This is a very special novel that sparkles with the same memorable writing that made ROOTS an American classic.
This is the story of &#... read full description
This is the story of &#... read full description
reviews
Aug 05, 2010
Hattie
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"Harpin' John cupped his harmonica. He played. Fletcher heard the melody of "Silent Night" as the Christmas moonlight bathed the faces of the black man playing and the white man listening."
As I read this small book packed with a wonderful story, I wished Alex Haley were still here writing his heart out. The man was brilliant. "A Different Kind of Christmas" is mainly about, Fletcher Randall, a white Southerner. Fletcher grew up on a thousand acre plan More...
As I read this small book packed with a wonderful story, I wished Alex Haley were still here writing his heart out. The man was brilliant. "A Different Kind of Christmas" is mainly about, Fletcher Randall, a white Southerner. Fletcher grew up on a thousand acre plan More...
Dec 10, 2009
Sarah
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This is a very quick and simple read. I read it for the book club that I facilitate. One of my group members had suggested this book as our Christmas read, and also because one of her ancestors (Levi Coffin) was mentioned in the book.
The author of this book, Alex Haley, also wrote the book Roots. This book, A Different Kind of Christmas, takes place in 1855 and is narrated by a college student named Fletcher Randall. During his time at Princeton University, Fletcher meets and befriends a t More...
The author of this book, Alex Haley, also wrote the book Roots. This book, A Different Kind of Christmas, takes place in 1855 and is narrated by a college student named Fletcher Randall. During his time at Princeton University, Fletcher meets and befriends a t More...
Apr 04, 2010
Radwa
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سعيدة باكتشاف تلك الرواية لأليكس هيلى كى لا يظل اسمه مرتبطا ب (جذور) فقط.
الرواية تدور أحداثها فى أمريكا أيام استعباد السود و بطلها هو أحد أبناء الموسرين البيض الذى يذهب للدراسة فى بلدة بعيدة عن أهله و يتعرف على بعض الأفراد من الكويكريين . تنمو الصداقة بينهم و يلتقى كذلك مع بعض السود الأحرار و هو ما لم يكن مألوفا فى البلدة التى جاء منها ليبدأ فى التساؤل حول موضوع الرق و الحرية بأكمله. مع تطور الرواية يتغير موقفه تجاه قضية السود ليشترك فى مجموعة من البيض و السود هدفها تهريب العبيد السود و مس More...
الرواية تدور أحداثها فى أمريكا أيام استعباد السود و بطلها هو أحد أبناء الموسرين البيض الذى يذهب للدراسة فى بلدة بعيدة عن أهله و يتعرف على بعض الأفراد من الكويكريين . تنمو الصداقة بينهم و يلتقى كذلك مع بعض السود الأحرار و هو ما لم يكن مألوفا فى البلدة التى جاء منها ليبدأ فى التساؤل حول موضوع الرق و الحرية بأكمله. مع تطور الرواية يتغير موقفه تجاه قضية السود ليشترك فى مجموعة من البيض و السود هدفها تهريب العبيد السود و مس More...
Jan 02, 2009
Carolyn
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Whereas I LOVED Roots and the generational approach to telling the tale of slavery, I'm not sure I'm suggesting everyone rush out to read this novella. If you're not going to commit yourself to reading Haley's masterpiece, I suppose this might suffice it, but this short tale of a young plantation owner's son realizing his disgust with slavery didn't grab me the way Roots did. Maybe because this was told more from the white perspective? Dunno. Very easy read, though, and a nice story.
Jan 08, 2010
Elizabeth
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A good, quick read about a wealthy only son of a state representative/plantation owner father who is attending Princeton in the years preceding the Civil War. After he befriends some Quaker "friends" and visits Philadelphia and meets free blacks, he questions his whole world view. His courage is remarkable, although I would have liked more information about his thought processes, and some of Haley's details seems anachronistic... (Was there really baseball in 1855?)
Jan 23, 2011
Duskyliterati
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Alex Haley’s A Different Kind of Christmas is the first book I read for this year’s Christmas Spirit challenge. This novella set in 1855, follows 19-year old Randall Fletcher, son of a slave-holding plantation owner. While attending college at Princeton, he is befriended by three brothers who happen to be Quakers. Through his interaction with them and visits to their hometown of Philadelphia, he slowly awakens to the evils of slavery. Can Randall partner with a slave to betray his family as he i
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Oct 20, 2011
Eng.Khalid
rated it: 
رواية عيد ميلاد جديد للمؤلف الأمريكي أليكس هيلي.
رواية تدور حول قضية الرق في أمريكا
وهو مؤلف الرواية المشهورة جذور
معظم روايته تدور حول نفس القضية.
رواية جميلة.
رواية تدور حول قضية الرق في أمريكا
وهو مؤلف الرواية المشهورة جذور
معظم روايته تدور حول نفس القضية.
رواية جميلة.
Mar 27, 2010
Vikki
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This book was so good! It should be required reading. This book took place before the Civil War. A guy goes to Princeton and meets some people who are of the Quaker religion. He thinks of slavery differently after knowing them. A wonderful book.
Mar 17, 2009
Melina
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This is an absolutely wonderful book to read to your children at Christmas as well as an uplifting story about human kindness. It is a shame that it is not more well known because it is a gem.
Jan 10, 2011
Cami
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It was okay - the story wasn't that gripping, the writing wasn't that great. It's always interesting to get another viewpoint on the 1850's and slavery issue from all sides.
May 05, 2009
Mkwoolley
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A plantation owner's son goes to school in the north and is forced to come to terms with issues regarding slavery. Very thought provoking.
Jun 15, 2011
This book is about an adventure story which is refered to historical facts in 1855.Then, there are plantations in US.
Aug 02, 2010
Suzanne
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A nice, short novel of the underground railroad with minor ties to Christmas (smart marketing!).
Dec 15, 2009
Melissa
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Very disappointing. With characters so flat, their actions seemed hollow. The plot was sketchy. It seemed more like an outline of a book than something that should stand alone.
Aug 06, 2008
Rae
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Haley tells the story of a young man, Fletcher Randall, in 1855 North Carolina whose father owns a plantation with many slaves. Fletcher goes up North to school, sees the light and becomes an abolitionist. He then participates in a mass escape of slaves on the Underground Railroad...which is to take place on Christmas Eve. This novel was just OK and nothing more really.
Dec 26, 2009
Kristi
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A good book - but not really about Christmas at all except that the climax comes at Christmas.
Dec 17, 2007
Connie
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A wealthy boy from the South comes in contact with Friends (Quakers) at his college in the North and makes a
radical change in his thinking about the ownership of Blacks. His commitment to their freedom stands the test on Christmas Eve. Interesting historical
radical change in his thinking about the ownership of Blacks. His commitment to their freedom stands the test on Christmas Eve. Interesting historical
Jul 23, 2007
Karen
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Wonderful story with a powerful message for children and all of the family to share anytime of the year. I read it during a steamy, South Carolina summer. Thank you Haley for this phenomenal gift of Self.
Oct 26, 2011
Tanya
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The storyline of this is great, but I didn't like that it just ended. I guess it we kind of know that things worked out, but I want the author to actually walk me through how things work out! :-)
Apr 05, 2011
Becky
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Interesting historical fiction set around the Underground Railroad. Quick read. I enjoyed it, but it really should have been longer....ending wasn't as satisfying as I'd hoped!
Jan 24, 2012
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