Dickens in December Event: A Christmas Carol readalong
December 22, 2012 18 Comments
Caroline at Beauty is a Sleeping Cat and Delia at Postcards from Asia are organising the Dickens in December event. There is a read-a-long, a watch-a-long and there are of course book reviews.
I participated in the read-a-long of A Christmas Carol. It’s not the first time I’ve read it. I read it a few years ago. Also, I’ve seen movie adaptations more than once so I was pretty familiar with the story before I started reading this time around.
Questions for the read-a-long:
Is this the first time you are reading the story?
This was the second time, I think.
Did you like it?
Yes, I loved it. I found it so funny.
Which was your favorite scene?
When Scrooge calls a boy on Christmas Day and asks him to bring the biggest goose he can get. And he says to himself what a lovely boy this is, and how clever, etc.
Which was your least favorite scene?
In the beginning, when Bob Cratchit is described as having hardly a coal in the fire to keep warm while working. I felt so sorry for the poor man!
Which spirit and his stories did you find the most interesting?
I liked the Ghost of Christmas Present the most. I loved it when Scrooge wanted to join in with the jolliness he saw in the visions.
Was there a character you wish you knew more about?
I was wondering about Jacob Marley, what sort of person he had been. Was he just like Scrooge, or did he have a family? What was he like when he was alive?
How did you like the end?
The end was a bit quick. I’d have liked to spend a bit more time with the new Scrooge. Seeing in more detail how he spends his Christmas Day and how he visits his nephew and is all likeable and friendly.
Did you think it was believable?
Well, I don’t believe in ghosts, so: no. Also, I can’t see that someone would be so easily changed in the course of a (long) night. Most people would begin with defending their way of living, rather than quickly accept it’s not right. He converted a little too easily!
Do you know anyone like Scrooge?
I know people who are the opposite to Scrooge. They like to pay for everything. Which is actually pretty annoying! 🙂
Did he deserve to be saved?
Yes, of course. Especially now that he turned out to be a generous man, willing to help out other people.
Rating: 5 (out of 5) – very good
Pages: 91
First published: 1843
I got this book: bought it secondhand, a few years ago (re-read)
Genre: classic
About Judith
Leeswammes' Blog 
Pingback: Dickens in December – A Christmas Carol – Readalong « Beauty is a Sleeping Cat
Glad you liked it, Judith. For me, this is THE Christmas story of all time. I am now reading ickens’s other Christmas stories, but until now they all seem a big disappointment.
Nadine, for me too. When I think of a Christmas story, it will be this one. I haven’t tried the other Xmas stories although they are in the same volume that I own…
I planned to read this for the readalong but life got a bit crazy over the past few days with a sick child; I still want to read it before Christmas, though. Glad to hear you enjoyed it so much!
Beth, it’s less than 100 pages so hopefully you will get around to it. Yes, it’s good fun. Hope your child is better now. Not nice to be ill around Christmas.
I found the conversion a bit quick as well but it wouldn’t have been much of a Christmas story if he had been given more time to chnage. 🙂
It has a fairy tale feel and goes well with Christmas, I think.
Marley is intriguing and it would have been interesting to read more about him.
Thanks for joining, Judith.
Caroline, well, indeed, as a kind of fairy tale story it is absolutely fine that Scrooge is so easily converted, that’s true.
Thanks for the comment on my Questions/Responses for the Dickens Read-Along. I wanted to add another thought about the idea of Scrooge changing so quickly. I would say Dickens intended the story to be more like a fairy tale/fable which teaches an obvious lesson,, so the change does occur quickly and in the light of a story with a heavy-handed moral, it works. Just another thought. I enjoyed your comments too!
Cynthia
http://www.thethingsyoucanread.blogspot.com/
Cynthia, indeed, as a fairy tale-type story it works just fine. I guess because Scrooge is brought as a real person, I expected him to behave like a real person (and not be changed so quickly), but thinking about it as a fairy tale, yes, then it works.
I love a Christmas Carol. When my book club reviewed it a few years back for our Christmas gathering I tried to make “smoking bishop” which is a nasty alcoholic beverage but it was in the book – so we tried it 🙂
Merry Christmas!
Well done for trying that old-fashioned drink, Sheila, even if it wasn’t all that nice. Have a great Christmas!
I love reading your short but straight to the point answers!!
I haven’t read Christmas Carol yet…I am not sure I want to try reading anytime soon as I have just failed finishing another Dickens’ book 😦
Novroz, if you already know the story of A Christmas Carol (and you do) that will help a lot with reading the book. But of course Dickens’ language is always the same old-fashioned one, that is no different here.
I loved the entire ending. I found it hilarious. 🙂
my review of A Christmas Carol
I listened to this in December and it was my first time with the story. I loved it too – though I also thought he changed his ways a bit too quickly to be believable!
What a perfect choice for this time of year! Wishing you and your family a very merry Christmas and all the best for 2013 🙂
Thanks, Marie. I wish you a good 2013 too.
Pingback: Dickens in December – Wrap up « Beauty is a Sleeping Cat