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mschrock8's review against another edition
3.0
"One's personal disappointments did not release one from one's obligations to others." Yes.
I was bothered that Longfellow's son employed a servant while in military camp. Perhaps this was common, but so strangeto me now.
I liked the reference to the Willard Hotel in Washington, D.C.
The current and historical stories did not come together well for me.
I was bothered that Longfellow's son employed a servant while in military camp. Perhaps this was common, but so strangeto me now.
I liked the reference to the Willard Hotel in Washington, D.C.
The current and historical stories did not come together well for me.
justicepirate's review
3.0
This was actually quite a lovely book! I could probably have made it 4 stars, but I don't think it will be one that I will reminisce about in the future.
This book takes us to a church where a children's choir takes place. They have been practicing singing "Christmas Bells." The people surrounding that event each have a story that you will learn about. It is really interesting and lovely! Throughout it all, you will also learn the story BEHIND the song. We get to go back to the Civil War period to learn about Longfellow's writing process and what his family went through before he wrote the song. It was really cool how everything meshed together.
This book takes us to a church where a children's choir takes place. They have been practicing singing "Christmas Bells." The people surrounding that event each have a story that you will learn about. It is really interesting and lovely! Throughout it all, you will also learn the story BEHIND the song. We get to go back to the Civil War period to learn about Longfellow's writing process and what his family went through before he wrote the song. It was really cool how everything meshed together.
lkramer3409's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I enjoyed this books modern story line but the historical portion took a lot of time and was so slow.
jbarr5's review
4.0
Christmas bells by Chiaverini, Jennifer
Have read many of the author's other quilting works. This one starts out with Sophia music program and there is no money and it's suffering from budget cuts and her underprivileged students.
She leads the choir into the practices by a 1863 poem from Longfellow.
Story goes back in time with alternating chapters from 1860 to the present as we learn the details of the time when the poem was written.
The past of Sophia comes to light also so we can understand why she didn't end up in Chicago...
Book is like having two different stories told and how they entwine with one another.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
Have read many of the author's other quilting works. This one starts out with Sophia music program and there is no money and it's suffering from budget cuts and her underprivileged students.
She leads the choir into the practices by a 1863 poem from Longfellow.
Story goes back in time with alternating chapters from 1860 to the present as we learn the details of the time when the poem was written.
The past of Sophia comes to light also so we can understand why she didn't end up in Chicago...
Book is like having two different stories told and how they entwine with one another.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
blogginboutbooks's review
4.0
This novel tells the (based on a true) story behind "Christmas Bells," the poem by Longfellow that was set to music and became "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" interwoven with a modern Christmas story about ordinary folks in need of small miracles. Since Longfellow is the only poet I really like (or understand), I enjoyed learning about him, even if his chapters were very text-dense and felt slow. The alternating story was interesting enough, although nothing super amazing. The endings of both stories are hopeful, making them heartwarming holiday tales. The book is slow and, truthfully, I almost put it down, but I really wanted to read the story behind one of my favorite carols. So I did. I'd give CHRISTMAS BELLS about a B-.
kdurham2's review
5.0
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
Two storylines contained in this sweet book. One storyline goes back to 1860 and follows Henry Wadsworth Longfellow as you see his life that inspired his "Christmas Bells" poem that has outlived him. The other storyline follows multiple people as they are preparing for a children's Christmas performance at a Catholic church and each chapter focuses on a character involved in one way or another with the performance and what they are dealing with during the holiday season.
Two storylines contained in this sweet book. One storyline goes back to 1860 and follows Henry Wadsworth Longfellow as you see his life that inspired his "Christmas Bells" poem that has outlived him. The other storyline follows multiple people as they are preparing for a children's Christmas performance at a Catholic church and each chapter focuses on a character involved in one way or another with the performance and what they are dealing with during the holiday season.
liberty_the_baron's review
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
readsewknit's review
3.0
This was our December book club selection, but as we couldn't find a time that worked for everyone to meet until the new year, I took my time reading it so the details would be fresh.
This book has an interesting structure. The chapters alternate points-of-view, with half of them being in the past, focused on Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and the other half set in present-day Cambridge with various individuals whose lives and stories intersect. The centerpiece is Longfellow's poem "Christmas Bells," which many of us know because it became the song, "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day."
In the Longfellow chapters, we learn about his life before, during, and after the Civil War; in the present-day sections, a church choir is the focus, with us getting to learn more about the director, the accompanist, the priest, members of the choir, patrons of the church, and so on. Most of the present-day is focused on a single day, although each character does end up revealing experiences from their past.
The author did her research on Longfellow and I found I knew little of his life before picking up this book. It was an easy, sweet read if you're looking for something light.
This book has an interesting structure. The chapters alternate points-of-view, with half of them being in the past, focused on Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and the other half set in present-day Cambridge with various individuals whose lives and stories intersect. The centerpiece is Longfellow's poem "Christmas Bells," which many of us know because it became the song, "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day."
In the Longfellow chapters, we learn about his life before, during, and after the Civil War; in the present-day sections, a church choir is the focus, with us getting to learn more about the director, the accompanist, the priest, members of the choir, patrons of the church, and so on. Most of the present-day is focused on a single day, although each character does end up revealing experiences from their past.
The author did her research on Longfellow and I found I knew little of his life before picking up this book. It was an easy, sweet read if you're looking for something light.