A Christmas review: "The Christmas Mystery" by Jostein Gaarder

Merry Christmas to you all! Today I want to highlight a personal favorite, one that I reread this year and plan on reading every year. I also plan on reading it to my children.

Title: The Christmas Mystery
Author: Jostein Gaarder
Translator: Elizabeth Rokken
Illustrator: Rosemary Wells
Publisher: Moyer Bell, 1996; originally published in Norwegian under the title Julemysteriet, copyright 1992
Where I got it: I originally found this book in a bookshop in Hay-on-Wye, Wales, in 2008 after years of a vague understanding that I wanted to read it, but I had forgotten the title until I saw it there. I then got the copy I read this year at Barnes & Noble, which I had to order into the store.

Joachim, a little boy in Norway, goes out with his father on November 30, on the hunt for an Advent calendar before December begins. At a local bookshop they find a few choices, but Joachim is drawn to a particular, and peculiar, old-looking calendar that the bookseller tells him was left by an odd old flower-seller. They take it home, and Joachim is surprised and pleased to discover that behind each door is not only a small picture, but a scrap of paper that tells the story of Elisabet, a girl who travels back in time to Bethlehem with a group of pilgrims made up of angels, sheep, shepherds, kings and others who played a role in the very first Christmas. Soon Joachim finds out there was a girl who disappeared from his town about 40 years earlier, a girl with the same name and appearance as his Advent calendar's heroine. Could she be the same Elisabet? Was she really brought back in time by an angel to witness the birth of Jesus?

This book is very special to me. It is a treasure, and because each day in December has a chapter devoted to it, I read one chapter a day and use this as my Advent calendar. Chapters are short, and language and the characters written are fairly simple, but it is a lovely story about Jesus and about belief. I will say you have to have at least a modicum of belief in Jesus to appreciate and like this book, but if you do I would seek it out.

Unfortunately, the copy I have has a large number of typos, mostly the wrong sort of punctuation. Though that bugged me, I had read the story before in a better edition from the UK (it was originally published in Norway) so it didn't really detract too much from my reading this time around.

As I said, there is no real depth to the characters, but it is fable-like in that way, and it is great seeing Joachim and his parents try to discover what happened to the Elisabet of their village and find the similarities between her and the Elisabet of their Advent calendar.

For a religious Christmas read, you can't get much better than this. Merry Christmas everyone!

Throwback Thursday: "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" by Barbara Robinson

Getting closer to Christmas, and guess what, it's Thursday! I know I haven't done a Throwback Thursday in a while, but be prepared for one today. Hooray!

Title: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
Author: Barbara Robinson
Publisher: Harper & Row, 1972
Where I got it/why I read it: I was reminded of this book by Anita Silvey in her fantastic resource, her Children's Book-A-Day Almanac, and immediately checked to see if it was available at my library. It was! I checked it out.

*Starred Review*

The Herdmans are rotten kids, each and every one of them, and delight in causing trouble. They are menaces, mean kids who bully and go out of their way to make someone's life miserable. So when they show up at church (they heard there's food there) and get all the leading roles of the Christmas pageant, everyone is sure they're going to completely and totally ruin everything. But the Herdmans have never even heard the Christmas story before, how Jesus was born, and what happens is enough to surprise every single person in town.

I read this years and years ago, to the point that I had forgotten most of the story. It's pretty much one of the greatest Christmas stories ever, and I forgot that until I read it again this past weekend. Not only is it told in a funny way that is easy to read for younger kids, it's touching and real. How would you react to hearing the story of Christmas for the first time? The Herdmans are outraged that anyone would make a pregnant woman sleep in a stable, and that some king dude went out hunting for the little baby before he was even born so he could kill him.

The Herdmans, though they bully, threaten others, and smoke cigars (even the girls), challenge the "good" kids to think about the pageant and about what they're involved in in a way they never have before. The unnamed narrator drives it home with her own thinking, and part of this book's beauty is that it doesn't seem contrived at all. It's genuine, and the kids' curiosity and questions bring fresh perspective to a story most of us grew up hearing.

At 80 pages, it's a short book but WELL worth taking the hour or two to read. Or, if you have kids of your own, take ten minutes a night to read it to them before bed. They'll love the antics of Herdmans, and they'll think about the story in a whole new way.

I should mention, you don't have to be super religious to enjoy this book either. Crazy things happen, and busybody old ladies get put in their place in the end.

Review: "The Shepherd, the Angel, and Walter the Christmas Miracle Dog" by Dave Barry

A third Christmas book review, hooray!

Title: The Shepherd, the Angel, and Walter the Christmas Miracle Dog
Author: Dave Barry
Publisher: Berkeley Books, 2006
Where I got it: I bought this two years ago at Barnes & Noble.

What do a Christmas pageant, kids who like to goof around, the loss of a pet and the gain of a new one have in common? They're all key parts to this funny and sweet Christmas tale told in the signature voice of humorist Dave Barry. It's 1960, and Doug is cast in his church's Christmas pageant as a shepherd. But on Christmas Eve, things don't go quite as planned—all I'll say is that a dog and bat poop are involved.

This book takes maybe about an hour to read. It's quick, hilarious, and touching all at once. My favorite kind of Christmas story, as you might have noticed from my reviews thus far this week. Barry has an incredible talent at finding the right words to get you to laugh, and he gives Doug a completely believable voice, typical of a younger kid who deals with funny stuff on a daily basis (which makes it not only perfect, but relatable).

The print is pretty big, and photographs and old ads are peppered throughout the pages, which is why it's such a fast read. The images really add a lot to the story, if only for a laugh or two. Plus, if you weren't around in the '60s, it helps you to picture things better.

Though tinged with sadness at times, the antics of Doug, his friends, and his family (not to mention the miracle dog of the title) make this a fun read. It's one I go back to every year, not only because it makes me laugh, but because it's got a great balance of emotion. Seriously, find an hour or so of your time and take it to read this.

Not-so-great expectations.

I recently read this AP article, pointed out to me by the Boston Boom Bums' Bookish Intelligence Report, about the slow start to Oprah's latest book club pick. A lovely copy of Charles Dickens' Great Expectations and A Tale of Two Cities, with dappled pages and a gorgeous red and white cover, it has reportedly sold only around 21,000 copies in its first week and hasn't even made it into the top ten bestsellers for any vendor.

The AP suggests it is because of the easy access to free e-book copies, as it is in the top ten free e-book downloads on Amazon.com. I think that is certainly part of it, but there might be a little more to it; at least, this is why I don't think I'll be buying a copy.

Who didn't read either of these books in high school? I was forced to ingest Great Expectations at the age of 13, and hated EVERY. SINGLE. MINUTE. There was no part that I enjoyed, few characters I liked, no redeeming factors for me. It was the first time I can remember having such a passion of hatred for a book. I was then, as I am now, a huge reader and liked the other selections we read that year (Jane Eyre, one of my favorites, and To Kill a Mockingbird, another all-time favorite). But Great Expectations? If I never saw another copy again, it would be too soon.

As for A Tale of Two Cities, it did redeem Dickens for me, as I actually enjoyed it. But would I pay $14 (the price of the book with my B&N discount) for both books? No. I would not spend a penny on Great Expectations, such is my disdain. Even if I liked A Tale of Two Cities.

It's not just me. I can count on one hand the people I've met who actually liked Great Expectations. Most agree with me—they didn't like it and never would.

So to conclude, I think part of the reason Oprah's pick isn't flying off the shelves is because pretty much everyone has read it already. It's not like she picked an ignored classic—most Americans have been forced to read both these books at some point in their schooling, and I'm guessing most of those people were not too happy about it at the time. Bad memories and dislike will not contribute to sales.

What do you think? Did you like either of these books when you read them in high school? Were you one of the few who didn't have to read them?

Review: "A Christmas Story" by Jean Shepherd

Here's my next round of Christmas cheer, a review of the book that inspired one of my favorite movies of all time.


Title: A Christmas Story
Author: Jean Shepherd
Publisher: Broadway Books, 2003
Where I got it: I wisely decided to invest in my own copy and bought it at Barnes & Noble.

Most of you will recognize this title as one of the greatest Christmas movies of all time. Okay, some of you might not agree with it being one of the greatest, since I know there are people out there who don't like it. But in my family it is a classic and we always have whatever channel is playing it for 24 hours on when we open presents on Christmas morning. I could quote it all day.

Even if you don't LIKE it, you are probably familiar with the story. 9-year-old Ralphie Parker wants an official Red Ryder carbine action 200-shot range model air rifle for Christmas, and schemes his best to get it. In between Red Ryder plotting, he deals with neighborhood bully Scut Farkas, pines to be in Little Orphan Annie's Secret Circle with his official decoder pin, enjoys a little light from his father's Major Award, and generally is just witness and participant in his slightly dysfunctional but ultimately happy family. Some of you, however, might not realize that this movie made famous by TV showings was based on a series of essays by humorist and radio personality Jean Shepherd.

Because I love the movie so dearly, I decided it was about time to read what inspired it. All in all, I am glad I did, not only because it gave me a greater appreciation and understanding of the movie, it was incredibly funny. Here's a line describing walking to school in the winter to give you the idea:

Scattered over the icy waste around us could be seen other tiny befurred jots of wind-driven humanity. All painfully toiling toward the Warren G. Harding School, miles away over the tundra, waddling under the weight of frost-covered clothing like tiny frozen bowling balls with feet. An occasional piteous whimper would be heard faintly, but lost instantly in the sigh of the eternal wind. (p. 9).

Another difference between the text and the movie is the setting—it is never really definitively said in the latter what time this takes place in, but the essays make it clear this was during the Depression. As a result, among the incredible wit and hilarity of Shepherd's prose, there is a hint of seriousness that is lacking in the film, though it is only a slight undertone. Mostly it's just funny, though it's a bit darker than the film.

Because the essays weren't meant to be published as a package originally, and were four in a larger volume called In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash, they aren't all Christmas stories, but will still make you smile with recognition if you know the movie, especially when lines and phrasing are the same. There is a fifth essay included that has to do with their neighbors the Bumpuses, which was originally from another collection, for the reader's enjoyment.

This was great for fans of the movie and for those who have yet to see it. If you hate the movie, I'm not sure you'll like the book, since I'm kind of biased, but it was different enough for me to decide I like the movie better. I liked how all the stories were intertwined rather than broken up into separate stories, but like I said I'm biased. It's certainly worth the read.

Have you read this, or seen A Christmas Story? Are you a loyal watcher of this beloved film (I've been known to watch it outside the Christmas season), or do you hate it completely?

Review: "A Season of Gifts" by Richard Peck

For the next week, I'll be reviewing Christmas-related books, and I'm excited to share them with you all! There will be some great gems (in my opinion). Here's the first:

Title: A Season of Gifts

Author: Richard Peck

Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers, 2009

Where I got it: Found it at my library, hooray!

Grandma Dowdel, who some readers will recognize from A Long Way from Chicago and A Year Down Yonder, makes a comeback in this recent novel from acclaimed novelist Richard Peck. The large, tough, but very big-hearted Mrs. Dowdel is the next door neighbor of the Barnhart family, newly moved from Terre Haute, Indiana to the tiny town in Piatt County. Mr. Barnhart, a Methodist preacher, was assigned the small, broken-down church in the tiny town, and all of them have a rough start adjusting to the change of scenery. And though Mrs. Dowdel is not a church woman or one to neighbor, things sure turn around for the Barnharts throughout the second half of 1958, seemingly by circumstance. The narrative starts in the dog days of August, going through the fall season and the major holidays, and finally ending with Christmas.

Richard Peck has such a lovely way of crafting his stories. It never seems rushed or hurried, even when something exciting is happening. Life meanders along, despite all of the crazy schemes and scenarios that seem to crop up when Mrs. Dowdel is around. There are a few marked differences from the two companion novels, besides being set in the late 1950s instead of the Depression—there is a somewhat disturbing scene near the beginning where Bob is bullied pretty badly, to the point of physical abuse. However, this is a pivotal scene, as it gives Mrs. Dowdel a reason to notice him and provides a background for the rest of the story.

The way Peck concocts schemes is genius. Things happen and the reader isn't sure where they're going, but when they fall into place it's nothing short of brilliant. Mrs. Dowdel manages to do all the right things without seeming like she's doing them on purpose, which takes some obvious skill. What she accomplishes for the Barnharts, and how they react to them, is just wonderful. And to see how some of them get involved is not only unexpected, it never failed to make me smile.

All of the characters are believable and their own people, though 6-year-old Ruth Ann adorably starts to talk and act like her elderly neighbor, using phrases like "hoo-boy" and pushing up imaginary spectacles. Phyllis is your typical angsty teen, and Bob is eager to grow up but knows his responsibilities and limits, for the most part. An interesting difference between this book and its companions is we get to see a parental element—the previous volumes just had children reacting to their grandmother, while here we see adult insight as well as that of a child.

This makes great reading for an older audience as well as for children. There are so many references and scenes where younger readers might not get the full picture right away, but adults will understand what is going on while it's happening or right after it happens. Most things are clearly explained by the end of the chapter for those who missed the clues along the way, though there are a few comments that will go unnoticed and unrecognized by younger readers that adults and older children will probably catch—and the story works just as well even if you don't catch them.

One nitpicky thing I disliked was the epilogue. It was a little too obvious for my taste, and didn't quite go with the rest of the tone of the book. My favorite aspect of Peck's writing is his subtlety, and this lacked it completely. Of course, it ended being a Christmas story and with it came some schmaltz, which I normally like, but I felt like this didn't need any. It's a lovely story all its own, and though it's nice to find out what happened to the Barnharts after they left Piatt County, Peck laid it on a bit thick in the last few sentences.

I really liked this book, and anything with Grandma (or Mrs.) Dowdel is sure to be a good time. She has a mind for scheming and a good heart, always looking to do the right thing and to get a little bit of justice for those who can't get it themselves. Aimed at middle-grade readers, it's a nice, short book to read right before Christmas, or any time of the year really.

Winner of "The Secret Society of the Crystal Ball" hooray!

And the winner is! Drumroll please...

Brrrrrrrrrr (that's my drumroll)

Andrew from Massachusetts!

Congratulations Andrew, you will be receiving a signed copy of The Secret Society of the Pink Crystal Ball by Risa Green!

Woohoo!