“The Annotated Christmas Carol”

 

I know the story. I’ve probably seen three or four different film adaptations. My favorites being the 1938 version, the 1951 version and “Scrooged” with Bill Murray (1988). Yet with all that viewing under my belt, I still felt compelled to read Dickens’ words. I read an annotated version (TONS of factoids to quench one's thirst for knowledge), and what I found was not one but two versions of the same story. The second, stripped down version, was better suited to readings - Dickens continually edited his Carol. The lessons being the same, the writing being difficult at times, the images it conjured were a mish-mash of movie renditions. The appendix gave a glimpse of Dickens’ life, both professional and personal. Next in my reading queue: “Oliver Twist.”

“The Mistletoe Pact”

Christmas Rom-Com. A long time crush. Friends. Marriage pact. Vegas wedding. Quickly divorce. Bounce back to the past...bounce to present time. Confused? Me too. This novel felt like it was on a s-l-o-w simmer. Just GET ON WITH IT! Do they get together or not? If this were a crime novel, a great twist would have been finding out Dan’s cheating dad was Evie’s unknown father...just sayin’. In the end you get what you came for...although a little sappy, a happily-ever-after.

“Mr. Dickens and his Carol”

It’s sometimes hard to feel the true meaning of Christmas, especially in this time of Covid. Peace on earth. Goodwill towards men. How did Dickens see his world? How did he navigate a season of love, when he found it hard to see it around him? Perhaps, these are my questions too. 

Samantha Silva’s imagining of Dickens’ journey to write his “Carol” is rich in details. Names scribbled and stuffed in his pockets. The city of London described with such affection. The scruffy street urchins. The characters begin to feel like old friends or family. Leading lives we wish we had...lives we wish we could change...lives all too familiar. 

What have we thrown away? What have we held tight? What is it we cherish? How do we reconcile all our doubts and still see love and hope this Christmas season? Perhaps Dickens’ “Carol” is a reminder on how to live Christmas in our hearts everyday.

“Christmas at Fox Farm”

 

“Do things for people not because of who they are or what they do in return, but because of who you are.” -Aesop

This quote fits the characters in Pollard’s novel to a tee (except for the antagonist, of course). Going above and beyond because it’s the right thing to do. Helping others to be successful. Taking the time to lighten someone else’s load. A love affair to cheer for. An antagonist you’ll love to hate. The English countryside. Artists. An eccentric writer. Long walks. And of course, Christmas. Yes, there is a happily-ever-after ending, or at least the beginning of one...