Week 2 - Christmas Reading Challenge 2015

The 13^th Gift: A True Story of a Christmas Miracle by Joanne Huist Smith

This story revolves around a family who loses their husband/father.  It also plays on the 12 days of Christmas as someone is leaving them gifts during the Christmas season.  The story is vivid and well written. I am able to feel sympathy for these characters; however, I found it a bit depressing.  I tend to like Christmas stories that are more joyful.  3/5 Stars

The Bridge by Karen Kingsbury

Crossed lovers, natural disasters, tragedy, it is all in this book.  I felt it was very reminiscent of the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life.”  There is a few scenes that one can practically overlay this story on top of that one.  It was different enough to keep my interest though.  I did enjoy the crossed lovers storyline.  4/5 Stars

Santa Claus is for Real: A True Christmas Fable…by Charles Edward Hall

Charles Edward Hall plays Santa Claus in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular in New York City.  This is a “true” story about how he became Santa.  It is a little out there in points, but it was never boring, that is for sure.  It is a quick read, and I enjoyed this one. Was it well written, eh, not really. But whatever.  3/5 Stars.

Movies:

Elf:  Will Ferrell is the best!!

The Flight Before Christmas: This was a Lifetime movie. I usually don’t watch Lifetime but Mayim Bialik stared in it as well as produced it.  Here she plays a half Jewish, half Catholic woman who takes a flight home for the holidays.  The reason for the trip as well as what happens during the trip make this story well worth the watch.  I love Mayim anyway, and her co-star Ryan McPartlin (hottie) were great together.  4.5 / 5 Stars

The Road to Christmas:  Apparently this is an older movie, but I’ve never seen it. And to be honest it took a while before I realized that the lead was Jennifer Grey.  Jennifer plays a high powered fashion photographer who is trying to get to Vale for her wedding to her Italian fiancé.  Her flight gets canceled and she has to find a way to get to Vale. She comes across a father and her 12 year old daughter and they offer her a ride.  Since this is Lifetime, I don’t have to tell you much about this, and we all know how it ends.  But I did like the interesting twist.  I was REAL bored, and this was on (This was on before The Flight Before Christmas that is why I was on the channel to begin with).  3/5 Stars.

Christmas Reading Challenge Complete / 25 Days of Christmas #22

I have read 11 Christmas books for the challenge.  I will not read any more this season.  This is the most I've read in any year.  I read 2 prior to this, so that means I've read a total of 13 Christmas books this year.

Read Specifically For Challenge

1. The Autobiography of Santa Claus by Jeff Guinn
2. The Last Holiday Concert by Andrew Clements
3. Jacob T. Marley by R. William Bennett
4. How Mrs. Claus Saved Christmas by Jeff Guinn
5. Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris
6. 'Tis the Season by Ann M. Martin 
7. Let It Snow by John Green
8. The Mistletoe Promise by Richard Paul Evans 
9. The Ghost of Christmas Present: A Novel by Scott Abbott & Amy Maude Swinton
10. Christmas Poems by J.D. McClatchy (Editor)
11. The Christmas Candle by Richard Paul Evans


Read Earlier in the season

Santa Claus in Oz by Frank Baum
The Christmas Pearl by Dorothea Benton Frank

I'm still watching movies, although I haven't watched as many movies as I usually do, and I've been re-watching a lot of my favorites this year.

25 Days of Christmas

The Holy Family minus one

#22

Christmas Book #11 / Christmas Movie #13 & 14 / 25 Days of Christmas #20 & #21

Christmas Book #11

The Christmas Candle by Richard Paul Evans - On his way home for Christmas, Thomas needs a light for his lantern. He stops in an old candlemaker's shop and is dismissive of all of the old man's intricate and beautiful candles, buying an inexpensive one. However, as he continues his journey, this simple candle takes on some unbelievable power. By the light of the candle, he mistakes a beggar woman for his mother and gives her his cloak and he thinks a man lying in the streets with no place to go is his brother and gives everything he has to put him in an inn for the night. Though he loses all his material items, he finally arrives home with a new found sense of what family can be.

Very short picture book.  Though it seems like a children's book, it is rather dark, but the message is for all ages.  I am a Richard Paul Evan's fan, so I found enjoyment in this short story.  4 / 5 Stars.

Christmas Movie #13

Max Lucado's - The Christmas Candle (2013)

This movie is based on the book The Christmas Candle by Max Lucado.  

Deep in the heart of the English countryside lies the enchanting village of Gladbury. Legend has it every 25 years an angel visits the village candlemaker and touches a single candle. Whoever lights this candle receives a miracle on Christmas Eve. But in 1890, at the dawn of the electric age, this centuries old legend may come to an end. When David Richmond (Hans Matheson), a progressive young minister, arrives in Gladbury, the villagers discover a new formula for miracles: good deeds and acts of kindness. While David's quest to modernize Gladbury sets him at odds with the old world candlemaker, he finds an unlikely ally in the lovely skeptic, Emily Barstow (Samantha Barks). Now, the fiery candlemaker must fight to preserve the legacy of the Christmas Candle. But when the candle goes missing, the miraculous and human collide in the most astonishing Christmas the village of Gladbury has ever seen.

Though this didn't seem to get very many stars, I enjoyed it and the message behind it.  It is a very Christian movie.  This is the 2nd Lucado movie I watched this season and I've enjoyed them both.


Christmas Movie #14

Scrooge (1951) - This is the Alastair Sim's version, in my opinion the best of them all.  Of course no synopsis is needed and you don't need me to sing its praises either.

God Bless Us Everyone!

5 / 5 STARS!!

 25 Days of Christmas

On my Mantle

#20

Leaving Church During Advent

#21

Christmas Book #10 / 25 Days of Christmas #18 and #19 / Ice Skating

Christmas Poems - This book is filled with classic and newer poems. Lots of favorites such as, "A Visit From St. Nicholas" as well as little known poems such as, "The Christmas Robin".

I didn't spend too much time on the Christmas Carols since I know them backwards and forwards, but it was nice to read things I never have before.

3/5 Christmas Stars!!

25 Days of Christmas

Reindeer #18

Santa's Corner #19

My daughter went ice skating with her class. It was at Bryant Park in Manhattan.

Christmas Book #9 / 25 Days of Christmas #16 and #17

Christmas Book #9

Here is the very long synopsis
The Ghost of Christmas Present

After reading a lot of Christmas books back to back, I feel that some of them are just bad, and I wonder if people write Christmas book just to say they've written one.

This was an unbelievable story of a man who is being threatened with the removal of his son from his custody.  The son has a genetic heart condition.  Patrick (the MC) has to find a way to make some money, so he takes to the street and panhandles as The Ghost of Christmas Present.

The idea was not a bad one, I don't think it was carried out well.
I give it 2.5 / Stars out of 5.

25 Days of Christmas

Pine Cones & Holly

16 /25

Christmas in New York

17 / 25

Christmas Book #7 & #8, 25 Days of Christmas #15

Christmas Book #7

Let it Snow: Three Holiday Romances - John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle.  This book is a compilation novel comprising three separate stories that intertwine with one another. The stories are The Jubilee Express by Maureen Johnson,A Cheertastic Christmas Miracle by John Green, and The Patron Saint of Pigs by Lauren Myracle. The book follows three different teenagers as they experience a huge snow storm in the town of Gracetown during the Christmas season. (Wikepedia)

Though these stories intertwine, the story I enjoyed the most was Maureen Johnson's The Jubilee Express.  Like many people, I wanted to read this book because of John Green the author of The Fault in Our Stars.  But I felt his story was mediocre, as was Lauren Myracle's.  I am not sure if it was because Johnson's story is the lead story and she set the tone.  The other stories are not bad, I just personally didn't enjoy them as much.  3/5 stars.

Christmas Book #8

The Mistletoe Promise by Richard Paul Evans -

Elise Dutton does not like the Christmas season, she has been divorced for three years and it has left her broken.  A stranger comes along and asks her to be his “girlfriend” for the Christmas season.  She agrees and a contract is drawn up.  What will happen?

I discovered RPE through his Christmas books, and I’ve usually adored them.  Although this book was pretty good, I felt it lacked that special something his books usually have.  I think it was because I was not choked up or blurry eyed when reading this.  By the end of this book, I was saying to myself, “Oh isn’t that….” But it was not as satisfying as usual.  However, it is a good, solid story. 3 out of 5 stars.

25 Days of Christmas

Holly Planter in Bryant Park, New York City

#15

Christmas Book #4 / 25 Days of Christmas 8

In How Mrs. Claus Saved Christmas, Jeff Guinn combines solid historical fact with glorious legend to deliver another heartwarming holiday book for the whole family.

It's 1620 and Mrs. Claus's dear husband is off in the New World planting the seeds of what will become a glorious Christmas tradition. Meanwhile, Mrs. Claus has chosen to stay in England, where the first signs of a dangerous threat to Yuletide cheer are in evidence. The Puritans have gained control of Parliament and appear determined to take all the fun out of Christmas. But Mrs. Claus knows that it's time for serious action when, in 1647, a law is passed by Parliament that actually punishes anyone who celebrates Christmas. Using as its springboard the actual events of a day in 1647 when ten thousand peasants marched through the streets of Canterbury demanding their right to celebrate a beloved holiday, How Mrs. Claus Saved Christmas is rich in historical detail, adventure, and plain ol' Christmas fun. (from Goodreads)

My Review:  I didn't enjoy this as much as the first book in the series The Autobiography of Santa Claus.  I felt the first few chapters of this book were a recap and since I just read it, I felt it was unnecessary.  It did pick up when the story actually turned to how she saved Christmas.  I found that history fascinating.  I gave this book 3/5 stars.  I will read more books by Guinn, although no more Christmas ones for now.

Day 8

The New York Public Library Lion at Christmas

Deck the Halls!

Christmas Books #1, #2, #3 and 25 Days of Christmas Day 4 and Day 5

Jacob T. Marley by R.William Bennett

Marley was dead to begin with . . . These chillingly familiar words begin the classic Christmas tale of remorse and redemption in A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Now R. William Bennett rewinds the story and focuses the spotlight on Scrooge s miserly business partner, Jacob T. Marley, who was allowed to return as a ghost to warn Scrooge away from his ill-fated path. Why was Marley allowed to return? And why hadn t he been given the same chance as Ebenezer Scrooge? Or had he? Written with a voice reminiscent of Dickens, Jacob T. Marley is to A Christmas Carol as the world-famous Wicked is to The Wizard of Oz as this masterfully crafted story teaches of choices, consequences, and of the power of accountability. It is sure to become a Christmas favorite.

My Review: Experience the journey of Rose, an orphan who teaches the meaning of hope to all those around her. Share a slice of Christmas sweetened with friendship in this poignant story based on a classic holiday tale.

3/5 stars



The Autobiography of Santa Claus by Jeff Guin

An enchanting holiday treasure, The Autobiography of Santa Claus combines solid historical fact with legend to deliver the definitive story of Santa Claus. And who better to lead us through seventeen centuries of Christmas magic than good ol' Saint Nick himself? Families will delight in each chapter of this new Christmas classic-one per each cold December night leading up to Christmas!

My Review: OK, you know what, I loved this book. I was trying not to, I was trying to be fair, but it grabbed me and hugged me and I just couldn't hate it. I love how the Saint meets the Secular. I love how Guinn explains everything with people from history, giving us a short history lesson (best for kids, most adults know who and what these people did).

5/5 Stars




The Last Holiday Concert by Andrew Clements

For Hart Evans, being the most popular kid in sixth grade has its advantages. Kids look up to him, and all the teachers let him get away with anything -- all the teachers except the chorus director, Mr. Meinert. When Hart's errant rubber band hits Mr. Meinert on the neck during chorus practice, it's the last straw for the chorus director, who's just learned he's about to lose his job due to budget cuts. So he tells the class they can produce the big holiday concert on their own. Or not. It's all up to them. And who gets elected to run the show? The popular Mr. Hart Evans.

Hart soon discovers there's a big difference between popularity and leadership, and to his surprise, discovers something else as well -- it's really important to him that this be the best holiday concert ever, and even more important, that it not be the last.

 4/5 Stars


My Review:  This was a quick read, it held my interest.  I've nothing bad to say about it, it was a typical Middle School read.

 

25 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

 

4 / 25 

Prancer

5 /25

Nut Crackers

5th Annual Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge

 
It's back. Sign up, it's loads of fun!

I'm going for the following Level:
-Christmas Tree:  read 5 or 6 books (this is the fanatic level...LOL!)

  Additional levels:

  --Fa La La La Films:  watch a bunch or a few Christmas movies...it's up to you!

It will all be documented here, books and films.  

Some of the books I might read for this are:

The Mistletoe Promise  by Richard Paul Evans
Christmas Poems edited by  J.D. McClatchy
THe Christmas Mail Order Bride  by Kit Morgan

Of course I have already started reading Christmas books, so I will only count books I read during the challenge dates.

 

Final Christmas Book of the Season & One Christmas Movie

Christmas Stories: Heartwarming Classics of Angels, a Manger, and the Birth of Hope by Max Lucado 

This is a collection of short stories including:  The Christmas Candle.  Most of these stories take place during the time of Jesus, some take place in an earlier era.  All have heavy religious overtones.  Inspiring but not light reading.  3/5 stars.

This is the 6th Christmas book I've read for the season. I will not be reading any more.  I was not in the Christmas mood this year at all, I am surprised I read as many as I did.

The only Christmas movie I watched this week was "Arthur Christmas".  Arthur is Santa's youngest son.  He goes out one night with his grandfather (the former Santa Claus) but he doesn't start out to be the hero, he just wanted to make sure a little girl got her gift so her faith in Santa will not be shaken.

I wasn't sure I was going to like it, but of course, I did.  4/5 Stars 

3 More Christmas books

Christmas After All by Kathryn Lasky is a book from the "Dear America" series of children's books. Minnie Swift is a pre-teen girl living in Depression Era America. Her family is not as bad off as a lot of people in America but they still see the times growing lean. They take in Minnie's cousin Willie Fay who was orphaned. Christmas is fast approaching and Minnie is not sure if this will be a Merry Christmas or not. I've never read a "Dear America" book before, honestly I never heard of it. I thought it was pretty good. I wish these were out when I was a kid. 4/5 stars.

The Christmas Singing by Cindy Woodsmall is the story of a young Amish woman named Mattie who loves to bake and owns her own shop.  She is dating one man but still has feelings for Gideon, the one who broke her heart.  Gideon is hiding a secret from her.  Will he ever be able to tell her and win her love again?

 I usually like Cindy Woodsmall books, but I thought this one was just OK.  It was slow, It was predictable.  Mattie's character got on my nerves.  What a whiny, bubble-head.  3/5 stars.

A Wreath of Snow by Liz Curtis Higgs was FANTASTIC. I loved this book.  Meg is a young woman who is in a train accident during a snowstorm.  She is unhurt but needs to get home.  Gordon Shaw, another passenger, offers to see her to safety.  Yeah, I know it sounds like a love story. But Oh My, this was some trip!  Not predictable at all. Loved every minute of this book. And to top it off, it was Christian.  4.5/5 stars.

Star Bright by Father Andrew M. Greeley

This is a great little romantic Christmas story that is not typical in one sense but in essence there are only a handful of stories to tell. I enjoyed the ending.

This was my first Andrew Greeley book. Being Catholic I felt obligated to at least read one. I can say the story telling is average, however, someone needs to find this Priest a new editor, proofreader or whatever, because the typos, mis-spellings and tense confusion in this book were appalling.

I borrowed this book from the library, and a previous reader was so kind as to underline every single mistake in the book. I would say there were 10 or more. For instance, the phrase "difficulty family" as opposed to "difficult family”.

That did distract me from the story a bit. I will give another one of his books a try, but if that is something I have to contend with, I will not be reading any more.

Synopsis from Goodreads:
It's beginning to look a lot like an American Christmas: unpleasant relatives, miserable travel, a slobbering dog-and one "harmless American of Irish origins," Jack Flanigan, who is reluctantly falling in love with a young Russian woman studying at Harvard.

She's spending Christmas alone in a foreign country, so he invites the dark-eyed beauty home to Chicago for the holiday. Even though it isn't Christmas in the Russian Orthodox calendar, she accepts!

What happens when she gets to Chicago and caught in the maelstrom of commercialized Yuletide? Enough to say, there's a tree, and a feast, and midnight Mass, and a gaggle of contentious Flanigans of all ages-who have the merriest Christmas ever-and nothing will ever be quite the same for any of them.

Especially for Jack.

A Winter Dream - Richard Paul Evans

Richard Paul Evans' new Christmas book "A Winter Dream" is out in bookstores now.  This story is based on the Bible story of Joseph and his brothers.  This modern day account has ad exec sacrificed & banished due to jealousy.  Joseph Jacobson has a few bumps along the way and one wonders if he will ever find happiness.

I don't want to give too much away because I know several people are reading this one.  I enjoyed it. 

I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

This is my FIRST book for the challenge.

Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge 2012

 

Monday, November 19, 2012 through Sunday, January 6, 2013 

Visit her site to see more details. 

 These are the Levels:

 --Candy Cane: read 1 book --Mistletoe: read 2-4 books

 --Christmas Tree: read 5 or 6 books (this is the fanatic level...LOL!) 

 Last year I was Christmas Tree. I went nuts. I probably will read 5 books this year (last year I read 7). I will also be watching lots of Christmas Films.

My first book will most likely be Richard Paul Evans "A Winter Dream". It is waiting for me at my library. I read his Christmas books every year. I will be very disappointed when he stops. 

Christmas Books Christmas Movies FINAL

Thanks for the Christmas Wishes and I hope everyone has a wonderful New Year!

I am finally getting around to posting about my Books and Movies.

The Christmas Shoppe by Melody Carlson

This was the second book I have read by her. I thought it was just OK. I liked "Christmas at Harrington's" much more. However, this book was an interesting read.

The small town of Parrish Springs is not ready for Matilda Honeycutt. A strange older woman with scraggly gray hair and jewelry that jangles as she walks, Matilda is certainly not the most likely person to buy the old Barton Building on the town's quaint main street. When it becomes apparent that her new shop doesn't fit the expectations of Parrish Springs residents, a brouhaha erupts. After all, Christmas is approaching, and the last thing the town needs is a junky shop run by someone who looks and acts like a gypsy. But as townsfolk venture into the strange store, they discover that old memories can bring new life and healing.


A Wallflower Christmas by Lisa Keypas

I am NOT a romance reader, I don't think I've ever read one that was a pure romance novel. I run the other way when I know a book is a romance. This book was a historical romance and I really liked it. Go figure.

It’s Christmastime in London and Rafe Bowman has arrived from America for his arranged meeting with Natalie Blandford, the very proper and beautiful daughter of Lady and Lord Blandford. His chiseled good looks and imposing physique are sure to impress the lady in waiting and, if it weren’t for his shocking American ways and wild reputation, her hand would already be guaranteed. Before the courtship can begin, Rafe realizes he must learn the rules of London society. But when four former Wallflowers try their hand at matchmaking, no one knows what will happen. And winning a bride turns out to be more complicated than Rafe Bowman anticipated, especially for a man accustomed to getting anything he wants. However, Christmas works in the most unexpected ways, changing a cynic to a romantic and inspiring passion in the most timid of hearts.


Total = 7 Christmas Books in All (6 in December)


MOVIES

Homeless for the Holiday's

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol (1951) Total = 33 Christmas Movies in All (13 in December) * I got a Kindle Fire for Christmas.  My co-worker bought it for me. :)

Christmas Books Christmas Movies

The Man Who Invented Christmas: How Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol Rescued His Career and Revived Our Holiday Spirits
by Les Standiford

If you can believe it, this is the 2nd non-fiction Christmas book I've read in my life. This one was about Mr. Dickens and how his writing of "A Christmas Carol" revitalized Christmas in England and throughout the world.

It talks about how he came to write and the circumstances surrounding it. Though it is not a Christmas book per se, it does basically describe how the holiday we know and love today became something we can cherish.


The Paper Bag Christmas by Kevin Alan Milne

A young boy is asked to play an elf for sick children in a hospital.  He may find out that Santa is real, but more importantly, he gets a bigger gift than he anticipated and he gives a gift that means the world to one patient.


Currently Reading:

The Christmas Shoppe by Melody Carlson
A Wallflower Christmas (Wallflower Series #5) by Lisa Kleypas



MOVIES

Christmas in the Clouds - Takes place on a Rez, a Hotel owner is confused by one guests intentions and falls in love.

Battle of the Bulbs - Charming story about old friends who became enemies and then became neighbors. Who has the better decorated house? Can they live as neighbors without killing each other?

The Muppets Christmas Carol - Of course I've seen this before, but I always love a good Christmas Carol telling.

The Dead - Based on the short story by Thomas Hardy from his book The Dubliners. Starring Angelica Houston and Colm Meany. I thought it would be pretty good, but I was bored to tears. I was going to read the book, I think I will skip.

Christmas Reading Challenge

Christmas at Harrington’s

By Melody Carlson

Pages:  167

Lena Markham has just been released from prison for a crime unknowlingly committed.  She is friendless and penniless.  Restarting is not easy, but she finds friends in unsuspecting places and  opportunities where none existed before.  Book has a strong message of redemption and forgiveness and is very much filled with the holiday spirit.  This is a very visual book, full of Christmas images that are easy to see in the minds eye.

This was my first book by Melody Carlson, but it won’t be my last.  I have waiting in the wings “The Christmas Shoppe”. I hope I’ll get to read that one shortly.

I recommend “Christmas at Harrington’s”. It is an easy read. I like light Christmas reads that get the message across without it getting lost in pages and pages of prose.

Snow Angel

By Glenn Beck

Pages:  288

Glenn Beck? Yes that Glenn Beck.  Many people I know do not like him, however, his Christmas books are in a whole category by themselves and I have no problem reading them. It seems like when he writes these, he is a different person.

Alternating between Rachel (the daughter) and Mitch (the father) this story is told from both points of view and flashbacks to Rachel’s childhood and adulthood.  It weaves together events in Rachel’s life that lead her to her current situation.  Looking through her eyes you see one reality, however, by the end of this book, you see that things are not as they seem on the surface.

This book does not all take place during Christmas time.  Some of it takes place in October (her childhood) but her adult life takes place during the Christmas season.  And although this book isn’t filled with ‘Christmasy’ stuff, it still has that message of forgiveness we all seem to crave around this time.

Though the page count is 288, it is one of those short square books, so it reads quickly. 

I’ve read Glen Beck’s freshman Christmas book “The Christmas Sweater” which made me both smile and cry.  He is another author I will read every time he writes a Christmas book.

I recommend this book to anyone.  Great story and well written…Go Glenn!

Stuff waiting in the wings:

The Man Who Invented Christmas:  How Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol Rescued his Career and Revived Our Holiday Spirits by Les Stanford.

This is my only non-fiction Christmas Book for the year. But how can I not read about Charles Dickens’s and A Christmas Carol? This will prove to be interesting.

The Paper Bag Christmas by Kevin Alan Milne

The Christmas Shoppe by Melody Carlson

That will probably be it for the books.

MOVIES

I’ve watched my fair share of Christmas Movies.  Of course it makes no sense to rate them all.  They all are listed, But the ones I thought were pretty interesting will get my time and energy to write about.

These all were watched from December 1^st.

Rare Exports:  A Christmas Tale

Mostly in Finnish, this film is very dark. If you want a happy, jolly Santa in a red suit, you ain’t gonna get it.  This unique film tells of a very different type of Santa, one akin to Satan. This movie is in line with a very good horror film, I wonder if they can make a new genre called holiday horror? This would fit right in.

I will try to explain this movie to you without giving too much away.

A young boy is convinced that Santa is buried in the ice in a nearby mountain.  Some unsavory developers plan to dig up the mountain for the purpose of finding this ‘grave’.  They succeed.

Santa Claus is coming to town….run!!

This is not a gory and silly film.  I thought it was very interesting and well done.

Previously unseen movies that I've watched since my last post:

Eight Crazy Nights 

We're No Angels

Nativity! 

Trading Christmas 

Christmas Lodge 

Dear Santa Claus 

A Princess for Christmas

Gift of the Magi