Favorite Christmas Book Write Off - A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, in my humble opinion no book to this day has inspired the true spirit of Christmas quite like this one. It is a somewhat creepy tale, capable of giving bad dreams to even the most grown up of grown ups but perhaps only if they don’t believe in Christmas. Beyond the fear of the tale there is something so awesome and so touching. The book is written in a beautiful form of English, and it is difficult to walk away from it without feeling a bit chilled perhaps because you have been touched.

Most people know the tale of Ebeneezer Scrooge, his tale has been retold in several different forms and in several other duplicated yet different stories all portrayed on television or in movies. It has been changed in order to a create a more comical sense, it has been changed in a form that is less chilling for children, it has been completely changed in other cases where the story and characters are different but the basic story and the meaning are all the same. I have enjoyed the original film, and I have enjoyed the re-makes of the original but to truly appreciate the beautiful writing of Charles Dickens you must read the book. If you find that the movie sends thrills through your body, just wait till you read the book.

The story opening explains the death of Scrooges’s business partner and only friend or at least the closest thing to a friend to Scrooge. Both Marley and Ebeneeser were harsh insensitive men who were quite skilled in managing businesses. Neither one of them had the capability to be close to other human beings. Here is a direct paragraph from the book that explains the relationship and similarities of the two men.

“Scrooge knew he was dead? Of course he did. How could it be otherwise? Scrooge and he were partners for I don't know how many years. Scrooge was his sole executor, his sole administrator, his sole assign, his sole residuary legatee, his sole friend and sole mourner. And even Scrooge was not so dreadfully cut up by the sad event, but that he was an excellent man of business on the very day of the funeral, and solemnised it with an undoubted bargain.”
Marley’s death happened near to Christmas day seven years before

Scrooge went into work the day before Christmas and began working, his assistant who he paid very little and treated very badly sat busily working in his corner. Scrooge is greeted by his only living relative; a nephew that was the son of his beloved sister. He has never been particularly kind to this young man, but the young man continues to try to befriend the nasty scrooge mainly because his mother had loved Scrooge so. The nephew came in sputtering the words Merry Christmas, of which Scrooge replies with the famous words, “bah, humbug.” A lively exchange of words happens at this point and his nephew leaves after having his Christmas dinner invitation declined by Scrooge.

The book at this point shows other examples of Scooge’s lack of human compassion and Christmas spirit. He does however, grant his assistant one day off in order to celebrate the holiday. He does this begrudgingly and tells the good Bob Kratchet that he will have to work extra hard to make up for the missed day.

Bob Kratchet was a good man, who lived with his good wife, and several children, one being the crippled Tiny Tim. They lived in modest housing and had few possessions. Tim despite his disability was a happy, and positive child he will later light a spark in the cold heart of Scrooge.

On this very night Scrooge is visited by the ghost of his old partner Marley who warns Scrooge that if he does not change his attitude he will be among the lost souls that inhabit the earth able to view the world but unable to partake in it. To “witness what they can not share.” He tells Scrooge that although it is to late for him, there may be hope for Scrooge. He then tells Scrooge that, “he will be visited by three ghosts: The ghost of Christmas Past, The Ghost of Christmas Present. And the Ghost of Christmas future.

Without going into detail the ghosts come as promised and Scrooge learns about himself and why he is the way he is and how his life affects others and how his failure to accept them could only be harmful to him. He will learn about the importance of the spirit of Christmas. He also learns what will happen when he dies if he does not change his ways.

I won’t give out any more of the story, I will say however, that the ending is wonderful, touching and happy.

The story is beautifully written, and each ghost is explained with such detail that you can almost imagine it; although I have always found the ghost of Marley to be the most frightening.

This book is touching and will show just how wonderful things can be on Christmas. You also get the feeling though that Scrooge will be a totally changed man even after the holidays.

You will definitely get the same feelings by watching the original movie as by reading the book, but the book is so much more sophisticated and detailed. It really is a welcome treat and will provide quite a bit more insight pertaining to the lives of the characters. I was also quite amused by the fact that even when the characters were speaking against each other they still did it with such self-respect, intelligents and dignity, this is probably a trait that was characteristic of Dicken’s time.

The book is listed as public domain and therefore can be read over the Internet. There are several different sites that have the book, here is the one that I read the book off of: http://www.stormfax.com/dickens1.htm. Look it up and read it, although I wouldn’t read it close to bed-time. The whole story still freaks me out just a little.

This book review was submitted in response to the “Favorite Christmas Book, Write Off,” sponsored by Elorraine. If the spirit moves you (Christmas Spirit that is) Please read the other submissions written about other great Christmas stories by these wonderful Epinon’s members:

Elorraine, acdc711, adrienne10, AmyLEnsor, BeeCharmer, Bmcnichol, bpotter1,
Caleo, cbgresh, CjsMommy, coldsteel7, dandj, Diane-E , dreamcatcher39,
drlolipop, ed_grover, fresca, Grouch, JdinPA, JENNI1396, jenninca, jennull,
jgibson2, kristinafh, Lisa_J, lucky43560, lunadisarm, margomargo, meanbeast,
msmorvay, nightridrr2000, poseidon, Redlass, shazzle99, tiasmom, Trevsmom and
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