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mrdavid205's review against another edition
5.0
Yes, the Christmas books are very uneven in quality, The Chimes being particularly poor, and the writing is sometimes incredibly florid to modern readers, but the fact that the collection contains A Christmas Carol makes up for it. A Christmas Carol is quite simply the finest novella ever written. The highlight of the rest is The Haunted Man but for any readers of Dickens there is something to like in all of them.
penguininabluebox's review against another edition
4.0
This was a wonderful Christmassy read! In some stories I didn't quite get what they had to do with Christmas, but I really enjoyed all of this. Especially the little essay-like thingies at the end that just contained thoughts about Christmas-related things.
risky_oak's review against another edition
Since Christmas 2015 I decided on reading A Christmas Carol every December in a different edition every time.
This of course has some drawbacks:
1) Christmas Holidays in Cyprus are not suitable for reading but for eating and family gatherings and games. In other words, socialising the shit out of you.
2) Not all Dickens Christmas Books are about Christmas like A Christmas Carol (ACC)
3) Not all Dickens Christmas Books are as good as A Christmas Carol.
4) Every time I read something slow-going by Dickens I end up in a mini reading slump.
But this was a wonderful edition that deserves 5 stars as a collective object and 4 stars for the stories it includes, with the exception of ACC that deserves 5/5.
This beautiful hardback edition by Vintage includes all five novellas Dickens wrote during Christmas in 1840's but only two of them take place during Christmas (ACC and The Haunted Man and the Ghost's Bargain)
It also includes 8 short stories about Christmas or stories that were published in journals/magazines edited by Dickens during the Christmas period. (1850's-1860's)
It also has The Story of the Goblins Who Stole a Sexton which is actually a chapter from Dickens' first novel The Pickwick Papers.
So, with no further ado let's see which stories I liked, and I definitely recommend from this book and which stories I didn't like.
I loved:
A Christmas Carol 5/5
I liked:
The Story of The Goblins Who Stole a Sexton
The Cricket on the Hearth and
The Seven Poor Travelers 4/5
I enjoyed:
A Christmas Tree
A Christmas Dinner
What Christmas is, As We Grow Older
The Poor Relation's Story
The Child's Story
The Schoolboy's Story
and Nobody's Story 3/5
I didn't enjoy:
The Chimes
The Battle of Life
and The Haunted Man and the Ghost's Bargain 2/5
44/14= 3.14 but as I said I'll give 1.5 stars as well, because this edition was so beautiful with a very good quality paper, a beautiful cover and of course cozy illustrations for every part.
This of course has some drawbacks:
1) Christmas Holidays in Cyprus are not suitable for reading but for eating and family gatherings and games. In other words, socialising the shit out of you.
2) Not all Dickens Christmas Books are about Christmas like A Christmas Carol (ACC)
3) Not all Dickens Christmas Books are as good as A Christmas Carol.
4) Every time I read something slow-going by Dickens I end up in a mini reading slump.
But this was a wonderful edition that deserves 5 stars as a collective object and 4 stars for the stories it includes, with the exception of ACC that deserves 5/5.
This beautiful hardback edition by Vintage includes all five novellas Dickens wrote during Christmas in 1840's but only two of them take place during Christmas (ACC and The Haunted Man and the Ghost's Bargain)
It also includes 8 short stories about Christmas or stories that were published in journals/magazines edited by Dickens during the Christmas period. (1850's-1860's)
It also has The Story of the Goblins Who Stole a Sexton which is actually a chapter from Dickens' first novel The Pickwick Papers.
So, with no further ado let's see which stories I liked, and I definitely recommend from this book and which stories I didn't like.
I loved:
A Christmas Carol 5/5
I liked:
The Story of The Goblins Who Stole a Sexton
The Cricket on the Hearth and
The Seven Poor Travelers 4/5
I enjoyed:
A Christmas Tree
A Christmas Dinner
What Christmas is, As We Grow Older
The Poor Relation's Story
The Child's Story
The Schoolboy's Story
and Nobody's Story 3/5
I didn't enjoy:
The Chimes
The Battle of Life
and The Haunted Man and the Ghost's Bargain 2/5
44/14= 3.14 but as I said I'll give 1.5 stars as well, because this edition was so beautiful with a very good quality paper, a beautiful cover and of course cozy illustrations for every part.
risky_oak's review against another edition
Λίγο πολύ όλοι γνωρίζουμε το γνωστότερο έργο του Ντίκενς, Χριστουγεννιάτικα Κάλαντα.
Συγκαταλέγεται στα τρία πιο δημοφιλή έργα του Ντίκενς εδώ στο Goodreads.
Πρώτη θέση έχει η [b:Ιστορία δύο πόλεων|15853524|Ιστορία δύο πόλεων|Charles Dickens|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1369558493l/15853524._SY75_.jpg|2956372] με 824,897 ratings και 17,991 reviews.
Στη δεύτερη θέση ακολουθούν οι [b:Μεγάλες προσδοκίες|22022806|Μεγάλες προσδοκίες|Charles Dickens|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1398785414l/22022806._SX50_.jpg|2612809] με 668,319 ratings και 16,592 reviews.
Στην τρίτη θέση βρίσκεται η [b:Χριστουγενιάτικη ιστορία|42815387|Μια Χριστουγενιάτικη ιστορία A Christmas Carol |Charles Dickens|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1542278691l/42815387._SX50_.jpg|66571549] με 634,042 ratings και 20,567 reviews.
Ακολουθούν στην τέταρτη θέση ο Ζοφερός Οίκος και στην πέμπτη ο Ντέιβιντ Κόππερφιλντ.
Σε αυτή την έκδοση συμπεριλαμβάνονται και οι υπόλοιπες 4 χριστουγεννιάτικες νουβέλες του Ντίκενς οι οποίες σε σχέση φυσικά με την Χριστουγεννιάτικη Ιστορία είναι ψιλοάγνωστες και αφανείς.
Εδώ στο Goodreads βάσει δημοτικότητας οι [b:Οι καμπάνες|13136651|Οι καμπάνες|Charles Dickens|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1356120289l/13136651._SY75_.jpg|6068140] κατέχουν την 17η θέση με 7,066 ratings και 1,060 reviews, αμέσως μετά [b:Ο γρύλος στο τζάκι|15750361|Ο γρύλος στο τζάκι|Charles Dickens|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1342213296l/15750361._SX50_.jpg|3097440] στην 18η θέση με 5,759 ratings και 720 reviews.
Τελευταία και καταϊδρωμένα έρχονται [b:Το δώρο του φαντάσματος|33397196|Το δώρο του φαντάσματος|Charles Dickens|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1481888037l/33397196._SX50_.jpg|84908761] στην 23η θέση με μόλις 1,215 ratings και 187 reviews, και 28η [b:Η μάχη της ζωής|3170878|The Battle of Life|Charles Dickens|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1304602153l/3170878._SX50_.jpg|3259554] με μόλις 956 ratings και 130 reviews, από τα 20,000 που έχει η Χριστουγεννιάτικη ιστορία.
Και πάνω κάτω έχουν τις ίδιες θέσεις όσο αφορά το πόσο μου άρεσαν.
Πρώτη φυσικά έρχεται η Χριστουγεννιάτικη Ιστορία που πλέον το έχω ως παράδοση κάθε Δεκέμβρη να την διαβάζω.
Το αγαπημένο μου από τα βιβλία του Ντίκενς.
Δεύτερη θέση βάζω μαζί τις Καμπάνες και τον Γρύλο με τις Καμπάνες να επικρίνουν την Βικτωριανή κοινωνία που έβλεπε τους φτωχούς ως εγκληματίες από γεννησιμιού τους και παραπανίσιο κομμάτι του πληθυσμού, και τον Γρύλο να είναι μια cosy ιστορία.
Η Μάχη της ζωής και το Δώρο του Φαντάσματος δεν είναι και τα πιο ουάου αναγνώσματα που έχω διαβάσει από Ντίκενς. Η Μάχη είναι ένα γλυκανάλατο μελόδραμα μιας άλλης εποχής (18ο αιώνας) με ερωτικά τρίγωνα, ενώ στο Δώρο δεν ήταν πολύ ξεκάθαρο το νόημα και το μήνυμα που ήθελε να στείλει συγγραφέας και μου φάνηκε κάπως ξεπερασμένο.
Φυσικά τα φετινά Χριστούγεννα (2021) θα ξαναδιαβάσω την Χριστουγεννιάτικη Ιστορία. Για τις άλλες και ειδικα τις 2 τελευταίες, δεν καίγομαι..
ΧΙ: 10/10
ΟιΚ: 6/10
ΟΓΣΤζ: 7/10
ΤΔΤΦ: 4/10
ΗΜΤΖ: 5/10
Σύνολο:6,4/10
bottledbookscent's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
bookwomble's review against another edition
4.0
The Christmas Books, while not always being set during the festive season, each exemplify some aspect of the spirit of charity and "goodwill to all men" that Dickens felt so important in the celebration of Christ's birth, and which he did so much to forge into what is now seen as "a traditional Christmas".
The Battle of Life: Self-sacrifice and familial love are the messages here. Some wonderfully drawn characters in Clemency Newcome (servant) and Messrs. Snitchey and Craggs (lawyers). Expectations are nicely confounded in this one.
(It had been my intention to write a review of each story as I finished them - clearly that project is 'in progress'. Hopefully, the next time I read them...)
The Battle of Life: Self-sacrifice and familial love are the messages here. Some wonderfully drawn characters in Clemency Newcome (servant) and Messrs. Snitchey and Craggs (lawyers). Expectations are nicely confounded in this one.
(It had been my intention to write a review of each story as I finished them - clearly that project is 'in progress'. Hopefully, the next time I read them...)
louisenikoline's review against another edition
The Story of the Goblin Who Stole a Sexton - 3 stars
A Christmas Carol - 4 stars
The Chimes
The Cricket on the Hearth
The battle of Life
The Haunted man and the Ghost's Bargain
A Christmas Tree
A Christmas Dinner
What Christmas Is, As We Grow Older
The Seven Poor Travellers
The Poor Relation's Story
The Child's Story
The Schoolboy's Story
Nobody's Story
A Christmas Carol - 4 stars
The Chimes
The Cricket on the Hearth
The battle of Life
The Haunted man and the Ghost's Bargain
A Christmas Tree
A Christmas Dinner
What Christmas Is, As We Grow Older
The Seven Poor Travellers
The Poor Relation's Story
The Child's Story
The Schoolboy's Story
Nobody's Story
summernightbooks's review against another edition
3.0
There are many things from which I might have derived good, by which I have not profited, I dare say,' returned the nephew. 'Christmas among the rest. But I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round—apart from the veneration due to its sacred name and origin, if anything belonging to it can be apart from that—as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. And therefore, uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it!
Este libro contiene cinco relatos de navidad de Dickens, entre ellos el famosísimo A Christmas Carol. Decidí DNF este libro porque no me estaba atrapando tanto; leí dos relatos y el segundo apenas lo entendí. Creo que el estilo del autor no es para mi, así que quizás lea los relatos que me faltan la próxima navidad
Este libro contiene cinco relatos de navidad de Dickens, entre ellos el famosísimo A Christmas Carol. Decidí DNF este libro porque no me estaba atrapando tanto; leí dos relatos y el segundo apenas lo entendí. Creo que el estilo del autor no es para mi, así que quizás lea los relatos que me faltan la próxima navidad
ladyr's review against another edition
4.0
This is my go to book for feeing festive and takes centre stage on my table each Christmas!
This year I have read A Christmas Tree and What Christmas is As We Grow Older from it.
You can't beat Dickens and especially at Christmas!
This year I have read A Christmas Tree and What Christmas is As We Grow Older from it.
You can't beat Dickens and especially at Christmas!