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From the Bookshelf of Classics for Beginners…

A Christmas Carol

Charles Dickens

Start date: December 1, 2011

Finish date: December 31, 2011

Discussion: Classics Discussion

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What Members Thought

Jan 12, 2013 Billy Young rated it it was amazing

What can you say about this book that hasn't already been said? Not a lot other than that it is one that is a must for all avid readers to read at some point which I can now say I have. A great read for these cold winter nights. ...more

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Aug 18, 2008 Juergen John Roscher rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: read_2008, read_2011, christmas, read_2012, read_2013, read_2014, favorites, read_2015, read_2016, read_2017

Dickens's classic “A Christmas Carol” is my favorite Christmas story. I love this story of intervention, change, and redemption; intervention of the four Spirits (Ghosts), permanent change in Scrooge after the intervention, and the lives he helped after being redeemed. I try to read it each Christmas season and when possible to attend a performance (Musical adaptation is preferred) of it. The story has become part of my family’s Christmas traditions; Christmas is not Christmas without “A Christm Dickens's classic “A Christmas Carol” is my favorite Christmas story. I love this story of intervention, change, and redemption; intervention of the four Spirits (Ghosts), permanent change in Scrooge after the intervention, and the lives he helped after being redeemed. I try to read it each Christmas season and when possible to attend a performance (Musical adaptation is preferred) of it. The story has become part of my family’s Christmas traditions; Christmas is not Christmas without “A Christmas Carol”.

This book is the story of redemption of Scrooge, a ruthless, self centered business man, by four Spirits that visit him on Christmas. The first Spirit is Scrooge’s former business partner, Jacob Marley, who has been dead for several years. He sets the stage for the visit of three additional Christmas Spirits, Spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to come, to teach and persuade Scrooge to change his dismal life. Each of the Spirits shows Scrooge scenes from his life or expected life if he does not change. Also, they show him the scenes from other people lives that he has or may manipulate along with others that properly celebrate the Christmas season. Scrooge learns from each of the Spirits important lessons that will change his life and help him rescue those that he will help. The final episode of the story shows the changed Scrooge celebrating Christmas properly and reaching out to blessing others. This is a wonderful story with a wonderful Christmas message of hope, redemption and service.

I love the characters in this story. Dickens is a master of developing characters that you love and hate. One of my favorite all-time descriptions of a character is given by Dickens of Scrooge:

“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 snow, and hail, and sleet, could boast of the advantage over him in only one respect. They often “came down” handsomely, and scrooge never did.”

Many of the characters in this story have become typecasts in American culture; Scrooge has become a symbol of misery greed and self-centeredness, Tiny Tim a symbol of the poor and forgotten, the three Christmas Spirits of intervention to help others. Characters are critical to the success of a story and “A Christmas Carol” is blessed with several unforgettable ones.

I am grateful for this story because of the message that is taught of hope and redemption through changing one’s life. That message of change is possible and that living a good Christian life of selflessness and service is a virtue. I can’t read this book without wanting to be better and serve those who are needy.

I recommend “A Christmas Carol” to everyone that loves Christmas and the Christmas tradition of blessing the lives of those who are less fortunate. Also, I recommend this short novel to those who are Dickens fans. ...more

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Nov 29, 2011 Dante rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction, classics, novella, children-s-fiction, christmas

What a wonderful novel!

It tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, an elderly man who has a very bad personality. He is rude, cold, cruel, uncaring, cynical, overly-frugal, and downright unloving. He lives alone, and that's not a surprise. He has no wife, daughter or son. We only know one relative of his in the story -- Fred, his nephew. He has his own business, employs a clerk, Bob, and we may suppose that he is quite rich, but he is very stingy with his money ("Kuripot" in Tagalog). He is mean to ...more

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Dec 09, 2011 Meghan rated it really liked it

Shelves: via-audible, christian, classics

this is definitely getting me into the Christmas spirit! I liked this book more than I thought I would. I found myself more 'into' Ebeneezer's journey told directly through prose, instead of via movie. Also, when he cracked himself up after saying 'there is more gravy about you than the grave' to Marley's ghost, I giggled out loud. Bravo, Tim Curry. Thank you for making a classic more fun. ...more

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