In my opinion, this story is best enjoyed read aloud by the author. The language is rich, lush, and comical. Below is a passage from the beginning that I love for all those reasons and makes me want to listen to it again right now.

All the Christmases roll down toward the two-tongued sea, like a cold and headlong moon bundling down the sky that was our street; and they stop at the rim of the ice-edged, fish-freezing waves, and I plunge my hands the snow and bring out whatever I can find. In goes my hand into that wool-white bell-tongued ball of holidays resting at the rim of the carol-singing sea, and out come Mrs. Prothero and the firemen.

Of course, it just so happens that Salon has a downloadable version of A Child’s Christmas in Wales in MP3 format. Enjoy!