Scan barcode
3keekee0's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
I thought every story in here was great or good. Some of my particular favorites were, "The Gift of the Magi," "The Last Leaf," and "A Retrieved Reformation"
vhenderson93's review against another edition
2.0
Please don't hate me but this came across as unclimatic and underwhelming. I know this is supposed to be one of those must-read Christmas stories with its message of sacrifice and giving of one's self for the sake of true love. That's why I chose to read it. Don't get me wrong, the general plot and themes are great but the execution was lacking.
For starters I could never get a solid picture on the era. Sometimes it came off as a 60/70 vibe. Then I got the 40's. Down the road it read like a Victorian setting. By the end I was back to the 40s. That in itself made it difficult to follow and get a picture for the characters. You can't really visualize a character in Victorian garb while big band plays in the background.
Then there was the flow/transition. It was an easy read but it moved entirely too fast and didn't give the reader much time to breathe. Now I know it's only like 12 pages long and therefore has to move quickly but it was an unsatisfyingly quick read. The ending was a bit of a puzzle.
I didn't care much for the characters because we see so little of them. Jim especially. I think the most I got out of Dell's character was a whole lot of vanity, going on and on thinking Jim would hate her because of her new do.
I really did want to enjoy this. I think I would have liked it much better if there had been more time to get to know the characters. Overall, great message but not my cup of tea.
For starters I could never get a solid picture on the era. Sometimes it came off as a 60/70 vibe. Then I got the 40's. Down the road it read like a Victorian setting. By the end I was back to the 40s. That in itself made it difficult to follow and get a picture for the characters. You can't really visualize a character in Victorian garb while big band plays in the background.
Then there was the flow/transition. It was an easy read but it moved entirely too fast and didn't give the reader much time to breathe. Now I know it's only like 12 pages long and therefore has to move quickly but it was an unsatisfyingly quick read. The ending was a bit of a puzzle.
I didn't care much for the characters because we see so little of them. Jim especially. I think the most I got out of Dell's character was a whole lot of vanity, going on and on thinking Jim would hate her because of her new do.
I really did want to enjoy this. I think I would have liked it much better if there had been more time to get to know the characters. Overall, great message but not my cup of tea.
jenmkin's review against another edition
3.0
Don't you hate it when you get your husband a chain for his pocketwatch but he sold his watch to buy you ornamental combs for your hair but you sold your hair to buy the chain
ttovarischh's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
liberty_bojangles's review against another edition
3.0
The Gift of the Magi is a well-known but touching short story about a loving couple who live impoverished. The woman sells her long, beautiful hair in order to purchase a chain for her husband’s watch. He sells his watch to be magnificent hair combs for his wife. The two could have cried about it, but they reacted with resignation. The Last Leaf was also sorrowful. A young woman is ill with pneumonia and is waiting to die when the last leaf on the ivy tree leaves, but it doesn’t, and she recovers. The painter living below painted a fake leaf at the window but contracted pneumonia whilst doing so on a rainy day and dies. These twelve short stories are completely unique, funny, sad, trivial, but all have this kind of fluid narration and a little surprise ending. Delighted to have read this little book.
https://redheadwithabrain.ch/index.php/2024/03/20/the-gift-of-the-magi-o-henry-1906-1917/
https://redheadwithabrain.ch/index.php/2024/03/20/the-gift-of-the-magi-o-henry-1906-1917/
rainystast's review against another edition
4.0
The book is about two dumbasses, one a ditzy wife with long hair, and the other about a typical 1900s stoic family man with a watch. They're both poor, so the wife cuts off her hair and sells it to pay for an accessory for the man's watch, and the man sells his watch to buy her a special new comb that she's always wanted, rendering both of their gifts sweet, but ultimately useless.
The woman's hair will at least grow back, the guy has to buy a whole new watch so at least someone benefitted here.
The woman's hair will at least grow back, the guy has to buy a whole new watch so at least someone benefitted here.
alysses's review against another edition
4.0
This is always a great read. I felt like reading Christmas stories and this one came to mind. A couple who sacrifice their most precious belongings in order to gift the other with a Christmas present only to find out that in the end their love for one another is all they need. Sweet.
ameliajenningsssss's review against another edition
4.0
I had to read this for school..I have a test on it on Monday. It was pretty enjoyable and I always loved watching the Mickey version of this story so it was fun to read!