the fact that the family is welcomed with such love and generosity by the year round residents of Jane Street, free food, a place to shower (remember, they are living in a camper), electricity, Christmas gifts, etc. The author professes to want to live a "simple" life and would this be possible, if he didn't get all this help every year from New Yorkers looking out for his family? Pretty challenging for wife and three young children, to be taken away from home every holiday season to live in a camper on the street. The author does compliment his wife but then there's that night...the night he buys her the rose...her ONE night out with friends during the entire time they are there...when he pouts and pulls away and says he doesn't want to go to the one party the wife gets to enjoy. Oy. I kept putting myself in her shoes and...again, wasn't feeling the "holiday charm" at that point in the book.

Caring for a young family of 5 living in a camper on a city street for a month every winter... I'd to read a book by the wife!



4 s Cheri1,903 2,760

Vermont Tree farmer Billy Romp, his wife, daughter Ellie, sons & dog climb into the family camper each year for one month, leaving Vermont to sell their trees at the same corner in Greenwich Village. At the end, they return home to Vermont, but every year they seem to become more and more of the extended family network of the families on Jane Street. This story works because it is a true story, but Billy Romp humbleness in the end overcomes the brewing conflict with his young teenage daughter. It is less the lesson that the daughter learns than the one the father learns about having the kind of family he wants to have, and what that means that he needs to change in himself to achieve the best relationship with his daughter. Sweet, charming and a fast read. christmas christmas-stories debut-novel ...more4 s Amber30

This book has become one of my holiday traditions. I don't even remember how I came across it, but I check it out every year around the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. I love this tiny treasure because it's quick and easy to read and packs a powerful punch. If it's a warm and touching holiday story you're after, this is the book for you. And guess what, it's true! The Romps are an ordinary farming family portrayed in a romantic, loveable light. For ten years they've travelled from their Vermont home to sell Christmas trees in NYC from the day after Thanksgiving until Christmas Eve. Their sales could make or break their year, but what's important are the life lessons learned on one particular trip, the one on which this beautifully packaged story is centered.2 s Suzanne Skelly626 4

An absolutely charming Christmas tale based on a real family and their memorable holiday experiences.

A Vermont Christmas Tree farmer transplants his family each year between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve to a Christmas tree lot on the corner of Jane St 7 8th in Greenwich Village. it is a story og how people "reach out" to others - particularly at this time of year.

A tale of a family who learned a lot about life working side by side. This is one of those books I'll keep and read over each year. A feel good book.2 s Janet Hoffman52

This might be tied for the worst book I ever read. What is the point? Very contrived. The best part is the post-log where the author discusses his daughter's struggles as an adolescent and young adult.

Truly not my cup of tea!3 s Linda273

A light quick read about a father bonding with his daughter. It's a secular Christmas story. 2 s Cheryl49 1 follower

I loved this little book. I fell in love with family and want to go visit 8th and Jane the next time I am in NYC!2 s Stacei24 2

A wonderful quick read for the Christmas season. Touching story of a father daughter relationship. Loved their gift philosophy. Would be a beautiful tradition shared with your family.2 s Shana OkieCozyReader1,048 47

This is a short little memoir (154 small pages with a few illustrations) of sorts, about the Romp family of Vermont. Every year, for 35 years, they have sold Christmas trees on the corner of Jane Street and Eighth Ave in NYC’s Greenwich Village/West Village. They purchase about 200 trees from North Carolina and Canada (and have about 30 on the spot at a time) and live in a camper nearby for the month. Apparently, there is a “Coniferous Tree Exception” that allows vendors who meet a few requirements to sell trees wherever it is ok with landowners.

One year, Billy Romp noticed a change in his teenage daughter, and this book is the story of what changed for her that year and what he learned from his experience. It is a sweet story of trees and family.

“…I made a vow not to let myself get so wrapped up in the commercial side of the business that I lost sight of the meaning within each Christmas tree and the broader spirit of the season within our family.” P16

“The kindness on Jane Street is a force of nature. It takes on a life of its own in powerful and unexpected ways, pulling along unly candidates in its path, and transforming them into happier and more vibrant souls.” P17

“I’ve noticed in life that once someone tells you his or her story, and you really listen, your differences fade away.” P81

The illustrations by Robbin Gourley are precious in beginning each chapter (and the cover, too!) of this 10th anniversary edition. It was published in 2008, so it’s still been a while, but you can see video and images from this year, here: (and if you search, almost every media outlet has covered their family in the last few years)

https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/chr...nonfiction1 Anne Marie769 10

This book, based on a true story, was about a father realizing that his daughter was growing up and needed to experience something she wanted to do.
The Romp family has been selling Christmas trees from Vermont on the same corner of Greenwich Village for years. Ellie, Billy Romp’s daughter, has always been a big help with the business. This year though, when she meets her friend Emma who lives nearby, decides she wants to go see The Nutcracker as her Christmas present. Billy thinks that idea is ridiculous. Ellie shouldn’t be spending hard earned money on a frivolous night on the town. Plus he already has her Christmas present, a hand made tool box of her very own. Ellie decided to take matters in her own hands. She makes candles to sell and gets enough money to go with her friend to see the play. Billy is disappointed, but after overhearing Ellie speak to her friends about how highly she admires and loves her dad, Billy realizes his mistake. He gives away the remaining trees and heads back home with his family, spending quality time with them and making memories to last a lifetime. 1 Jamie71

Maybe 4.5. I really enjoyed reading it, a nice cozy read for by the
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