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S'està carregant… The Christmas Spiritsde Whitley Strieber
Cap No hi ha cap discussió a Converses sobre aquesta obra.  Canadian_Down_Under | Sep 29, 2013 |   Being a huge fan of the original novel, I had quite high hopes for this as the other retelling of the same story that I have read; 'I Am Scrooge' by Adam Rose, was really enjoyable. However, I found this to be quite an irritating retelling. From the first few pages, it was almost too obvious that it was a retelling of the well-loved classic, and to be honest, it just didn't live up to my expectations. I understand that with a retelling, the author can't just tell the same story in a different setting, there will be the author's own spin on it, but in this book, the characters weren't even enjoyable, never mind likeable, and the events that take place are mostly just confusing. The back of the book promised a book to “give today's readers goosebumps as big as pudding bowls – and maybe draw a tear or two as it reminds us all of the true meaning of Christmas.” but overall I found this disappointing. I wasn't scared in the slightest, finding it more surreal in parts than actually frightening, and the message was clear from the beginning, as it was thoroughly explained how much George liked money. One thing that I did like about this book is that the writing style was such that it was a really quick read. At only 200 pages, the writing style moved the story along quickly and it didn't take long to get through at all. Another thing that I liked about this book were the illustrations that were dotted throughout the story. They were very dynamic images that had a lot of movement to them and they really added to the action, but they also made it really obvious which parts of the story would later be brought up again and would be important in some way. I did actually quite enjoy the ending. Obviously, with this being a retelling of 'A Christmas Carol' it was obvious that George would eventually change his ways and learn from his mistakes, but I really liked the way the story was wrapped up and it really fit the modern setting. Overall, I wouldn't necessarily recommend this book to buy, but if you see it in a library as I did, give it a go! You might enjoy it more than I did :) (  ) charlottejones952 | Sep 2, 2013 | Sense ressenyes | afegeix-hi una ressenya
A modern retelling of the Charles Dicken's classic A Christmas Carol, by the author who inspired the film The Day After Tomorrow.George Moore is a modern day Scrooge, a futures trader who drives his staff hard, and won't let his assistant go home to look after her autistic son on Christmas Eve.Like Scrooge he is mean with money, but he is also mean with his sympathies and his time. He has to swerve to avoid putting money in a charity box and also crosses the road to avoid a family he thinks are probably gypsies on his way to dinner at a cheap cafeteria. An old man sitting nearby looks as if he might be looking for the warmth of some human contact. George refuses to meet his eye and hurries home.Various slightly odd, even disconcerting things happen. He encounters a nun who looks like an elderly child. He sees a Santa in the window of a department store, who seems to emerge from his Grotto, look confused, and is then surrounded by small elf-like figures who drag him back behind the curtains. Finally, when he arrives back in his apartment the old man from the cafeteria suddenly appears and reveals himself as George's old mentor in trading and in greed. Bill Hill reveals that he is dead and that he has come to give George a warning. He warns George he will have three visitors that night, and then in a flash he disappears.So it comes about that, as Bill Hill said, George receives three visitors that Christmas Eve, just as Scrooge was visited by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future. But these are not the ghosties and sprites that frightened Dickens's readers. George's visitors are more ambiguous, more frightening to a modern sensibility. They are visitors that will give even today's reader goose bumps.They take George on an emotional journey that like Scrooge's journey - and the journey in another Christmas story, It's a Wonderful Life - teaches him the true value of Christmas, the true meaning of life and finally ... how to love. This new classic is both very scary and very Christmassy. No s'han trobat descripcions de biblioteca. |
Debats actualsCapCobertes populars  
 Google Books — S'està carregant…GèneresClassificació Decimal de Dewey (DDC)813.54Literature English (North America) American fiction 20th Century 1945-1999ValoracióMitjana: (2.25)
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"The Christmas Spirits" by Whitley Strieber is a retelling of "A Christmas Carol". Strieber has dedicated the book to Charles Dickens so, I'm guessing, it is in a way a tribute to him.
Somehow, I don't think Dickens would be impressed. The problem with trying to remake a classic (anything) is that you are setting yourself up to fail. The chance of surpassing the original is non-existent, of equalling it, extremely low. But the chance of looking like a sad imitation - very high indeed.
This book is pretty typical of contemporary fiction - ordinary writing, poor character development and completely lacking in nuance. My advice? Skip this and read or re-read the original.
I leave you with an excerpt from "A Christmas Carol" as an example of excellent writing:
"Spirit! are they yours?" Scrooge could say no more.
"They are Man's," said the Spirit, looking down upon them. "And they cling to me, appealing from their fathers. This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want. Beware of them both, and all of their degree, but most of all beware this boy, for on his brow I see that written which is Doom, unless the writing be erased. Deny it!" cried the Spirit, stretching out its hand towards the city. "Slander those who tell it ye! Admit it for your factious purposes, and make it worse! And bide the end!"
"Have they no refuge or resource?" cried Scrooge.
"Are there no prisons?" said the Spirit, turning on him for the last time with his own words. "Are there no workhouses?" (