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tatyanavogt's review against another edition
3.0
I don't know what to say. I've seen movie or show adaptations but I had never read the actual story. I felt like I knew what to expect regardless and I was correct. I enjoyed it, and will probably read it again in the future.
kbkittyb's review against another edition
4.0
It's hard to rate a compilation of short stories as some are always brilliant and some...less so.
But, overall, this is a good collection. Other than A Christmas Carol, my favourite was Christmas Festivities. Although short, it encapsulates the joys and magic of Christmas in the way that only Dickens can.
Personally, I found The Haunted Man a little boring and long - but, some of the beautiful sentences will stick with me for a long time.
The latter stories tend to include more religious references than I am able to follow which did dull the enjoyment of them somewhat.
Overall, a lovely collection. Although, Dickens is a bit hit and miss for me personally, he was an exceptionally good writer and knew how to keep Christmas well.
But, overall, this is a good collection. Other than A Christmas Carol, my favourite was Christmas Festivities. Although short, it encapsulates the joys and magic of Christmas in the way that only Dickens can.
Personally, I found The Haunted Man a little boring and long - but, some of the beautiful sentences will stick with me for a long time.
The latter stories tend to include more religious references than I am able to follow which did dull the enjoyment of them somewhat.
Overall, a lovely collection. Although, Dickens is a bit hit and miss for me personally, he was an exceptionally good writer and knew how to keep Christmas well.
annacation's review against another edition
3.0
The Cricket on the Hearth ⭐⭐
The Story of the Goblins Who Stole a Sexton ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Seven Poor Travellers ⭐⭐
What Christmas is as We Grow Older ⭐⭐⭐
Nobody's Story ⭐⭐
The Haunted Man ⭐⭐⭐
The Story of the Goblins Who Stole a Sexton ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Seven Poor Travellers ⭐⭐
What Christmas is as We Grow Older ⭐⭐⭐
Nobody's Story ⭐⭐
The Haunted Man ⭐⭐⭐
nightmarekitty13's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
slow-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
annahngr's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
chrisleesounds's review against another edition
3.0
I’m just gonna say it: the only thing worth reading in here is “A Christmas Carol.”
mellymc's review against another edition
3.0
A Christmas Carol was really enjoyable, despite the slow start with the Ghost of Christmas Past. However, in this edition I think the other Christmas writings were not as good and let it down.
drianturner's review against another edition
2.0
Disappointing. But for a Christmas Carol, this probably would have got a one! The Story of the Goblins Who Stole a Sexton was perhaps the only other enjoyoable story. After Carol, the other story of substance was the Haunted Man. I started it twice and still did not understand what was going on, so I gave up.
grahambailey89's review
3.0
"A Christmas Carol" is brilliant, but the other two Christmas stories included here ("The Chimes" and "A Haunted Man") are lesser known for a reason. They still shine with moments of great humour and the writing is strong throughout, but they seem like weaker riffs on the redemption story arc that underpins Christmas Carol.
Dickens rails against cynicism but it would take a stronger stomach than I have not to cringe at the endings - by the time he gets to "The End", everything has been tied up in such a sentimental way that it will have you reaching for the sick bucket. A Haunted Man, for example, has just about every character who has been mentioned over the previous 100 pages turning up for a slap-up Christmas meal. Still, it's Charles Dickens and even when he's bad, he's quite good. It's interesting to see some of his lesser writings but A Christmas Carol is the main attraction here.
Dickens rails against cynicism but it would take a stronger stomach than I have not to cringe at the endings - by the time he gets to "The End", everything has been tied up in such a sentimental way that it will have you reaching for the sick bucket. A Haunted Man, for example, has just about every character who has been mentioned over the previous 100 pages turning up for a slap-up Christmas meal. Still, it's Charles Dickens and even when he's bad, he's quite good. It's interesting to see some of his lesser writings but A Christmas Carol is the main attraction here.