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pluviophilebookworm's review against another edition
4.0
Well, this is no Christmas Carol, but I'd be lying if I said it didn't make me weep at several points. 4.5/5*.
scatter_of_light's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
This was my first book by Charles Dickens, although I am very familiar with the more known Christmas Carol. I absolutely loved the rich language and the fairy-tale-esque feel of the story.
Since this is the audible audiobook adaptation performed by Richard Armitage, I would also like to note that I think I enjoyed this version even more due to the excellent job done by Mr. Armitage creating not only an engaging atmosphere but also fully giving shape to the voices of each character. This has made the whole experience richer and reminded me of the days when we were little and people would read stories to you. I have to admit that some of those voices left me extremely amused. An enjoyable listen through and through.
This made me think that perhaps I should give the audiobook genre a little more attention in the future.
Since this is the audible audiobook adaptation performed by Richard Armitage, I would also like to note that I think I enjoyed this version even more due to the excellent job done by Mr. Armitage creating not only an engaging atmosphere but also fully giving shape to the voices of each character. This has made the whole experience richer and reminded me of the days when we were little and people would read stories to you. I have to admit that some of those voices left me extremely amused. An enjoyable listen through and through.
This made me think that perhaps I should give the audiobook genre a little more attention in the future.
hannahsatreat's review against another edition
4.0
Richard Armitage's reading was amazing. I loved all the character voices.
ltlmz's review against another edition
2.0
Although I enjoyed Richard Armitage's narration, I didn't enjoy this novella.
kynan's review against another edition
2.0
Finished 2017-01-06
A jolly way to ring in the new year! Well, kind of. At least fifty percent of the story is a pretty harrowing worst-case scenario for the protagonist, Trotty Veck, his family and friends.
It's very reminiscent of A Christmas Carol and, in fact, is apparently part of a series of Christmas pieces he was contracted to write, appearing one year after A Christmas Carol.
It's typical Dickensian fare, with characters you can wholeheartedly detest and, unfortunately, relate to all to well. The social injustice against which this book railed is just as familiar today as it was then.
A jolly way to ring in the new year! Well, kind of. At least fifty percent of the story is a pretty harrowing worst-case scenario for the protagonist, Trotty Veck, his family and friends.
It's very reminiscent of A Christmas Carol and, in fact, is apparently part of a series of Christmas pieces he was contracted to write, appearing one year after A Christmas Carol.
It's typical Dickensian fare, with characters you can wholeheartedly detest and, unfortunately, relate to all to well. The social injustice against which this book railed is just as familiar today as it was then.
hidekisohma's review against another edition
3.0
So with New year's nearly here, I decided to give "The Chimes" a try, as I had never read a Dickens before and i figured now was as good a time as any. Everyone has read "A Christmas Carol', "A Tale of Two Cities" as well as a few of his other more popular stories.
However, before a few weeks ago, i had never even heard of this short story existing. Why was that? Well i wanted to read and find this out.
And then i found out.
Basically, this story reads like somebody had the story of A Christmas Carol read to him for the first time a year ago, then a year later, the guy who heard it then got drunk and tried to recollect it to a half deaf guy.
If that's too cerebral for you, think of it like Walmart "Christmas Carol" that has a giant "made in china" sticker on the bottom.
It's hard to TLDR this story as there's not really a story. The main character is a guy who doesn't think too highly of the world and is kind of depressed, but at the same time is still a decent guy. he loves his daughter, helps out poor people, and has a conscience. But for some reason he has to learn lessons from magical chime goblins about what could possibly happen in the future.
I honestly don't even really understand what moral this story was trying to tell. We're lead to believe that the moral of the story is that he should believe in humanity, but at the same time, we learn that without the main character around, everyone he knows life goes to crap. I believe this story would have been much more effective as an 1800's version of "it's a wonderful life". the setup would have made a lot more sense.
The prose was fine in itself, even if it got a bit long winded when charlie was talking about the cold or tripe, and there were times when i could tell exactly what was going on, but there were also times when i started to zone out due to nothing happening at all.
I just wish this book was have had a clearer moral as the story was so muddled with half-ideas that i couldn't tell what the overall concept he was trying to get across was.
Either way, the main character was a nice guy and fine, and the story itself wasn't BAD, it was just a much less good version of ACC. All in all, i can absolutely see why this hardly got ANY adaptations for film or TV.
Big ol' meh. 2.5/5 rounded up to a 3.
However, before a few weeks ago, i had never even heard of this short story existing. Why was that? Well i wanted to read and find this out.
And then i found out.
Basically, this story reads like somebody had the story of A Christmas Carol read to him for the first time a year ago, then a year later, the guy who heard it then got drunk and tried to recollect it to a half deaf guy.
If that's too cerebral for you, think of it like Walmart "Christmas Carol" that has a giant "made in china" sticker on the bottom.
It's hard to TLDR this story as there's not really a story. The main character is a guy who doesn't think too highly of the world and is kind of depressed, but at the same time is still a decent guy. he loves his daughter, helps out poor people, and has a conscience. But for some reason he has to learn lessons from magical chime goblins about what could possibly happen in the future.
I honestly don't even really understand what moral this story was trying to tell. We're lead to believe that the moral of the story is that he should believe in humanity, but at the same time, we learn that without the main character around, everyone he knows life goes to crap. I believe this story would have been much more effective as an 1800's version of "it's a wonderful life". the setup would have made a lot more sense.
The prose was fine in itself, even if it got a bit long winded when charlie was talking about the cold or tripe, and there were times when i could tell exactly what was going on, but there were also times when i started to zone out due to nothing happening at all.
I just wish this book was have had a clearer moral as the story was so muddled with half-ideas that i couldn't tell what the overall concept he was trying to get across was.
Either way, the main character was a nice guy and fine, and the story itself wasn't BAD, it was just a much less good version of ACC. All in all, i can absolutely see why this hardly got ANY adaptations for film or TV.
Big ol' meh. 2.5/5 rounded up to a 3.
rebelbelle13's review against another edition
3.0
Imagine, for a moment, that you've written a short story. It's really, *really* popular, and you skyrocket in popularity and the money is pouring in. You're asked to write a second one. Seeing how popular the first one was, you double dip back into the old idea pot, change the characters, add some new elements, and stick in a new moral. Ta-da!! You've got a (sort of) brand new story. I see you, Dickens. I don't blame you for trying to pass off a retelling of A Christmas Carol. That was an amazing story- some even might say perfect. But by re-using that old story structure (a year later, I might add) you rather sully a bit of shine from the first.
Instead of Christmas, it's New Years. Instead of ghosts, it's goblins. Instead of a rich miser you have a miserable, dejected pauper. You see where I'm going with this. There's nothing wrong with the prose- it's gorgeous as usual and so beautifully describes the setting, the weather, and, my favorite part- the wind and the steeple. That part is just poetry.
The Chimes is not a terrible story, and indeed one that should be read and explored- but it can be difficult trudging through at times due to Dickens focusing more on the morals and lessons from the story rather than the characters, atmosphere, setting and wonder that A Christmas Carol provides. Trotty is not nearly as endearing as Ebenezer Scrooge (I could possibly be biased here because I have a soft spot in my heart for the old miser) and makes for a mediocre-at-best protagonist. The other characters at play are not nearly as memorable, and this leads me to believe that the story itself will not stay with me as well as others.
All in all, it is a decent read, but can't hold a candle to Dickens other masterpieces. It's just fine.
Instead of Christmas, it's New Years. Instead of ghosts, it's goblins. Instead of a rich miser you have a miserable, dejected pauper. You see where I'm going with this. There's nothing wrong with the prose- it's gorgeous as usual and so beautifully describes the setting, the weather, and, my favorite part- the wind and the steeple. That part is just poetry.
The Chimes is not a terrible story, and indeed one that should be read and explored- but it can be difficult trudging through at times due to Dickens focusing more on the morals and lessons from the story rather than the characters, atmosphere, setting and wonder that A Christmas Carol provides. Trotty is not nearly as endearing as Ebenezer Scrooge (I could possibly be biased here because I have a soft spot in my heart for the old miser) and makes for a mediocre-at-best protagonist. The other characters at play are not nearly as memorable, and this leads me to believe that the story itself will not stay with me as well as others.
All in all, it is a decent read, but can't hold a candle to Dickens other masterpieces. It's just fine.
silver_valkyrie_reads's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
This is like a reverse [book:A Christmas Carol|5326], in which a poor man learns to hate rich men on New Year's Eve...
Okay, it's a little more complicated than that, and the book makes a few really good points about the unfair way poor people are treated and talked about. (And interesting how relevant those lines still are today...)
That said, this is not an enjoyable story unless you enjoy sadness.
Okay, it's a little more complicated than that, and the book makes a few really good points about the unfair way poor people are treated and talked about. (And interesting how relevant those lines still are today...)
That said, this is not an enjoyable story unless you enjoy sadness.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism and Grief
Moderate: Death and Suicide
This is like a reverse [book:A Christmas Carol|5326], in which a poor man learns to hate rich men... Okay, it's a little more complicated than that, and the book makes a few really good points about the unfair way poor people are treated and talked about. (And interesting how relevant those lines still are today...) That said, this is not an enjoyable story unless you enjoy sadness.