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chasingpages1's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Grief, Death, Child death, and Chronic illness
Moderate: Ableism
Minor: Alcohol and Emotional abuse
philosopher_kj's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
tense
fast-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Classism and Child death
amandas_bookshelf's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Classism, Death, and Grief
erebus53's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I recently read a short story by Ray Bradbury with Charles Dickens in it, and made a checklist of books from that story to read, so this is one of those!
I realised that although I am familiar with the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, I had not actually read it for myself. I was interested to find that it is not just a cautionary tale against miserliness, but really it is a story that is about empathy and that it really goes both ways. By exploring the childhood events that lead to the general curmudgeonly meanness of spirit in the old man, the audience gets to empathise with those who have a gruff exterior.
The spooky scary descriptions of the ghosts that come to visit the old man (and scare him straight) are interesting to me because this was published in 1843, and to this day spectres are pictured like this in both books and video media. The idea of a spirit being faintly bioluminescent and translucent, with floaty hair that that moves like it's in a breeze is something I have seen many times over.
(tangent) In this story it actually refers to that same sort of glow that you see in the pantry when the meat goes off.. which I think is amusing. This is a phenom that was noted in the wars with wounded soldiers, and something I first learned of as a wee thing when the cat didn't eat her meat quick enough.
I really like the way the story is written. The banter is witty and the descriptions are clever. For all it's scariness and death and things I can see why it is an enduring favourite.
I realised that although I am familiar with the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, I had not actually read it for myself. I was interested to find that it is not just a cautionary tale against miserliness, but really it is a story that is about empathy and that it really goes both ways. By exploring the childhood events that lead to the general curmudgeonly meanness of spirit in the old man, the audience gets to empathise with those who have a gruff exterior.
The spooky scary descriptions of the ghosts that come to visit the old man (and scare him straight) are interesting to me because this was published in 1843, and to this day spectres are pictured like this in both books and video media. The idea of a spirit being faintly bioluminescent and translucent, with floaty hair that that moves like it's in a breeze is something I have seen many times over.
(tangent) In this story it actually refers to that same sort of glow that you see in the pantry when the meat goes off.. which I think is amusing. This is a phenom that was noted in the wars with wounded soldiers, and something I first learned of as a wee thing when the cat didn't eat her meat quick enough.
I really like the way the story is written. The banter is witty and the descriptions are clever. For all it's scariness and death and things I can see why it is an enduring favourite.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Terminal illness, and Death
rachelunabridged's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism and Grief
Moderate: Child death
readbyella_'s review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Classism
Minor: Child death and Chronic illness
lindseyhall44's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Classism, Terminal illness, Death, and Grief
maeverose's review against another edition
medium-paced
3.0
Not really sure how to rate this yet. I like the overall story, but I’d rather just watch an adaptation.. Even though it’s a short book, I don’t care for the story enough to spend the time reading it. I’m a slow reader, especially with classics because of the older language. I did not mesh with the writing style. Most of the book was easy enough to understand but there were parts I had no clue what was being said, and Dickens really likes to drag things on sometimes. I skimmed a little because I kind of just wanted to get through it. I think part of the issue as well is that I’m so used to the adaptations that I’m not gonna have a strong reaction to the book, already knowing everything that happens.
The muppets version remains superior
The muppets version remains superior
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Child death, Classism, Death, and Grief
Minor: Ableism and Misogyny
rieviolet's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is my first time reading the original text (plus audiobook) and not a translation or a children version. It is certainly an iconic story but I think that having been exposed to it so many times (also through various film and animated adaptations) has a bit diluted its impact on me. It was still a good reading experience but not a 5-star, mind-blowing read.
It is a very short story but still some descriptions went on a little bit too much, I do not need a detailed list of all the types of fruit you can find in the shops at Christmas time, ta very much!
Very much enjoyed the critique of classism and capitalistic greed but, Charles my dude, you are quite bad at describing women, please cease and desist!
It is a very short story but still some descriptions went on a little bit too much, I do not need a detailed list of all the types of fruit you can find in the shops at Christmas time, ta very much!
Very much enjoyed the critique of classism and capitalistic greed but, Charles my dude, you are quite bad at describing women, please cease and desist!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism, Child death, Death, and Grief
Minor: Chronic illness, Body horror, and Fatphobia
odrib's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Classism, Child death, Grief, and Terminal illness