A Christmas Carol - P.J. Lynch, Charles Dickens

Advantages: -
Disadvantages: -

...looking at missed opportunities in Scrooges past, of love from others spurned, of friends brushed aside and ultimately of a miserable, lonely and despised man. The question was could Scrooge do anything about the way he had become, or was he doomed to live and die on his own. “Scrooge entered timidly, and hung his head before this spirit. He was not the dogged Scrooge he had been; and though the Spirit’s eyes were clear and kind, he did not like to meet them. “I am the Ghost of Christmas Present,” said the Spirit. “Look upon me!” I doubt there are many people reading this review that don’t know the tale of Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol – be it in celluloid form, as a school play or by reading the book itself. And such is the shear lasting ethos of the tale within the tale that I’m sure it will continue to be enjoyed for many... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Everything - the wit and intellect, the style, the story.
Disadvantages: Perhaps just not long enough.

.... Long after I finished the book, I couldn’t stop thinking about certain points that Dickens raises and I still sometimes find myself thinking of them now, even years after I originally read it. Being such a short book, it's often produced with Dickens other festive works, 'The Chimes' and 'The Cricket on the Hearth'. A buyer should expect to pay approximately £5.99 new, or significantly cheaper for second-hand from Amazon or eBay. The internet is probably the better choice as there are far more copies of just 'A Christmas Carol' available, at a much cheaper price. In shops, it is almost impossible to find the novel printed without other Dickens work included, because of its short length. This is one of my favourite stories of all time, as Dickens mixes genres expertly. Essentially, the book really has something for everyone... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: A really beautiful story, about Scrooge's past, present and future.
Disadvantages: A little bit boring story.

...I have this book for our book report, our project in English. This is about Ebenezer Scrooge, an old miser is shown his past, his present, and if he does not change, his future. The first ghost reminds him how he once enjoyed life's pleasures. The second ghost shows Scrooge his current deplorable state. The final ghost foretells the likely outcome of his skinflint ways. A Christmas Carol is not so much a Christmas story but like for New Years. This story can influence us in changing ourselves, if we want this year's resolutions to actually mean something, we need to go through an Ebenezer-like process. For me the past for its lessons, search the present for its patterns, and project where those patterns will lead us in the future. And if the patterns lead to sadness, those patterns must be altered to lead us to better ends. Whether... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful