Classic Book review: A Christmas Carol

by Vicki Tierney

Imagine with me for a moment, supper preparations are complete, and a
meal happily bubbles on the stove. Christmas music plays in the background and the tree lights twinkle. You sit down with your favorite warm beverage, light a candle, open a book, and read,

“Marley was dead, to begin with. There was no doubt
whatever about that…Old Marley was dead as a doornail.”

And so begins one of the most famous and beloved Christmas tales of all time, except for Luke 2, of course! A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens, has become such an integral part of Christmas tradition one would be hard pressed to find someone who is completely unfamiliar with the basics of the story. After all, anyone who has called someone a Scrooge has been influenced, maybe unknowingly, by this treasure of a tale.

The metamorphosis of Ebenezer Scrooge from a greedy, bitter, and crotchety old man to a joyful bringer of blessings after the spectral visit of his former partner, Jacob Marley and the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future, is beloved by many. But, have you actually read it?

There are numerous superb stage and screen adaptations and even the Muppets did one (which I really loved), but up until a few years ago I had never actually read this Dickens classic. So, I’m here to make the case for doing just that!

Since this is a classic, it’s a wonderful opportunity to treat yourself to one of the exquisite versions for sale. They are reasonably priced- way less than the latest New York Times bestseller. My edition has beautiful illustrations, but I have seen
others with artistic covers and gilded pages. One of these treasured volumes could make an appearance each Christmas with your other decorations, or hunt for a vintage edition. There is something so deeply satisfying about opening a lovely version of a classic book to read. Second, we get a taste of the beauty of Dickens’ writing when we see a stage or
movie adaptation, but those art forms really cannot compare to the beautiful prose in the actual novel.

No matter how well done a dramatic version is, it is still a matter of interpretation. The director chooses which lines will be spoken and which parts of the story to cut since a book can never be entirely reproduced for theater. We also get a deeper understanding of the internal workings of a character’s thoughts, which adds richness and depth to a story. By reading the book for ourselves, we get the privilege of immersing ourselves in Dickens’ world and characters the way he intended, without any interpretive filters.

Lastly, I find a sense of accomplishment whenever I finish a classic, especially of my own volition. While A Christmas Carol is not nearly as lengthy as other Dickens novels ( my version is about 160 pages, with an illustration on every other page), and the language is not as challenging as other old classics, it is still an
accomplishment! After finishing it, you can reward yourself by attending one of the stage versions at the Guthrie or Rochester Civic Theater. If you decide to read A Christmas Carol I’d love to hear your thoughts.

I’ll close with this gem, ”and it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless Us, Everyone!”

---