A review by blogginboutbooks
Christmas Bells by Jennifer Chiaverini

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-.