A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens
I am starting with this book for my first book review, because of the timing (being Christmas and all) and also because I just finished reading it.
I really loved it, and, because I'm a sook I did have a cry at the end. I am sure you are all familiar with this story and like me, have probably all seen a couple of different versions of it represented in film, but have not yet read the book. Do yourself a favour, grab it and read it ! Its not long and even with the old English expressions, which at times are frustrating and need to be re-read, its actually an easy read.
I will get a bit serious for a minute, this book is a nice kick up the butt (especially in the wake of the economic crisis) to make us think about curving our greedy ways. To make ourselves remember whats important, and that maybe, because we forget whats important, might be why we are in this mess in the world at the moment!
Anyway, so, what did I like about it ?
I found Dickens style of writing a pleasure to read. I loved his description of inanimate objects, the way he gave them a human persona -
"The ancient tower of a church. whose gruff old bell was always peeping slily down at Scrooge out of a Gothic window in the wall, became invisible, and struck the hours and quarters in the clouds, with tremulous vibrations afterwards as if its teeth were chattering in its frozen head up there."
and
"They were a gloomy suite of rooms, in a lowering pile of building up a yard, where it had so little business to be, that one could scarcely help fancying it must have run there when it was a young house, playing hide-and-seek with other houses, and forgotten the way out again."
There are lots more of these examples, I really loved that about the book. However, it's the message of the book that makes it so special and timeless. This message hasn't change over times, I guess its the "human
factor" that so many of us forget to think of others in a generous manner. And even though this book doesn't talk about the death of Christ, I think it has a truly Christian message. One of tolerance, giving, forgiveness, love and HOPE. Christmas, is that once a year we are made (no matter what your belief) to think of those around us, to take time out for one another. This book makes you think that it shouldn't just be once a year that we make such effort for each other but this ethos should be part of our every day.
""It is required of every man," the Ghost returned, "that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellowmen,and travel far and wide, and if that spirit goes not forth in life, it is condemned to do so after death. It is doomed to wander through the world--oh, woe is me!-- and witness what it cannot share, but might have shared on earth, and turned to happiness!"
Make the most of your every day and do good.
I think that we were put here, with all the capabilities we have, to do good and be grateful for what we have been given - the ability to look after and provide for ourselves and those that are truly in need of help. Like when Jacob said:
"Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were, all, my business. " He should not have gotten distracted by his trade or earnings, even though they are important they are not everything.
I could go on and on - but one of my favourite quotes from Scrooge was :
"...I do confess, to have had the lightest licence of a child, and yet to have been man enough to know its value."
and this
""...for it is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas, when its mighty Founder was a child himself."
So I give it a big fat 10.
Mud Crab or not to Mud Crab ? 
