A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

One of the most well known novels of all time, reading A Christmas Carol, at Christmas time no less, was utter joy. With so many film adaptions, I tried my hardiest to put their images out of mind and delayed viewing my favorite version (1951 starring Alastair Sim) until I completed the read.

Presented in 5 Staves, rather than chapters, Dickens chose to use this reference, a nod to the musical staff, indicating each stave was a story unto itself with a distinct end.

From avarice to benevolence, Ebeneezer Scrooge looks at his past, present and future and comes to understand that by holding on to life’s disappointments, he has cheated himself from living a joyful life. Not a moment too soon, Scrooge finally sees that joy is best shared with others.

Poor little Fan, sister to Ebeneezer, who had a heart of gold for her dear brother, but not one that could sustain the strain of a difficult labor and delivery. Had she lived, perhaps her brother’s bitterness might have been lessened.

Bob Cratchit’s extreme patience and nonjudgmental views put him in a category above most. It would be quite easy to see him as a bitter and angry man, yet he accepted his lot without complaint and seemed the wiser for it in the end.

Quotes:

Not to know that no space of regret can make amends for one life’s opportunity misused! Yet such was I! Oh! such was I!

The misery with them all was, clearly, that they sought to interfere, for good, in human matters, and had lost the power forever.

The curtains of his bed were drawn aside; and Scrooge, starting up into a half-recumbent attitude, found himself face to face with the unearthly visitor who drew them: as close to it as I am now to you, and I am standing in the spirit at your elbow.

I’ve made no secret of my adoration for Mr. Dickens and I won’t apologize for it. I imagine sitting at his side while he dipped pen to ink, chuckling as he did and taking no notice of me at all. All the while hoping that being in his presence alone would allow for a type of wordsmithery osmosis.

My rating for A Christmas Carol is a 10 out of 10.

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Next up , Edmund White’s A Boy’s Own Story…