Wright, Jason - Christmas Jars - Informal Buddy Read; Starts December 25, 2014

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This topic is open for discussion of Christmas Jars by Jason F. Wright



Book Synopsis:
Where had it come from? Whose money was it? Was I to spend it? Save it? Pass it on to someone more needy? Above all else, why was I chosen? Certainly there were others, countless others, more needy than me...

Her reporter's intuition insisted that a remarkable story was on the verge of the front page.

Newspaper reporter Hope Jensen uncovers the remarkable secret behind the "Christmas Jars", glass jars filled with coins and bills anonymously left for people in need. But along the way, Hope discovers much more than the origin of the jars. When some unexpected news sets off a chain reaction of kindness, Hope's greatest Christmas Eve wish comes true.

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[Marla]

Hi, I hope you don't mind if I join you.

Half way thoughts - (view spoiler)[I'm glad that Hope's mother declared her foundling and adopted her legally, but I doubt that the state would award her custody. They would take Hope away and put her in foster care and place her with someone off the adoption list.

In the midst of the police investigation, a Christmas jar is delivered? The timing is almost creepy. And how many detectives came for a simple burglary call?

I kind of expected a pay it forward type message in the Christmas Jar, but liked it even better that it came with no strings attached.

Hope insinuating herself with that nice family to learn the secret of the Christmas jars seemed dishonest.

I was wanting a sweet Christmas read, but I am finding little annoyances instead.
(hide spoiler)]

[Kristie]

Glad to have you, Marla! I had very similar thoughts reading the first half.

(view spoiler)[ I don't think that in reality a baby would have been left with the woman that found it. There are too many rules around that sort of thing. The best she could hope for would to have the baby put in foster care while she completed all the work that goes along with adoption. I was able to suspend belief enough for that though.

I was wondering how sneaky someone would have to be to be able to drop off the jar without anyone noticing during the investigation. Either that, or the detectives are just really terrible at their jobs!

I also was disappointed with Hope being dishonest with that family and I felt that she was dishonoring the idea behind the Christmas jars by doing this investigation. She is not my favorite character. She's ok, but I don't find her very likable so far. (hide spoiler)]

[Marla]

Merry Christmas!

Finished last night after I finished wrapping presents. (view spoiler)[I really enjoyed the 2nd half, except that I hated Hope deceiving the Maxwell family. I was glad to see forgiveness but it came too easily from the survivors and would the other have not forgiven, been so deeply betrayed because I don't envision anger. The article did not feel like front page material to me. It kind of flitted around, but I was glad that it kept secrets secret.

I did feel like washing out a jar and starting my own Christmas Jar. My family puts all our spare change during lent into the rice bowl project box and donate it at Easter. So love the idea, but the story was okay and the writing so-so. I liked the very end. I did kind of want to know where Hope's Christmas Jar came from. (hide spoiler)]

[Kristie]

I'm at 62% - I thought (view spoiler)[ the story about how the Christmas jar started was so sweet. I love that family. They have just taken Hope in and shown her such acceptance and caring. I can't believe she is still planning to tell their secret after they've been so kind to her. (hide spoiler)]

[Kelly]

Hello, I'm here. Starting tonight :)

[Kelly]

Prologue-Chapter 4
(view spoiler)[
So far this seems like a sweet book (which is what I thought it would be). I'm sad her mother died. I'm guessing maybe her biological mother was the one who left the jar of money.

I wonder if they know who the biological mother is. I imagine the state works pretty hard to find that out before letting someone else adopt the child.
(hide spoiler)]

[Kristie]

Hi Kelly! I'll pick it up again tonight or tomorrow. In response to your spoiler (view spoiler)[ I don't think they know who the bio-mom is. I thought it was a bit unbelievable that they would let this woman keep the baby without a background check, etc, but probably needed for the story, so I just ignored that fact and said, "Ok." (hide spoiler)]

[Kelly]

Kristie wrote: "Hi Kelly! I'll pick it up again tonight or tomorrow. In response to your spoiler [spoilers removed]"

I wondered about it then just went with it since that's obviously not the point of the story.

[Kelly]

Chapter 5-11
(view spoiler)[
Aww. I liked their story. I can see a little girl doing that. I wonder why they decided to give the money to Hope. Or maybe it was someone else who passed it on. It's almost like the Pay it Forward movie.

I wonder what she'll end up writing for her story.
(hide spoiler)]

[Kelly]

Chapter 12-end

Aww this book made me cry.

(view spoiler)[
I know it's completely unrealistic but it's a very sweet story.

However, I feel like it's really a repeat of the book Pay It Forward (or at least the movie, haven't read the book specifically).

(Spoilers for Pay it Forward)
Basically, one person does something that someone can't do for themselves for 3 others. Then they do that for 3 others then it goes out to infinity. Then he dies and they all show up at his house with candles. So... Really really similar. This one was 5 years after Pay It Forward so I'm guessing there's a lot of influence there.
(hide spoiler)]

Going to give it a 3 stars. It was a sweet story and made me cry but there wasn't much substance and it was pretty unrealistic.

[Kelly]

Marla wrote: "Hi, I hope you don't mind if I join you.

Half way thoughts - "

(view spoiler)[
The pay it forward clone came later. Though I find it hard to believe that everyone who got a jar would have started saving one. I can't imagine most people who were obviously in need of one would have been able to save anything the immediate year after, especially if they started right after they got the jar. Doesn't it usually take people time to get on their feet?
(hide spoiler)]

[Kristie]

Planning to finish tonight. I'll check your spoilers then.

[Kristie]

Kelly wrote: "Chapter 5-11
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I was thinking that it was a pay it forward type thing too. I think they still do it every year, but other people also joined in. I think if they were the ones to give her the jar, they probably would have recognized her when she came snooping. (hide spoiler)]

[Kristie]

Kelly wrote: " Marla wrote: "Hi, I hope you don't mind if I join you.

Half way thoughts - "

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I agree. I thought of that too. I'm sure not everyone would pay it forward and some people (most, I'm sure) would have to wait until their situation improved before participating. (hide spoiler)]

[Marla]

Though maybe these people were so thankful they wanted to share something with others. You don't have to give some people a lot, it might just be a case of it's the thought that counts. And when they have more they can give more.

(view spoiler)[I think it was someone else who gave Hope the jar, I was disappointed that we never discovered the identity of Hope's secret Santa. (hide spoiler)]

[Kelly]

Marla wrote: "Though maybe these people were so thankful they wanted to share something with others. You don't have to give some people a lot, it might just be a case of it's the thought that counts. And when th..."

I would completely believe that they would join in the tradition at some point but I suppose it was the growth rate of it that I found a bit unbelievable. Plus at least some of the people wouldn't be able to contribute at all if they were living on nothing and scraping by for awhile.

It's supposed to be a sweet feel good story though so if I ignored the logical aspects then it was nice.

[Marla]

Kelly wrote: "Chapter 12-end

Aww this book made me cry.


I know it's completely unrealistic but it's a very sweet story.

However, I feel like it's really a repeat of the book Pay It Forward..."

I liked the end of this book, but I wanted to comment that I never liked the ending of the movie Pay It Forward. (view spoiler)[Cuz the ending implied that if you tried to help someone something terrible might happen to you. Not really the point of the story.

I think the boy should've grown up and he's a man in an airport. He has a problem and a stranger helps him and tells him to pay it forward to 3 other people.
(hide spoiler)]

[Kelly]

Pay it forward made me cry at the end. I think that was probably the point of the ending :-/ I haven't seen it in a long time though so my recollection is getting vague.