Lost December

by Richard Paul Evans, John Dossett (Reading)

From one of America’s most beloved storytellers comes his most spiritual book since The Christmas Box. The New York Times bestselling author of The Christmas Box and The Walk series returns with a modern-day, Christmas-themed retelling of the story of the prodigal son.

It has been said that sometimes the greatest hope in our lives is just a second chance to do what we should have done right in the first place. This is the story of my second chance.

When Luke Crisp graduates from business school, his father, CEO and cofounder of Fortune 500 Crisp’s Copy Centers, is ready to share some good news: he wants to turn the family business over to his son. But Luke has other plans. Taking control of his trust fund, Luke leaves home to pursue a life of reckless indulgence.

But when his funds run out, so do his friends. Humbled, alone, and too ashamed to ask his father for help, Luke secretly takes a lowly job at one of his father’s copy centers. There he falls in love with a struggling single mother and begins to understand the greatest source of personal joy.

Lost December is New York Times bestselling author Richard Paul Evans’s modern-day holiday version of the biblical story of the prodigal son, a powerful tale of redemption, hope, and the true meaning of love.

Genres: Christmas, Fiction, Book Club, Holiday, Romance, Inspirational, Christian Fiction

Audiobook

First published October 4, 2011

About the author

When Richard Paul Evans wrote the #1 best-seller, The Christmas Box, he never intended on becoming an internationally known author. His quiet story of parental love and the true meaning of Christmas made history when it became simultaneously the #1 hardcover and paperback book in the nation. Since then, more than eight million copies of The Christmas Box have been printed. He has since written eleven consecutive New York Times bestsellers. He is one the few authors in history to have hit both the fiction and non-fiction bestseller lists. He has won several awards for his books including the 1998 American Mothers Book Award, two first place Storytelling World Awards, and the 2005 Romantic Times Best Women Novel of the Year Award. His books have been translated into more than 22 languages and several have been international best sellers.

Reviews

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

For this review I am just going to put what I learned from this great story. Even good people make bad choices sometimes. The road downhill sometimes sneaks up on you. There is always hope. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. Sometimes you have to hit your lowest point to find your way back. There are angels living as people among us. There is good in the world; look for it. Sometimes you just need one person who cares to get back on track. Selfishness never made anyone happy. Service brings a smile to someone's face. Never give up hope. Everyone can't be trusted. Even the richest can lose it all. Don't be wasteful. And the lead character Luke says it best: "I learned to be grateful."

I highly recommend all of Richard Paul Evans' books to everyone!

[Syndi · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book has a chrismast theme to it. i am expecting a tear jerking story. instead i found bland, dry narrating story. the plot is simple and entertaining. but it does not develop well.

luke is a robot. no emotion at all. other character just as bland as luke. toward the end of this book, everything just becomes flat.

for the story i give it 3 stars. it just missing execution writting.

[Jinky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Richard Paul Evans is one of my go to authors when I want to get out of a reading slump (which I am in at the moment). He has a way of telling stories that touch the heart (my kind of book), using melancholy to drive at a moral message. I often find myself emotionally involved with the characters. This book is no exception. A riches-to-rags story through a take on the well known Bible parable The Prodigal Son. Prodigal being the key word in defining the essence of the tale ...(paraphrased from the book) misunderstanding the word thinking it means "lost" or "wayward" when it really means "wastefully extravagant", but it also means "to give abundantly". You're likely to need a tissue. I did.

Emotionally charging and character building. A lesson in giving and being grateful. Appropriate feel good book during this Christmas season.

On a side note: I learned interesting things about being homeless.

Jinky is Reading

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The parable of the prodigal son is a powerful story, and Richard Paul Evans does a great job of bringing it into modern times. The only complaint I have is that there's quite a bit of wasted space in the edition I have.

[Jeanne Adamek · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was in the wrong frame of mind the first time i started this book. I rebooted and started it again. I found the hallmark soul of the story with the appropriate peaks and valleys as I rode the plot roller coaster to the gleeful ending. I love the endings. They are so satisfying. I know they might not deliver the shock you find with some authors. They sweet finish they give provide plenty to those that enjoy the fairy tale feeling at the end. It is the potential for life and love in every chapter. I love this author and again, recommend this book too.
happy reading.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as a Christmas Gift.This book was awesome! A modern day story of the prodigal son. It is totally amazing. I was so onto the book I had a hard time putting it down. It will make you laugh, it will make you cry, it will make you think about what is important in life. If you get a chance to get a copy of Lost December by Richard Paul Evans you should you won't be disappointed. Thanks to Linda for recommending this book to me!

[Beverly Duffy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listen to this an audio and loved the narrator. It kept me interested in what was going to happen next. What a wonderful story about lost and appreciation for what you have and never taking things for granted. I would recommend this a quick heartfelt story told through a man journal.

[Linda Hart · Rating 3 out of 5]

Typical Richard Paul Evans fluffy, predictable, easy clean read.

[Darla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this modern reselling of the prodigal son parable. It brought tears as the father and son were reunited. Evans is a gifted storyteller!

[Mike · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for Christmas stories. I know most of them are sappy and sentimental but when written well, the entertainment value makes the treacle go down easier. This is why I never tire of A Christmas Carol or the 400 Christmas movies on the Hallmark Channel each year. That's why I bought this book at the sale my local library had a few years ago. So yesterday, I finally got to read Lost December.

I mean, it's ending is set around Christmas time. I guess by "Die Hard is a Christmas movie" rules, this makes Lost December a Christmas book. . . right?

This book is okay. Before reading Lost December, I had never heard of Richard Paul Evans, but I am familiar with this type of fiction: American spiritual Christianity told almost as a modern fable. There are actually business books written in this style that are pretty good and informative (e.g. Patrick Lencioni). But this book just seemed too flat and dull. The characterizations just seemed so 1 dimensional and stretched the boundaries of credulity.

Luke is a pretty smart kid when the plot needs him to be smart, but he is dumb as a sack of rusty hammers when the plot needs him to be dumb. I mean, he lived in a room by himself, could afford it comfortably, and he *chose* to move in with Sean? The plot was just a contrivance to get Luke homeless and broke. And if I heard about my dad disowning me and then finding out he had heart problems from one of his coworkers, you'd best believe I'd at least call to find out what's going on from my dad directly, just to make sure he's still alive at the very least, regardless of how badly I screwed up. And then there are the parts when Luke is a wunderkind, like when he shows the manager of the copy store that he knows all the equipment in the store and is great at customer service.

But so what? These types of plot holes are part of the package when you read stories like these. I would have been fine just stuffing this book into the Goodwill bin and forgetting about it, but there's one part of the book that I wanted to bring up. In general, the presentation of women in this book is problematic. People have mentioned Candace's abrupt heel turn in other reviews. However, Luke comes off as kind of stalkery when he's first trying to get to know Rachael. At the least, he comes off as pushy and belligerent. I know Luke says he feels lonely, but he's broke and trying to get back on his feet. It seems like a bad idea to harass a coworker at a job you desperately need. I know things work out in the end, but Rachael has every right to keep to herself as anyone.

Overall, this book is meh. It's not a Christmas story. Not really. It's just a fluffy inspirational book you pick up at the Gold Crown store when your office is doing Secret Santa. It has problems, but if you like this type of fiction, you know what those problems are already and you read it anyway. I wish I could add a shoulder shrug to my 2 star rating.

[Jackie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I probably shouldn't review this book now, since I just spent a hellish morning getting grandkids to the dentist. Having said that, I will try not to take my frustations out on a book (or the, I am sure, really nice Richard Paul Evans). Hence, the 2 stars.
We will start with the postiives.
1. Short.
2. Biblical reference to the prodigal son.
3. I learned some new meanings for the word "prodigal".
4. A nice Christmas gift from my boss. I appreciate him thinking of me :0)
5. Short.
On the downside:
1. The characters in this book were not realistic or likeable. Very one-dimentional. I kept wondering what Luke's father was doing during the time Luke was throwing his life down the toilet. Why was there no communication between them if they were so close??? The book would have been much better if Mr. Evans would have spent some time on telling the story of the father.
2. The ending was not only predictable, which is excused because he was, after all, retelling a story, but it was rushed and sappy.
3. I wanted to hit Luke over the head with a very large piece of luggage every time he did something like believe evertything his "friends" said. Oh wait, I can't because his luggage was stolen while he was sleeping under a tree in sin infested Las Vegas!
4. The writing is very simplistic and vague.
5. It could have been shorter, and the point would have been the same.
I could go on, but I will leave it at that...

[Chantel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a beautifully written modern day retelling of the biblical parable
"The Prodigal Son".

Luke Crisp graduates from business school, his father, CEO and co-founder of Fortune 500 Crisp’s Copy Centers, is ready to share some good news: he wants to turn the family business over to his son. But Luke has other plans. Taking control of his trust fund, Luke leaves home to pursue a life of reckless indulgence.

But when his funds run out, so do his friends. Humbled, alone, and too ashamed to ask his father for help, Luke secretly takes a lowly job at one of his father’s copy centers. There he falls in love with a struggling single mother and begins to understand the greatest source of personal joy.

As I read this story I was reminded of God's extravagant love for us. No matter how far we have fallen, God is ready an willing save. We just have to call out to him. I enjoyed this story so much, it's a insta favorite.

[Kav · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart-tugging, Kleenex-inducing modern twist on the Prodigal Son. Fabulous retelling, though I'll admit that Luke is hard to take in the first half of the book. What a wretchedly lost soul and some of his so-called 'friends' had me fuming! But, as in the biblical story, Luke finally reaches rock bottom and there's nowhere to go but up from there!

The second half of the book is a powerful testimony of so many gospel truths -- gratitude, redemption, the hope of second chances and the secret to true happiness. And all wrapped up with a Christmas bow! Richard Paul Evans delivers another heartwarming holiday story destined to be enjoyed year after year.

[Jody Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't like sappy romances and this book has some of the appendages of that type of book. But somewhere, somehow it isn't. It's touching, thought provoking, and has depth.

Favorite quotation:
The truest indication of gratitude is to return what you're grateful for.
Another fav...
If you couldn't get out to the quicksand when you were strong, how are you going to get out after you've lost all your strength?--This thought leads to the premise, we all need each other's help-- and we have much to learn from each other.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Could not put this book down. Richard Paul Evans has a way of doing that to me.

[Greg · Rating 3 out of 5]

For years I have looked forward to reading Richard Paul Evans’ latest novel. Unfortunately, this one was a little disappointing. It was oversaturated in melancholy for most of the book, and though it had a positive ending, it almost seemed like an afterthought rather than a satisfying, meaty, tying-up-loose-ends way to finish the book. This one tied up the loose ends in just a couple of pages, much like movies where there is a scrolling “here’s what happened to the characters” sort of way. I didn’t much care for it…I wish he had been written earlier parts a little more tightly, leaving him page space to write a more satisfying ending to the novel.

Nonetheless, I always look forward to the “journal” entries of his main characters for the pithy thoughts they have to offer, and this one did not disappoint in that respect. However, I want to focus my final comments on two in-text quotes.

1. At one point, Luke says “it’s one thing to be careless with money; it’s much worse to be careless with someone’s heart.” The older (and hopefully wiser) I become, the more I agree with this thought. As I business professor, I suppose I should be more hard-nosed than I am, but I find myself agreeing with the few who not only say, but act as if, their employees and co-workers are at least as important as their customers, shareholders, market share, and financial strength. Some companies, such as TD Industries, understand this principle of servant leadership quite well, and have been tremendously successful because of it.

2. At the end, Luke says “If it hadn’t been for the darkness, I never would have known the light.” Now this one I disagree with, at least as stated. I am convinced that one need not know darkness, or at least the darkness of disobedience and transgression, to know the light. We will always have opposition in our lives so that we can value the light, but it need not come through personal failings.

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

No half star ratings available for Goodreads so I'm rounding up because I had a very hard time getting into this book. In fact, I almost gave up on it but I'm glad I didn't. About halfway through when Luke blows his fortune (a million dollars) and becomes homeless, it starts to get interesting. It was a perfect section to read on Christmas Eve because it really makes you think and appreciate what you have.
Honestly in the beginning I didn't feel sorry for Luke at all because of how freaking stupid he was. What kind of moron intentionally blows through a million dollars on extravagant European hotels, etc and then practically gives the rest his life savings to some jackass that he met in college? It was obvious from the start that the guy had no intention of ever repaying his debt.
But Luke's experience with homelessness was probably the most interesting part of the book.
Unfortunately the book crashed and burned for me at the end.
He reconnected with his father (whom he'd been told considered him dead) so you expect there to be major friction. Instead the reunion and the remainder of the book unfolds like a picture perfect fairy tale.
I feel betrayed because I gave this book a chance by reading it to the end. It was almost like the author chickened out on writing a meaningful ending with a father and son working towards redemption and forgiveness and instead gives us a nice, neat little package tied up with a bow.
No thank you.
The title is somewhat appropriate since I lost five days of my life reading this book.

[Jodi · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful book for all teens and adults to read. This was a story about the prodigal son. The son in the story, Luke has a father who is extremely wealthy. The father owns a chain of businesses and wants his son to take over the whole operation one day. The father wants him to go to get his masters degree and be the first one the family to ever do this. The son was hesitant, but then decides to go. He gets in with the wrong crowd and ends up down a bad path. He tells his father after graduation that he does not want anything to do with the company and takes his trust fund and decides to travel abroad with his new friends. When the money runs out he learns who his true friends are. The girlfriend he thought he wants to marry leaves him when the money goes. He ends up on the streets in Las Vegas. A guy finds him and gives him a chance. He starts working two jobs and getting back on track. He ends up working for one of his father companies. In the end he finally goes back to see his father. His father is so grateful and never says I told you son. This story started slow, but wow did it pick up. I loved the story line and all the characters. This was a true show of unconditional love that a parent should have no matter what the children do.

[Jessie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A typical Richard Paul Evans book. Easy, quick read and enjoyable. It has a message, as all of his do. This wasn't too preachy. It was basically the modern day story of the prodigal son. **stop here for spoilers*** The son of a rich man goes off to get his MBA and gets in with the wrong crowd. They take him for all of his money on a spending spree in Europe. He goes through a million dollars in 40 days. He comes back to Vegas and finds out he is out of money. He is homeless with no friends. He lives on the streets and gets mugged. A person is kind to him and helps him. He gets a job and back on his feet. He starts helping at a copy place that his dad is the CEO of, and does well. Finally he goes back home and of course his dad is there to welcome him back. He then is the new CEO of the company. On the way he lost one girlfriend and gained another. He gets married and everyone lives happily ever after. We had a slow parent teacher conference. I love getting paid to read a book. :) fun.

[Lora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Richard Paul Evans is usually good for a fast "feel-good" story with a message. This book is no exception. Love the story of the prodigal son, which this wasn't, but appreciated it. Had to read it before I gave it to my son as a present and really liked the message. The main moral was, "If it hadn't been for the darkness, I never would have known the light. In life we all take different paths, some more difficult than others, but in the end, all that matters is whether or not they lead us home." (346) As a mother I appreciated this little passage, "You're a good mother," I said. "I wonder sometimes." "All good parents wonder. That's what makes them good." (291) The main character seemed a little too mature to me but I appreciated the maturity. Doesn't seem plausible to understand and appreciate it ALL for what it is miraculously all at the same time. Enjoyed this quote. "It was my choice. I may not have liked my destination, but I had chosen the path." (181)

[Ashley Johnson (Bigham) · Rating 1 out of 5]

Even though it's an incredibly quick read, I put this down at about the halfway point. I found it overly simplistic and unrealistic in its plot points and narration. I've liked other books by this author, but I did not find this novel believable.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book because it was kind of different (as far as the story goes) than a lot of the books I have been reading. The story was interesting and all the good themes related to love and loss were there but it was just unique. It was one of those stories that is pretty heartwarming!

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect "feel-good" and fast read book with an important message

[Lorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been a long time since I have stayed up to 3 am to finish a book, but that's what happened with this one! I absolutely loved it and was so drawn into the story that I just couldn't put it down! This was basically a retelling of the Bible story of the prodigal son, but set in modern times.

Luke Crisp, only son and heir to the Crisp Copy Center fortune, rejects his father and the life they planned out together after falling in with the wrong crowd in grad school. After graduation,instead of taking over the business as planned, Luke takes his inheritance and travels to Europe with friends. Before long, he is paying for everything, as his friends quickly run out of money. $4,000 a night hotel rooms, fancy restaurants, tons of alcohol and gambling quickly eat away at his money.

Eventually the inevitable happens and Luke runs out of money. His fiends leave him, most painfully was Candace, his girlfriend that he was going to propose to. He finds himself a lone in Vegas with no money, no job and no place to live. He believes that his father has disowned him. He adjusts to being homeless as best as can until one day he is beaten and left for dead. He is rescued by a kind stranger and given another chance at life.

Luke slowly puts his life back together and eventually finds love again. When he sees wrongdoings within his father's company, he knows he must confront him and ask for help. His father welcomes him home with open arms, much like the father in the Bible story.

This was such an uplifting story of hope and forgiveness. It shows us that even good people make mistakes, but you can always make things right again. I really enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it!

[Katherine Whitworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I figured a book with this title would be a good way to kick off the month of December, and I was right. I LOVED this modern retelling of the Biblical “prodigal son” parable. It was heartwarming and filled with principles of righteousness in action: humility, hard work, honesty, forgiveness, charity, temperance, etc.

I’ve never hated a book character as much as I hated Sean! The first half of the book frustrated me so much because he was just so horrible. But Carl Crisp has gotta be one of the world’s best book characters, representing Christ’s perfect love.

The writing in this book is fast-paced. It’s mostly telling the story instead of showing it, but I think it works for this story because it covers so much time and so many events. And besides, I read for the message of this one, not for its literariness. I knew it would be quick, easy, maybe a little cliché or cheesy, but heartwarming and worthwhile. The message hit me hard, brought me to tears, and will leave me thinking about the prodigal son story for the rest of the day.

I also loved all the quotes included under each chapter heading. Beautiful and profound.

[DW · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know, it wasn't as badly written as I assumed it would be. I'm pretty impressed by the intellectual banter of the Wharton students at the beginning, it is not something you usually find in such a Christian book. But I suppose the book isn't as Christian as some others (ie, only one of the characters was actually a Christian, and he wasn't the hero). Of course you know where the story is going, so it's interesting to see how he gets there. Believable? Not really. (Can you get a driver's license without a birth certificate/Social Security card/passport?) But the end was sweet and satisfying in a way that I associate with books written for women.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very humbling story of a modern day prodigal son, Luke Crisp, who was set to take over his father's role as head of Crisp's Copy Centers after graduating with his MBA from Wharton Business School, but instead joins "friends" on a spending spree throughout Europe. After blowing through all of his trust fund inheritance, he finds himself broke, jobless and his father disowns him. This is Luke's story of finding his way back; it's a great holiday read.

The author's writing style at times is a bit over simplistic and unnecessarily descriptive, and the conversations between characters seems unnatural and stilted

[Mary Kamrath · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lost December is a story for the ages. So many life lessons are told in this novel. I would recommend this Christmas story for all ages and people in all walks of life. It is not only a holiday tale but also a lesson on how to treat other people, both in business and in life, in general. Great story!

[Laura Witham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I felt every emotion while reading this book. Sadness, fury, hopelessness, joy, gratefulness, and love. I will never read the story of the prodigal son in the Bible the same way again. This was such a wonderful book and I very highly recommend it!