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Carol: A Story for Christmas
A contemporary retelling of Charles Dickens's classic story, A Christmas Carol.
- GenresChristmas
96 pages, Hardcover
First published September 18, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
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December 25, 2025Ciekawe podejście do Christmas Carol, mam nadzieję, że wyznaczy moje poczynania na 2026 :)
December 19, 2018
"I don't think they care why you help them, Jack. I think they just care that you do."
This is a book I think more people should read, especially around the holidays. It takes you back to reality by not being a traditional, cheery Christmas book.
No, it doesn't have the best writing, plot or characters but the words are impactful and make you really think.
This review isn't going to be overly long because I haven't got much to say about this book.
I'll probably read this again next year just to bring myself back to reality. It's important that the message in this book is heard because it's a powerful one
This is a book I think more people should read, especially around the holidays. It takes you back to reality by not being a traditional, cheery Christmas book.
No, it doesn't have the best writing, plot or characters but the words are impactful and make you really think.
This review isn't going to be overly long because I haven't got much to say about this book.
I'll probably read this again next year just to bring myself back to reality. It's important that the message in this book is heard because it's a powerful one
November 24, 2020
A lovely, heartwarming, modern retelling of A Christmas Carol.
Jack is not impressed by the trappings of Christmas. Sheltering in a coffee shop a few days before the big day, he meets Carol, an intriguing young woman who buys him a coffee. As they begin to talk, he suddenly finds himself swept back in time to his old high school and then to Africa.
The story remains close enough to Dickens’ original yet at the same time, bringing a modernness to it that readers will recognise. It’s a short book that you can read in about an hour. A perfect pre Christmas interlude.
Jack is not impressed by the trappings of Christmas. Sheltering in a coffee shop a few days before the big day, he meets Carol, an intriguing young woman who buys him a coffee. As they begin to talk, he suddenly finds himself swept back in time to his old high school and then to Africa.
The story remains close enough to Dickens’ original yet at the same time, bringing a modernness to it that readers will recognise. It’s a short book that you can read in about an hour. A perfect pre Christmas interlude.
October 16, 2021
Ta krótka książeczka bardzo przypomina mi typowe amerykańskie filmy świąteczne. Przed oczami migały mi kolejne kadry i zupełnie nie przeszkadzała mi pewna przewidywalność- wszak motyw zaczerpnięty jest z Dickensa.
November 8, 2020
A very, very quick read with a very important message.
Not the best written, with not the best characters, but the message is one so many people (including myself) need to be reminded of.
Not the best written, with not the best characters, but the message is one so many people (including myself) need to be reminded of.
December 8, 2025
This short story makes a good point but I found the way it was told annoying. I should have read Dickens instead.
December 10, 2025
This is a retelling of Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”. Message is very important but found the characters and writing didactic.
December 12, 2010
Jack O'Malley hates Christmas! And saying so is a major understatement. Finally venturing out to do some shopping his day changes from irritating to plain strange, when he encounters a young woman named Carol at a coffee shop.
Asked to help remember an older song, he finds himself whirling through time, going back to his youthful years, and going to poor African village to view the conditions of poverty up close. Irritated with Carol for pointing out his shortcomings, he is frantic to return to life as he knows it. However he is not sure that will ever happen.
A quick book to read, small and compact, you will find the correlation to Dickens' A Christmas Carol, very impelling. Bob Hartman has brought a story with a twist and presents the story with a modern twist. 96 pages US $9.95 4 stars.
This book was provided for review purposes only, by The Christian Bookworm website. No payment was received for this review
Asked to help remember an older song, he finds himself whirling through time, going back to his youthful years, and going to poor African village to view the conditions of poverty up close. Irritated with Carol for pointing out his shortcomings, he is frantic to return to life as he knows it. However he is not sure that will ever happen.
A quick book to read, small and compact, you will find the correlation to Dickens' A Christmas Carol, very impelling. Bob Hartman has brought a story with a twist and presents the story with a modern twist. 96 pages US $9.95 4 stars.
This book was provided for review purposes only, by The Christian Bookworm website. No payment was received for this review
November 25, 2013
A nice little Christmas novella read that is a re-take or even a spoof on A Christmas Carol by Dickens. While it is virtually impossible to re-tell such a classic, Hartman does a nifty job of bringing a modern, funny slant to the story. It rolls along with the lovely Carol and the lecherous Jack zipping along time and space to show Jack what he could have been.
While the book focuses on the need for Jack to revisit his earlier life when he was more inclined to want to do something good in the world, I felt at times that all we needed was to give a “name” to the charity for the little book to actually be a PR piece for some specific charity.
The story has a nice ending and it is a warm, fuzzy read as most Christmas novellas are.
DISCLOSURE: I was provided a complimentary copy by Kregel for the purpose of giving my honest review. Opinions expressed are solely my own. No compensation was received for this review.
While the book focuses on the need for Jack to revisit his earlier life when he was more inclined to want to do something good in the world, I felt at times that all we needed was to give a “name” to the charity for the little book to actually be a PR piece for some specific charity.
The story has a nice ending and it is a warm, fuzzy read as most Christmas novellas are.
DISCLOSURE: I was provided a complimentary copy by Kregel for the purpose of giving my honest review. Opinions expressed are solely my own. No compensation was received for this review.
December 10, 2010
Such a cute cover...
I grabbed this from the new YA shelf at the public library. I think it was mis-cataloged, and was written for adults. Jack is a cynical clueless adult who encounters a beautiful woman at a Starbucks and then the story spirals into a telling of A Christmas Carol. Nothing new, nothing unique, poorly written. At least it was short.
.
I grabbed this from the new YA shelf at the public library. I think it was mis-cataloged, and was written for adults. Jack is a cynical clueless adult who encounters a beautiful woman at a Starbucks and then the story spirals into a telling of A Christmas Carol. Nothing new, nothing unique, poorly written. At least it was short.
.
January 12, 2014
Nice little book . Read it in one sitting . Only thing was i kept expecting it to be made for a charity asking for money !
November 12, 2016
This was a really good and very quick read! I needed something light to read and this Christmas novella was just the ticket! A modern day spin of A Christmas Carol.
December 8, 2011
Sweet little Christmas Fable, A Christmas Carol with a modern twist!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews