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marieintheraw's review against another edition
3.0
honestly, this had been sitting around for awhile and I kept saying "next holiday season" so I finally popped in the audiobook while doing some crafts. It was fine, but not going to be a lasting classic for me.
inkfire's review against another edition
3.0
I liked the performance (listened to the recording by Richard Armitage on Audible), and even liked the story, though it was extremely predictable. The climax was drawn out to the point of being frustrating, but not enough to make me quit. The ending was very satisfactory.
The message is very family-oriented, but not very... Christmasy, if that makes sense? This story could just as easily have taken place over Bonfire Night or Easter or May Day. The holiday was a minor footnote.
The message is very family-oriented, but not very... Christmasy, if that makes sense? This story could just as easily have taken place over Bonfire Night or Easter or May Day. The holiday was a minor footnote.
audioandereadergrrly's review against another edition
3.0
A cute story with dry language and predictable ending. The narration was wonderful.
lisamshardlow's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked this. It was entertaining and heartwarming at the same time. Jennifer Saunders is a fantastic narrator and really brought the story to life.
isvesnarashast's review against another edition
4.0
A little warm Christmas story, a courtesy of Audible. It's incredible how something written over a hundred years ago can be so modern, yet full of aristocratic atmosphere of the 19th century at the same time.
PS: at some point I almost shed a tear. Moppet is a sweetheart!
PS: at some point I almost shed a tear. Moppet is a sweetheart!
foofers1622's review against another edition
5.0
I'm not gonna lie...Richard Armitage made this story come alive. I absolutely loved it! Thanks to Audible for bringing this sweet Christmas story to my attention.
missbryden's review against another edition
4.0
Nice story about mixed generations, especially an elderly man and children, and the older appreciating the qualities of the younger.
cathiedalziel's review against another edition
2.0
A predictable Christmas story. This wasn't bad, it just wasn't anything special. Elderly man who has disowned his daughter because she married out of their class, is convinced by his friend to hire some less advantaged children to help fill up his big house at Christmas with the sounds of children.
Definitely a story of it's time period. I don't tend to do well with classics and the way they are told.
Definitely a story of it's time period. I don't tend to do well with classics and the way they are told.
lezreadalot's review against another edition
4.0
"You wanted to break my heart," said Sir John, "and it's quite likely that you will realise your wish."
"No, no. I wanted to prove to you that you have a heart."
Wonderful! This is very much reminiscent of (and you could make a case for it being inspired by) A Christmas Carol, and I'm happy to say I liked it even better. The Dickens book is actually directly mentioned in the text, so you can't escape the comparison. I think the reason I liked this more is because there were no ghosts, no apparitions, no paranormal influences to make this rich crotchety old man mend his ways. And it helps that he didn't start off as a complete miser. There was however, as in A Christmas Carol, a precocious little child, and Moppet stole my heart completely.
The premise: Sir John, a lonely old man estranged from his only surviving child, is going to spend another Christmas alone. His friend suggests that children are the very things to make Christmas merry, and goes out to hire some to spend the season at Sir John's estate. It's whimsical, told in that antiquated but clever historical style that I like so much. It made some points about poverty and privilege, and even if it didn't get as in depth as I'd have liked, it was still really good. And just... super charming!
Listened to the audiobook by Richard Armitage, who IMO has one of THE most appealing voices, no hetero. Super lovely, and conveyed all the historical cosiness and charm that I want out of these kinds of Christmas stories. Heart eyes emoji all around.
This put me in turbo Christmas mode and I'm glad about it.
papidoc's review against another edition
4.0
A short, sweet Christmas story. Not much going on, really, and the "surprise" ending was telegraphed very early in the book, but the dialogue was entertaining, and I had fun imagining the interplay between the old man and the little girl. Richard Armitage did a terrific job of narration.