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gabriel_c's review
5.0
I feel weird having read these stories in January, but I'm glad I did because this seems like the perfect entry point to Dickens. It was quite an emotional journey.
As many users have pointed out A Christmas Carol is a timeless classic for a reason, but I was also surprised how much I was invested in the characters from The Chimes (that scene before the ending!) and The Cricket on the Hearth, despite not caring much about them at first.
The social commentary is another powerful aspect of this collection and I look forward to more insights and observations from this fellow.
As many users have pointed out A Christmas Carol is a timeless classic for a reason, but I was also surprised how much I was invested in the characters from The Chimes (that scene before the ending!) and The Cricket on the Hearth, despite not caring much about them at first.
The social commentary is another powerful aspect of this collection and I look forward to more insights and observations from this fellow.
jesps's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25
Har aldrig läst Dickens innan, så satte igång med den här kring jul. De är speciellt, för En julsaga finns i så många andra versioner runtom en att det först var svårt att skaka av sig senare varianter under läsningen av originalet. Men det är en väldigt trevlig saga, och perfekt i juletid.
Hade ingen aning om att Dickens skrivit flera julnoveller, men det var tydligen en årlig tradition efter den första julsagan. Resten är av varierande kvalitet, men följer oftast samma mönster, berättelser om klass, i samband med jul med övernaturliga krafter som kliver in och får huvudpersonerna att reflektera. Allt slutar alltid lyckligt, ibland på så invecklade och otroliga sätt att det blir fånigt, men det är väl också julbilden de här berättelserna satte fart på.
Bäst är A Christmas Carol och The Haunted Man. Svagast The Battle of Life som börjar toppen och faller snabbt.
Betyget dras upp av att Dickens är väldigt rolig. Och även om det tog lång tid att snåra sig igenom hans formuleringar (satt med den här boken i nästan tre veckor), så hade jag väldigt roligt under tiden.
Hade ingen aning om att Dickens skrivit flera julnoveller, men det var tydligen en årlig tradition efter den första julsagan. Resten är av varierande kvalitet, men följer oftast samma mönster, berättelser om klass, i samband med jul med övernaturliga krafter som kliver in och får huvudpersonerna att reflektera. Allt slutar alltid lyckligt, ibland på så invecklade och otroliga sätt att det blir fånigt, men det är väl också julbilden de här berättelserna satte fart på.
Bäst är A Christmas Carol och The Haunted Man. Svagast The Battle of Life som börjar toppen och faller snabbt.
Betyget dras upp av att Dickens är väldigt rolig. Och även om det tog lång tid att snåra sig igenom hans formuleringar (satt med den här boken i nästan tre veckor), så hade jag väldigt roligt under tiden.
texreader's review against another edition
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
What a sad set of circumstances—a school that teaches children only facts, nothing whimsical (I kept thinking of Star Trek Vulcans) and a bank owner who expects the same thing from his employees and his wife. This is how the youngsters grow up into damaged adults as a result. Meanwhile, a downtrodden and sympathetic man gets mixed up with these messed up people leading him astray as well. Hard Times is a hard book.
morninglightmama's review against another edition
4.0
My 8 year old son and I just finished this book on the day after Christmas, and I have to say that I LOVED reading this aloud with him. While it took twice the time to read it this way with all the time it took to explain passages in my own words, it also made me think even more about the text than if I were simply reading it to myself. What can I say about this story that hasn't already been said in the 150+ years since it was written? I enjoyed discussing the major themes of the story with my son, and now the challenge will be in remembering them in our daily lives. (To be technically accurate, I do have this particular version that includes 'A Christmas Carol,' but I haven't read the other 'Christmas Books' in this version yet-- that's for future days, but I liked this cover the best!)
drysers's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
First time reading A Christmas Carol and it confirms the general consensus that the muppets absolutely nailed the adaptation. Chimes is very much a ‘B side’ but enjoyable nonetheless. The Cricket on the Hearth is an incredible creation and had me weeping by the end.
amyspector's review against another edition
Time for a Reread!
How many can I get through before Christmas?
A Christmas Carol
The Chimes
The Cricket of the Hearth
The Battle of Life
The Haunted Man and the Ghost's Bargain
How many can I get through before Christmas?
A Christmas Carol
The Chimes
The Cricket of the Hearth
The Battle of Life
The Haunted Man and the Ghost's Bargain
stephs1's review against another edition
4.0
The perfect time of the year for A Christmas Carol, so familiar and so rich. The Chimes and The Cricket on the Hearth are also delightful seasonal stories.
visnisme's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75