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A Christmas Carol
by
'If I had my way, every idiot who goes around with Merry Christmas on his lips, would be boiled with his own pudding, and buried with a stake of holly through his heart. Merry Christmas? Bah humbug!'
Introduction and Afterword by Joe Wheeler
To bitter, miserly Ebenezer Scrooge, Christmas is just another day. But all that changes when the ghost of his long-dead business partn ...more
Introduction and Afterword by Joe Wheeler
To bitter, miserly Ebenezer Scrooge, Christmas is just another day. But all that changes when the ghost of his long-dead business partn ...more
Paperback, Focus On The Family Great Stories, 104 pages
Published
September 23rd 1999
by Bethany House Publishers
(first published December 17th 1843)
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I read this every year at Christmas, and I always will do. Simply because of the atmosphere it evokes. This story is Christmas as far as I’m concerned. It wouldn’t be the same without it. It is perfectly festive and is also appropriately didactic. It is an allegory for what happens to those that are unnecessarily bitter and twisted, refusing to take part in a joyful occasion. It is a glimpse at what could happen to someone who rejects their family upon trivial grounds, and let’s themselves be se
...more
It has been a decade since I last read this classic, so I decided to look at it again, taking note of what I have forgotten or imperfectly remembered and also garnering any new insights my older (and I hope wiser) self could now find within it.
But first, I decided to do a little research, and discovered the great irony underlying the book’s creation: how this tale that warns against miserliness was born because of Dickens' acute need for money, and how its publication resulted in a dispute about ...more
What a fantastic story! How terrible it was to be poor in the Victorian Era. Dickens was a humanitarian and saw first hand the poverty in the streets of London. The starving urchins trying to steal an apple or a handkerchief. The void between the rich and the poor. This story, like Oliver Twist in my opinion is a masterpiece.
The musicals are just, brilliant. 👍🐯
Christmas is coming, we know its near
Evenings are darker, the cold weather is here
Will there be snow? The sky is white
Or have they been ...more
The musicals are just, brilliant. 👍🐯
Christmas is coming, we know its near
Evenings are darker, the cold weather is here
Will there be snow? The sky is white
Or have they been ...more

Ebenezer Scrooge, the very definition of grumpy miserliness, gets a second chance at figuring out what's really important in life, with the help of some ghosts who give him an unforgettable version of "This is Your Life."
This may not be a perfect piece of literature - there are a few places where Dickens goes off on tangential lines of thought that I thought would have been better left out - but you know, it's actually amazing and really touching, the influence this classic novella has had on ou ...more
im usually not a seasonal reader, but this year i tried to make an effort to read a couple of holiday themed books and im so glad i saved this for last!
i grew up very familiar with the story of ‘a christmas carol’ via multiple adaptations (shoutout to the flintstones version from my childhood!), but i cant believe i never read the actual book itself. dickens is such a well known author, so its difficult to not critique this as i normally would with a book. but i think the message of this story i ...more
i grew up very familiar with the story of ‘a christmas carol’ via multiple adaptations (shoutout to the flintstones version from my childhood!), but i cant believe i never read the actual book itself. dickens is such a well known author, so its difficult to not critique this as i normally would with a book. but i think the message of this story i ...more
REREADING IN 2017 BUT I REPEAT EVERYTHING BELOW TO MY UN-SCROOGY FRIENDS.

I wish a most UN-SCROOGY Christmas to all my GR Friends.
With lots of:

Merriment

Christmas Love

Generous and very Christmasy Gifts

Copious and Delicious Food

Not too much drinking

Christmas Games

Another watch of The Nutcracker

And of course...Fascinating and Beautiful Books

And to remember what Scrooge learnt:
I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future!
Updated review. Previously rated this one with only a star rating, proper one now posted.
Gollum and Smeagol's "A Christmases Carol"
Gollum and Smeagol's "A Christmases Carol"
"External heat and cold had little influence on Scrooge. No warmth could warm, no wintry weather chill him. No wind that blew was bitterer than he, no falling snow was more intent upon its purpose, no pelting rain less open to entreaty."Gollum: Yes, yes! No Christmases, only humbugses! We loves Scrooge, we loves our precious. We swears to keep our precious — so ...more
*Read for class
1. This is the first book I've finished in September I am so damn excited.
2. I have endless love for this story because my mom is obsessed with Christmas movies so I've seen at least a million adaptations of it. Happy to say the book was even better! Short and sweet, yet still Dickensian!
1. This is the first book I've finished in September I am so damn excited.
2. I have endless love for this story because my mom is obsessed with Christmas movies so I've seen at least a million adaptations of it. Happy to say the book was even better! Short and sweet, yet still Dickensian!
Nov 26, 2014
Lola
rated it
liked it
Shelves:
children-s,
christmas,
classics,
family,
character-development,
short-story,
religion,
ghosts
*3.5 stars*
I shall start by introducing you to Ebenezer Scrooge. According to the narrator, the cold-hearted, unholy and inconsiderate man we have as main character.

While he is described as such:
I shall start by introducing you to Ebenezer Scrooge. According to the narrator, the cold-hearted, unholy and inconsiderate man we have as main character.

While he is described as such:
...more
External heat and cold had little influence on Scrooge. No warmth could warm, no wintry weather chill him. No wind that blew was bitterer than he, no falling snow was more intent upon its purpose, no pelting rain less open to entreaty. Foul weather didn't know where to have him. The heaviest rain, and s
It's a family tradition to read A Christmas Carol (original, unabridged) aloud each Christmas season and then to watch at least one film version on Christmas Eve (this year it was the Muppets' Christmas Carol - very authentic - with Michael Caine).
Over the years, we have discussed the 19th century slang and customs enough so that the reading is becoming smoother and smoother without much need for editorial asides. This year we focused on favorite phrases "Marley was dead, to begin with." "the m ...more
Over the years, we have discussed the 19th century slang and customs enough so that the reading is becoming smoother and smoother without much need for editorial asides. This year we focused on favorite phrases "Marley was dead, to begin with." "the m ...more
The Christmas reading par excellence!
A CLASSIC RE-IMAGINED ONCE AND AGAIN
I can't tell how many times I have watched some adaptation or another of this classic story...
...Bugs Bunny, Mickey Mouse, Kermit the Frog, the Real Ghostbusters, live action films, animated TV specials, etc...
...since this is one of the most adapted stories of all time.
A truly Christmas classic.
And this one of the few books that I think one hardly can deny that it's the novel that defines a genre, in this case:
Chris ...more
A CLASSIC RE-IMAGINED ONCE AND AGAIN
I can't tell how many times I have watched some adaptation or another of this classic story...
...Bugs Bunny, Mickey Mouse, Kermit the Frog, the Real Ghostbusters, live action films, animated TV specials, etc...
...since this is one of the most adapted stories of all time.
A truly Christmas classic.
And this one of the few books that I think one hardly can deny that it's the novel that defines a genre, in this case:
Chris ...more
How many times have I seen a version of A Christmas Carol? Probably too many times to count, but I can try:
- A stage version at least half a dozen times
- The Disney version with Scrooge McDuck
- The Disney version with Jim Carrey
- A Muppet Christmas Carol
- Scrooged with Bill Murray
- Probably more that I am forgetting
Finally, I have taken it upon myself to read the source material! Did I like it? Two words: BAH, HUMBUG!
In Dickens-ese that means I did. I have enjoyed pretty much every adaptation I ...more
- A stage version at least half a dozen times
- The Disney version with Scrooge McDuck
- The Disney version with Jim Carrey
- A Muppet Christmas Carol
- Scrooged with Bill Murray
- Probably more that I am forgetting
Finally, I have taken it upon myself to read the source material! Did I like it? Two words: BAH, HUMBUG!
In Dickens-ese that means I did. I have enjoyed pretty much every adaptation I ...more
Dec 02, 2016
Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
own
I love A Christmas Carol

I can't believe I have just NOW read this book. I have been watching the MANY movies of A Christmas Carol since I was a little kid. My favorite being the one with Albert Finney, that seemed to be the one I watched the most. I have it on dvd (maybe blu ray, I would have to look) and I have the VHS tape for a long time. Remember those? I also have The Muppet Christmas Carol and The Christmas Carol with Jim Carey. You know I think after reading this book I'm going to have to ...more

I can't believe I have just NOW read this book. I have been watching the MANY movies of A Christmas Carol since I was a little kid. My favorite being the one with Albert Finney, that seemed to be the one I watched the most. I have it on dvd (maybe blu ray, I would have to look) and I have the VHS tape for a long time. Remember those? I also have The Muppet Christmas Carol and The Christmas Carol with Jim Carey. You know I think after reading this book I'm going to have to ...more
When I think of Christmas and all those things that make Christmas so special, A Christmas Carol immediately comes to mind right along with family, friends, beautiful Christmas trees, Mom’s anise cut-out cookies, brilliant holiday light displays, gently falling snow, festive instrumental and choral concerts, midnight mass, and angel trees. A Christmas Carol truly is a timeless classic and a beloved tradition, whether you see the movie or read the book. The blessing of this treasure is that you d
...more
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is the current runaway leader for a reread in the group Catching up on Classics for December. As I gear up for what looks to be some intense reading during the last two months of the year, I decided to pre read this short classic this week. Being that I do not observe the Christmas holiday and can sometimes feel overwhelmed by its presence during the last six weeks of the year, I felt that it was better for me to read Dickens' classic early so I could keep an
...more
Dec 10, 2015
Glenn Sumi
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
classics,
before-1900

I’ve seen countless film, TV and stage adaptations of A Christmas Carol, but it wasn’t until this week that I read the actual text. Which is strange. I adore Dickens. If pressed, I’d call him one of my all-time favourite authors. But it’s a busy time of year, and when I watch the films it’s usually in a social situation.
This week I found myself with a few extra hours and finally read the novella. Wow. I’m very glad I did. Here are some thoughts:
• I can see why it’s so frequently adapted and has ...more
A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens
A Christmas Carol in Prose, Being a Ghost-Story of Christmas, commonly known as A Christmas Carol, is a novella by Charles Dickens, first published in London by Chapman & Hall in 1843. A Christmas Carol tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, an old miser who is visited by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come.
عنوانها: سرود کریسمس؛ آواز کریسمس؛ اثر: چارلز دیکنز؛ تاریخ نخستین خوانش: در سا ...more
A Christmas Carol in Prose, Being a Ghost-Story of Christmas, commonly known as A Christmas Carol, is a novella by Charles Dickens, first published in London by Chapman & Hall in 1843. A Christmas Carol tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, an old miser who is visited by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come.
عنوانها: سرود کریسمس؛ آواز کریسمس؛ اثر: چارلز دیکنز؛ تاریخ نخستین خوانش: در سا ...more
4+ out of 5 stars to Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, a story almost everyone is likely familiar with as early on as childhood. And we've all seen some form of this in a TV show, movie or another book, given how familiar the three ghosts of Christmas have become.

Why This Book
I honestly don't recall how I stumbled upon this book, perhaps by watching one of the movie versions as the first foray. Sacrilegious, I know. But once you see it on a TV screen, the story compels you to want to read ...more

Why This Book
I honestly don't recall how I stumbled upon this book, perhaps by watching one of the movie versions as the first foray. Sacrilegious, I know. But once you see it on a TV screen, the story compels you to want to read ...more
Dec 30, 2014
Annet
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
classics,
jingle-bells-jingle-bells,
hope,
have-to-read-again,
brilliant,
history,
family-ties
Having seen many movie versions of this famous book , I thought it was finally time to read the book this (time of) year and I did!
How talented Dickens was... to invent this story and write it in beautiful language. Maybe I'll reread it again by Christmas time next year, so much detail there, deserves great attention, and my good intention will be to read more Dickens in the time to come. A delightful book, a very talented writer, so long ago... A magical story, famous for its moral and 'advice ...more
How talented Dickens was... to invent this story and write it in beautiful language. Maybe I'll reread it again by Christmas time next year, so much detail there, deserves great attention, and my good intention will be to read more Dickens in the time to come. A delightful book, a very talented writer, so long ago... A magical story, famous for its moral and 'advice ...more
Feb 24, 2013
Robin Hobb
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
readers, and listeners over 8
I have to admit that, at the ripe old age of 66, I finally listened to the full text as Dickens wrote it.
It definitely deserves all the accolades it has ever deserved. I recommend it not just for graceful language, but for continued relevance to our day and age.
A Christmas Carol is a very short book, easily read or listened to in just a few hours. Even if you've experienced the story via a dozen different movie versions and spin offs, I think getting back to the original is well worth your time. ...more
It definitely deserves all the accolades it has ever deserved. I recommend it not just for graceful language, but for continued relevance to our day and age.
A Christmas Carol is a very short book, easily read or listened to in just a few hours. Even if you've experienced the story via a dozen different movie versions and spin offs, I think getting back to the original is well worth your time. ...more
The Christmas classic that everyone knows – even if they haven’t read it. It's quite short, and at some levels quite an easy read, but there is plenty of depth, so I think it's worth reading it in a thoughtful and slightly leisurely way.
Plot
It is a simple tale of how a normal man turns cold-hearted and mean and how, when confronted with memories of his past and the possible outcomes of his actions and inactions, he is redeemed by making positive changes to his life and thus that of others.
Typic ...more
Plot
It is a simple tale of how a normal man turns cold-hearted and mean and how, when confronted with memories of his past and the possible outcomes of his actions and inactions, he is redeemed by making positive changes to his life and thus that of others.
Typic ...more
It's not the season for A Christmas Carol, I know!
And we all know it by heart too, from reading it as children with our grandparents maybe, as young adults for essays in high school, as adults to our own children. We have watched the Disney version many times, and seen it performed on stage, for decades, in December.
So why do I have to drag out my old, torn copy of my earliest traditional December Dickens in April? Because April is the cruellest month, and it made me realise how many Scrooges a ...more
And we all know it by heart too, from reading it as children with our grandparents maybe, as young adults for essays in high school, as adults to our own children. We have watched the Disney version many times, and seen it performed on stage, for decades, in December.
So why do I have to drag out my old, torn copy of my earliest traditional December Dickens in April? Because April is the cruellest month, and it made me realise how many Scrooges a ...more
One should never judge a book by its cover, but this edition surely deserves an award for ugliest and laziest book cover ever made (should we start a contest?), which is a shame since a theme like Christmas is quite easy to illustrate and has a lot of recognizable symbols and its own emblems that could've been used to enhance this poorly conceived design. However, if all the budget available went to the translator, it was a good decision as it was beautifully done and, in the end, it's all that
...more
You'd think I'd get tired of reading this when there are so many movie adaptations that it's impossible not to have the entire plot memorized. But it doesn't even matter that I could probably close my eyes and recite the story at this point because I just love the way Dickens writes! It's still enchanting aaaaand I really love this story. That is all.
One might like Christmas, or one might not; one might be a Christian, or one might not be. Anyway I do not think anybody would be arguing against the fact that this novella became practically ultimate Christmas story. For this reason I will not bother hiding spoilers in my review; if you have no clue what it is about and I spoil it for you, consider it to be my punishment for living under a rock all this time.

Sorry, there is something irresistible about the Grumpy Cat in Christmas settings and ...more

Sorry, there is something irresistible about the Grumpy Cat in Christmas settings and ...more
Amazing. A classic for a reason.
RE-READ: 2015. I read this book every Christmas Eve. It makes me laugh, it scares me, it makes me cry. So good! And so short! :) I must admit my favorite part is the first part where Scrooge is so grumpy and miserly. And the book is so classic, filled with classic lines that are so well-known it's a pleasure to read them because they are so familiar and true.
And, once again, it's short. No trouble to get through! Merry Christmas!
http://www.gocomics.com/bliss/2015/ ...more
RE-READ: 2015. I read this book every Christmas Eve. It makes me laugh, it scares me, it makes me cry. So good! And so short! :) I must admit my favorite part is the first part where Scrooge is so grumpy and miserly. And the book is so classic, filled with classic lines that are so well-known it's a pleasure to read them because they are so familiar and true.
And, once again, it's short. No trouble to get through! Merry Christmas!
http://www.gocomics.com/bliss/2015/ ...more
"Bah! Humbug!"
Who does not recognise this expostulation, and the old curmudgeon who spat it out. The very name "Scrooge" has entered the vernacular to indicate a mean-spirited skinflint.
"Oh! But he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone, Scrooge, a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner! Hard and sharp as flint."
And even the phrase "Merry Christmas" only became popular following the appearance of this novella.
A Christmas Carol is one of Dickens' most endur ...more
Who does not recognise this expostulation, and the old curmudgeon who spat it out. The very name "Scrooge" has entered the vernacular to indicate a mean-spirited skinflint.
"Oh! But he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone, Scrooge, a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner! Hard and sharp as flint."
And even the phrase "Merry Christmas" only became popular following the appearance of this novella.
A Christmas Carol is one of Dickens' most endur ...more
HOW PRECIOUS
This short parable or morality tale is probably one of the most read novellas within Charles Dickens’ vast body of work, and one that truly embodies the spirit of Christmas. A short book we could all do with on these cold winter nights (here in London, they are, at least)!
I guess everyone knows the story in broad strokes: Ebenezer Scrooge, a disgusting narrow-shouldered old misanthrope and life-denying penny-pincher (the avatar of Shylock, Volpone, Harpagon and many more literary misers) is abou ...more
I guess everyone knows the story in broad strokes: Ebenezer Scrooge, a disgusting narrow-shouldered old misanthrope and life-denying penny-pincher (the avatar of Shylock, Volpone, Harpagon and many more literary misers) is abou ...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Old Curiosity...: A Christmas Carol Stave Five | 36 | 17 | Feb 28, 2019 09:27AM | |
| Victorians!: A Christmas Carol: Week 4 - Final Thoughts and Movie/Book Comparisons | 11 | 24 | Jan 14, 2019 03:55PM | |
| Goodreads Librari...: Please combine | 2 | 16 | Jan 08, 2019 04:21AM | |
| Il salotto dei le...: Lettura Dicembre 2018: Cantico di Natale - Commenti e discussione | 4 | 25 | Jan 01, 2019 01:24PM | |
| EVERYONE Has Read...: A Christmas Carol - *SPOILERS* | 60 | 265 | Jan 01, 2019 11:02AM | |
| The Old Curiosity...: A Christmas Carol Stave Four | 36 | 13 | Jan 01, 2019 09:25AM |
Charles John Huffam Dickens was a writer and social critic who created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era. His works enjoyed unprecedented popularity during his lifetime, and by the twentieth century critics and scholars had recognised him as a literary genius. His novels and short stories enjoy lasting popularity.
Dicke ...more
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“There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor.”
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“It is a fair, even-handed, noble adjustment of things, that while there is infection in disease and sorrow, there is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humour.”
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