Photobucket
Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Welcome to My Book Buddies. We hope you enjoy your visit.


You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free.


Join our community!


If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
The Christmas List by Richard Paul Evans; December BOTM
Topic Started: Nov 28 2010, 11:29 AM (784 Views)
aragorn
Member Avatar
Just.Keep.Swimming.
 *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
Dear Reader,

When I was in seventh grade, my English teacher, Mrs. Johnson, gave our class the intriguing (if somewhat macabre) assignment of writing our own obituaries. Oddly, I don't remember much of what I wrote about my life, but I do remember how I died: in first place on the final lap of the Daytona 500. At the time, I hadn't considered writing as an occupation, a field with a remarkably low on-the-job casualty rate.

What intrigues me most about Mrs. Johnson's assignment is the opportunity she gave us to confront our own legacy. How do we want to be remembered? That question has motivated our species since the beginning of time: from building pyramids to putting our names on skyscrapers.

As I began to write this book, I had two objectives: First, I wanted to explore what could happen if someone read their obituary before they died and saw, firsthand, what the world really thought of them. Their legacy.

Second, I wanted to write a Christmas story of true redemption. One of my family's holiday traditions is to see a local production of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol. I don't know how many times I've seen it (perhaps a dozen), but it still thrills me to see the change that comes over Ebenezer Scrooge as he transforms from a dull, tight-fisted miser into a penitent, "giddy-as-aschoolboy" man with love in his heart. I always leave the show with a smile on my face and a resolve to be a better person. That's what I wanted to share with you, my dear readers, this Christmas -- a holiday tale to warm your season, your homes, and your hearts.

Merry Christmas --Richard Paul Evans
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
aragorn
Member Avatar
Just.Keep.Swimming.
 *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
grabbed this from the library yesterday. plan to start it today or tomorrow.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
burgandykat
Member Avatar
The Golden Chaise
 *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
Requested this one from the library today so I should have it by the end of the week.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
elite
Member Avatar
Always ready for the next book
 *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
I've started to read it and as of right now, the man is detestable. Should be interesting to see how he changes....
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
aragorn
Member Avatar
Just.Keep.Swimming.
 *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
So I started this book around 8:30...and I just finished. It's a great Christmas story. I was bawling at the end of the book.

So much for it being a December BOTM. lol.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Vikks14
No Avatar
Comfy chair
 *  *  *  *  *  *
Oh! I read this for my book club last year! Good story. From what I know, this author publishes a Christmas story each year. I believe my sister has read most of them.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
elite
Member Avatar
Always ready for the next book
 *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
Finished the book earlier today - a very fast read. And I cried my eyes out at the end. It was a great story but the things he did to people made it so hard to like him!!

I've read all of his books except for his latest - Promise Me - which I will read later on in December (since it's about an event that takes place in someone's life on Christmas Eve).

The only book I didn't really like from him was Grace (his "Christmas" story from 2 years ago). The book was good up until the end. Even though I knew it was coming, I really was not amused by how that book ended.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
aragorn
Member Avatar
Just.Keep.Swimming.
 *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
elite
Nov 30 2010, 04:31 PM
Finished the book earlier today - a very fast read. And I cried my eyes out at the end. It was a great story but the things he did to people made it so hard to like him!!
Yeah, he was pretty horrible and ruthless. He'll never make up for it, but he did become a much better man towards the end.

I'll definitely check some of his other stuff at a later date. Elite, which are your favorites by him?
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
elite
Member Avatar
Always ready for the next book
 *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
It's hard to choose a favorite - I liked most of his books. The book The Christmas Box is the book that made him big - and is really a good book. Below is a list of his books

Christmas Box Series
The Christmas Box
Timepiece
The Letter

The Locket Trilogy
The Locket
The Looking Glass
The Carousel

Stand Alone Books
The Perfect Day
The Last Promise
The Sunflower

Xmas Novels (not linked in any way to each other)
Finding Noel
The Gift
Grace (this is the book that did not amuse me)
Promise Me (I haven't read this one yet)

Walk (his latest series)
The Walk (I haven't read this one yet)
Miles to Go (hasn't come out yet)

If I were you, I'd read The Christmas Box first

Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
aragorn
Member Avatar
Just.Keep.Swimming.
 *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
sweet thanks!!!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Vikks14
No Avatar
Comfy chair
 *  *  *  *  *  *
If I remember correctly, that's the one my sister really liked too (The Christmas Box).
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
burgandykat
Member Avatar
The Golden Chaise
 *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
I actually finished this weeks ago...I've been terrible about posting final thoughts on the botms this year.

I enjoyed it - simple, to the point, easy distraction even though I did find it to be a bit of the typical Christmas redemption story. A bit Dickens-esque with the obit causing the character turn around.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
elite
Member Avatar
Always ready for the next book
 *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
I'm glad I chose this book of his instead of Promise Me for my BOTM choice. I read Promise Me a few days ago and I did not like the book. At all.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
mary024
Member Avatar
Head Honcho. Gyeah!
 *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
Note: don't read this book as an audio book while driving. I was BAWLING at the end.

I'm glad that he was able to change his ways and have a positive impact on the lives he previously ruined. I'm also glad that it wasn't an easy journey for him, where every bad deed was redeemed. If he had walked away from each encounter with a gold star, I think I would have been pissed. LOL

He really did start off as a detestable man....and I think I felt much like his victims did, wanting to tell him to go to hell. LOL I'm not sure I have it in me to be as good and gracious as Sarah was, even if she did know him at his best. It kind of made me look at myself and wonder how much it would take to 'break' me if a loved one turned on me. I'm not one to hold a grudge, but I'm not that forgiving either.

Great selection Elite - sorry it took me awhile to get to it.
Edited by mary024, Jan 19 2011, 02:05 PM.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
elite
Member Avatar
Always ready for the next book
 *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
Pssst - it's bawling. What you wrote is dirty! :wink
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
Go to Next Page
« Previous Topic · 2010 · Next Topic »
Add Reply

Misty Woods created by Helena & Cory of ZNR