Reviews

The Greatest Gift: A Christmas Tale by Philip Van Doren Stern

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gordonstanheight's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes

5.0

mayareadsitall's review against another edition

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4.0

I'd rate the novella 3 stars for its concise and straightforward story that inspired "It's A Wonderful Life." It zeroes in on the central theme of life evaluation, effectively conveying self-worth, the impact of actions, and the importance of life—themes also present in the movie. However, due to its brevity, character development falls short compared to the film adaptation.

Overall, it was an intriguing read, offering insight into how the visual medium enriches the narrative with humor, drama, and sentimentality, all while preserving the core messages that make it a beloved holiday classic. I'd add another star for the extra chapters beyond the novella, which delve into the story behind the making of "It's A Wonderful Life" and the ensuing discussions because it's one of my favorite movies of all time.

trayceebee's review

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5.0

I was told by a friend that this is the book It’s A Wonderful Life was based on. It was easy to find, so I read it over my lunch break. I’m a slow reader, but it went very quickly.
The details are minimal, very sparse, but there’s no doubt that the story is the same. It’s so very quaint! It made me love the movie even more!

sanjastajdohar's review against another edition

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5.0

Not as nuanced a story as the movie plot, but nonetheless a wonderful story, beautifully read by the late Edward Hermann, whose voice is so fitting to the story. A wonderful gem.

toniaslibrary's review against another edition

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3.0

Given that I absolutely love the movie, I was a bit disappointed, since I was expecting something more. The general message was there, but it was too short and simplistic and provided nothing additional to something who had already watched "It's a wonderful life.

roomforastory's review against another edition

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4.0

This is the book that the movie "It's A Wonderful Life" is based on. It's short and the movie is an embellished version of this story, but touching and heartfelt even in its brevity.