The Man Who Invented Christmas

I want to see this movie! It looks fantastic! As someone who LOVES A Christmas Carol and has read it many times this movie will (hopefully) be brilliant to me! In fact, my kids want me to read then the book this year so I was already planning to do so. I'm not sure if they'd like this movie, though. So this may need to be viewed on a night out with girlfriends. 

A Christmas Carol - Stave Five: The End of It

"God Bless Us, Every One!"

As iconic as it is, I believe Dickens ended his book in the most beautiful way.  The fact that Tiny Tim is the one to wish the above blessing makes it all the sweeter.  It is the epitome of pure love, giving and innocence.  And if that doesn't sum up the Spirit of Christmas - I don't know what does.

I truly loved this book.  This final Stave - and witnessing Scrooge in the glory of his redemtion was such a gift.  It shows that even the grouchiest, stingiest person truly can change; then go on to live out a spiritually rich and giving life.

I will absolutely read this book again.  My children are still a bit too small for the story but I look forward to reading it with them at some point in the future.  I feel this book is indeed a family classic.

Merry Christmas to everyone.  I hope 2011 is full of happiness for all.

Here are links for the previous posts of the read-a-long if you are interested: Stave One, Stave Two, Stave Three and Stave Four

A Christmas Carol - Stave Four: The Last of the Spirits

                                    "I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.  I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future.  The Spirits of all three shall strive within me.  I will not shut out the lessons that they teach."

I know this is supposed to be a spooky part in the book (and I have to admit that I am a bit creeped out at this section of the movie) but there was so much of this part that I found a bit funny.  I imagine it is the way that Dickens wrote it - or perhaps just my strange sense of humor - but I founf Scrooge's seeming unintelligence humorous.  Of course, who knows how one would act if faced with their own death as Scrooge was in this Stave.  Plus, he was forced to see the utter disregard he inspired in people. 

I really enjoyed the fact that Scrooge finally has his spiritual turnaround in this part, though.  I love that he realizes he needs to be a better person all the way around.  I love that he finally realizes that his actions definitely have consequences upon himself and others.  The fact that he is so touched by The Cratchits  and especially Tiny Tim - is always moving to me.

The only thing I wish this Stave would have shown would be Scrooge's nephews reaction to his uncle's death.  It would have been quite interesting to know if his nephew would have felt any sadness at the loss of his uncle. 

I look forward to finishing the book - and then seeing the movie again.  How is everyone else enjoying the book?

A Christmas Carol - Stave Three: The Second of the Three Spirits

"A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to the old man, whatever he is!" said Scrooge's nephew.  "He wouldn't take it from me, but may he have it nevertheless.  Uncle Scrooge!"

This stave, with the ghost of Christmas Present, is definitely my favorite in the book so far.  I laughed at Scrooge's surprise over the sheer size of the giant spirit.  Their initial meeting was described so beautifully by Dickens with all of the Christmas decorations.  Plus, all of the food made me hungry.  I have to admit that I have no idea what some of the food is, though.  I've heard of mince pie but I've never had it and don't know what is in it.  And I have no idea what a twelfth-night cake is, either.  Apparently, I need to do a bit of research here.


Another thing that I adore about this stave is that Scrooge gets a great look at how people all over are celebrating Christmas.  I don't recall the Ghost of Christmas Present giving Scrooge the tour that took him to fisherman's boats and many other places in any of the movie versions I've seen.


It's enlightening, I believe, for Scrooge to witness the Christmas celebrations of the Cratchitt's and his nephews.  I really don't think he ever thought of either man as actually having any sort of fulfilling life.  He is shown that they do indeed have lives away from the small bit of space encompassed by him; and that they are rich in a way he can't understand because they have people to love and be loved by.


I feel that the Ghost of Christmas Present helps Scrooge to turn a corner within himself moreso than the Ghost of Christmas Past.  I love the end of the stave with the 'children' of Ignorance and Want.  The fear that Scrooge begins to feel once again is palpable.  Especially with the fact that there is no lag time between Spirits.  I like that the Third Spirit is there right away.

The Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge

After completing NaNoWriMo (full details to be posted on Wednesday) I will be in the mood for lots of books with a wonderful Christmas theme.  Luckily, I just discovered The Christmas Spirit (the blog, that is) and this reading challenge.  Thank you Debbie at The Friday Friends

Here are the details (taken straight from the snnouncement/sign up post at The Christmas Spirit) for the challenge:

- challenge will run from Friday, November 26, 2010 (Black Friday) through January 6, 2010 (Twelfth Night or Epiphany).

- cross overs with other challenges is totally permitted AND encouraged!

- These must be Christmas novels, books about Christmas lore or a book of Christmas short stories (sorry, no children's books, but YA novels are okay).

visit this POST (which takes you to The Christmas Spirit blog) for a list of new Christmas books for 2010. Also, Richard Paul Evans has a new book out this year, Promise Me. His Christmas books are among my favorites during the Christmas season.

Levels:

--Candy Cane: read 1 book

--Mistletoe: read 2-4 books

--Christmas Tree: read 5 or 6 books (this is the fanatic level...LOL!)

.That's it.  Join in the fun if you are in the mood for Christmas reading!

A Christma Carol: Stave One - Marley's Ghost

"Business!" cried the Ghost, wringing its hands again.  "Mankind was my business.  The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were all my business.  The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!"

I love this quote from Jacob Marley.  To me, it sums up the book right there.  I am thoroughly loving Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol already.  Admittedly, the language is quite different from what I'm used to (but this is often the case with the Classics).  I am finding Dickens' prose to be quite poetic.  There have been many passages that I have gone back to read a second (and third) time simply because I like the flow of the words.

I like reading the book because there is more in regard to Scrooge's thoughts and opinions on what is going on around him.  Although he doesn't want to believe what he is seeing in Marley's ghost - and does, rather hysterically try to sum it up to indigestion - he is quite frightened by the situation.  Especially when he sees Marley fly out the window and join the other tortured souls bound in chains and misery.

I am anxious to get back to the book.  Although I technically know what happens next I am excited for the richer details of the book.

How are you liking the book so far? Also, I wrote this post with my opinions rather than questions because I haven't been able to find discussion questions for the book.  If you have questions you'd like to present, please feel free to do so.

And finally, Happy Thanksgiving to my fellow Americans.  Happy Thursday to all else.  Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy the start of the Christmas Season!

A Christmas Carol Read-a-Long

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A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is a book I've been meaning to read for a long time.  Every year around this time I tell myself that I am finally going to read it.  And every Christmas when the movie plays on television I kick myself for yet again NOT reading the book.  Well, not this year, no way.  I admit that I love the movie but as a self-professed bookworm it just seems wrong that I have never read this book.
 
Right before Thanksgiving (in America) I am going to read the first part of this book.  By Christmas I will have read the whole thing, darn it.  Who wants to join me? This is my first time hosting an online read-a-long but I know this will be fun.  Each week, I'll post a few questions about the section we've just finished and we can blog about it together.
 
If this sounds like fun to you too - then please sign up below to participate.  And feel free to invite other friends to come and participate with us.  Oh, and don't forget the button I made just for this event.  LOL I had fun making the button and would love to see it around on your blogs!