Dear Book Club Readers ---
Here's wishing a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you!
I love rereading A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens every year. It has become a warm reading tradition that always reminds me of what's important in life and gets me into the festive spirit.
You may not have heard my reflections on rereading this phenomenal work, so I would like to share this talk again with you here. We also have a podcast episode that deep dives into the history and message of the story, the festive season, the condition of the country at time of writing, and Charles Dickens, which you may wish to listen to here.
I would like to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for you and to say a huge thank you for making this such a special book club community. Thank you for living the great books with so much passion, curiosity, and love.
Audio Timestamps:
0:00 why reread a story?
3:30 how Scrooge changes
6:00 communal & solitary reading
8:51 the chains we forge in life
10:00 do we sympathise with Scrooge?
12:00 being mortal & liable to fall
14:00 Scrooge’s child self
18:00 reliving the painful past
20:00 the Dickensian Sublime
21:30 the ephemeral present
24:00 on paradigm shifts
25:22 a vision of the future
28:00 accessing eternity
30:30 a personal message
Here are some recommendations for engaging with this wonderful story again this year:
Edition: I'm reading from my beloved Chapman & Hall Facsimile edition of A Christmas Carol, which you can see in this video: How to Read Charles Dickens (& Showing You My Complete Collection). I'm also a fan of the Everyman's Library editions of the work. One has a wonderful introduction from Margaret Atwood and they also have a children's edition with glorious illustrations by Arthur Rackham. I also love watching videos that show rare first editions of the work like here, here, and here.
Film Adaptations: There are so many great adaptations of A Christmas Carol, which speaks to just how special this work is. But the two adaptations that are particularly special for many lovers of Dickens are the masterful film starring George C. Scott as Scrooge from 1984 and the 1951 classic starring Alastair Sim. Personally, as I enjoy my first Christmas with my little one, I will be throwing on the great 1992 musical, starring Michael Caine, The Muppet Christmas Carol. Of course, there are so many more great adaptations and films inspired by this tale, so let us know which version you're watching this year. Also, for another film option, a masterpiece that I watch around this time every year is the 1946 film, starring James Stewart, It's a Wonderful Life.
Audiobooks: There are few things better than settling down by the fire, with a glass of something warm, and reading this classic tale aloud. If you want the joy of having the story read to you, there are many great narrations available. Here are some options of readings and performances I've enjoyed in the past: Tim Curry, Hugh Grant, Jim Dale, Sir Derek Jacobi, Sir Patrick Stewart, Orson Welles. I love listening and reading the text at the same time, but I also love just shutting my eyes and listening to half an hour before bed across the festive season.
Documentary: If you're in the mood for a wonderful documentary, then I highly recommend Charles Dickens and the Invention of Christmas, from the BBC and presented by Griff Rhys Jones, which explores how Dickens created the idea of a traditional family Christmas through this special work.
What do you make of A Christmas Carol? Does the story resonate with you? What is your biggest takeaway from this tale this year?
If you partake in the rereading tradition, then please do share your thoughts about A Christmas Carol with us, or let us know what books are keeping you company and how you're enjoying the season!
Happy Reading, Happy Holidays & love to you all!