A Christmas Carol (Dover Thrift Editions) by Charles Dickens
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Book Reviews of A Christmas Carol (Dover Thrift Editions)
Book Review: A Christmas Carol
Summary: 5 Stars
A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens
Truth is a scourge. And like a scourge, it can leave one broken and bloody, stripped of all his or her defenses. No one knows this better than Mr. Scrooge, but I won't insult my readers by offering a summary of this well-known Christmas story (though I will chime in with my opinion that the old Disney version with Mickey Mouse and Scrooge McDuck is the best!).
I know of no one who dislikes this story. That being said, the book is waaay better; by leaps and bounds! All of the movies tell the core of the story, but they leave out all of the nuance--if a picture is worth a thousand words and they have an hour and a half to tell this story (which was only 124 pages of somewhat large text), they should be adding nuance, not removing it!
The only problem with it is that it's a book meant to appeal to everyone, including children. Therein lies the difficulty: it's somewhat like asking Beethoven to compose a jingle for an advertisement; sure, he could do it, and it would be good, but he could do so much better! And I know this is true, both because there are monstrous hints within the story (primarily when the narrator speaks), and because I've read some of his other works. But even if this is the worst that Dickens has to offer, then I would still rather read it than almost any other book written in the past 100 years.
Memorable Quote:
What would I not have given to be one of them! Though I never could have been so rude, no, no! I wouldn't for the wealth of all the world have crushed that braided hair, and torn it down; and for the precious little shoe, I wouldn't have plucked it off, God bless my soul! to save my life. As to measuring her waist in sport, as they did, bold young brood, I couldn't have done it; I should have expected my arm to have grown round it for a punishment, and never come straight again. And yet I should have dearly liked, I own, to have touched her lips, to have questioned her, that she might have opened them, to have looked upon the lashes of her downcast eyes, and never raised a blush, to have let loose waves of hair, an inch of which would be a keepsake beyond price; in short, I should have liked, I do confess, to have had the lightest license of a child, and yet to have been man enough to know its value.
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Book Review: Five stars and then some!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is one of those stories that tempts a reviewer to succumb to grade inflation; it is so much better than other books that I've rated five stars, that I'm tempted to give it a higher than maximum rating.Granted, there are people out there who claim that this book is too cloyingly sweet for words; it's very stylish to be cynical. So call me a sucker for a happy ending if you must, but this is unquestionably the best thing that Dickens ever wrote; not only does it have his usual marvellous characterizations, but the plot moves better than most of those in his longer works, and, being a very short piece, it doesn't have the tendency to ramble that some of his longer works fall prey to.
But beyond that, the story is an absolute classic, one that eveyone should have the pleasure of reading on a regular basis. What I find particularly pleasing about it is the frequently-overlooked fact that when Scrooge becomes pleasant and generous not only is it the right thing to do, and not only does it make the lives of those around him infinitely more pleasant, but it actually makes Scrooge himself much happier; it isn't WORK to be pleasant, it's FUN!
The movie versions generally do a fairly good job of portraying the story, but nothing can compare to the original written story itself; even better, it's available from the "Dover Thrift Editions" for only a dollar!
If you cherish your cynicism, you may want to avoid this story; but if you enjoy a good bit of delightfully playful writing that winds up with a classically upbeat ending, DO NOT miss this book.
Book Review: Sometimes Less Is More
Summary: 5 Stars
I once read that some scholars consider "Hard Times" (1854) an unimportant division of Dickens because it is less than half the length of his normal books. I don't understand how they would explain that this is by far his most popular work and yet it is only 1/8 the length of his normal books. This is a masterpiece in that it shows us the harsh reality that some people are so hardened that not even Christmas moves them. I also feel Dickens displays his best skills when he shows us that Scrooge was not always this way. Also, Scrooge starts to change when he is exposed to his present. Seeing upclose what his greedieness has done to Cratchit catches his conscience. Furthermore he realizes that many people will be delighted at his eventual death if he does not change. The messages are very profound. In addition, we are presented with striking images. Also, characters such as Jacob Marley, Fanny, Fred, and Mr. Fezziwig, and the ghosts are very convincing. Again, Dickens shows us the harsh conditions of Victorian England. Also, Dickens emphasizes that even a hardened miser CAN change. If you like this book, Dickens Christmas Book "The Cricket on the Hearth" may also interest you.Book Review: Frugal Christmas Classic
Summary: 5 Stars
What impresses me about this edition is that it is affordable without being trashy. It is one of the "Dover Thrift Editions," which reprints classics for between $1.00-$1.50, so we have no excuse for not being literate and culture. This book, however, has the feel of a pricier classic. The cover is tasteful and evocative of yuletide. The typesetting and printing is high quality. I have never seen any faint ink, or skipped words, or typos in any of Dover's publications.But any book is about the story, and not the format. This story of human redemption is deservedly a classic. People can change, and anyone can improve, and that is the message of the season.
Dickens' genius is not only his vivid description, but also his thought compression. It is only 68 pages long, so it can be read in one setting. I try to do thins, since the story has greater force if it is swallowed whole, without any commercial breaks. It is the pinnacle of Christian Fantasy.
Book Review: A Classic Tale...an Excellent Price!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a fantastic edition of Charles Dickens' classic holiday story of Ebenezer Scrooge's transition from Miser to Man of the People. It is unabridged (original text that includes wonderful lines such as "solitary as an oyster") and bound well for a smaller paperback. An excellent edition for an unbeatable price! For a gift idea, tie these books with ribbon and gave them as gifts to coworkers, neighbors, and even as stocking stuffers; I did, and they were a terrific hit.