Rating: 
Summary: There's Just Something About a Train
Review: David Baldacci demonstrates depth and diversity, this time taking us all aboard for a delightful excursion. Keep in mind (as the author posts ample notice) that the journey is the reward. Spend some time getting to know the folk. In the process, discover something about yourself, your pace, your priorities. Mr. Baldacci has vaulted over the same high bar raised with "Wish You Well". Forget the myopic world of thrillers, David, and continue to share your gift for good story telling.
Rating: 
Summary: Terrible
Review: This book is just plain bad. Boring use of language, cliched, uninteresting characters, predictable plot, lame pace....ugh. I have never been so disappointed in a book. This is reminiscent of my 8th grade creative writing class when I wrote an essay about an ice skater who - gasp - injured herself right before the big event, but through her tears of self-pity and terror, gritted her teeth and fought on, training day after day, working harder than ever.....to win the gold to rounds of applause and tears of happiness and pride. You get the picture. Save your money.
Rating:
Summary: Not worth it
Review: I was hoping for a nice story to read on vacation but what I got instead was a headache. It was so unrealistic. It felt like the author was "trying" too hard for a romantic, feel-good story. Pass.
Rating: 
Summary: Not What I Was Expecting
Review: When I settled down to read "The Christmas Train," I thought I was going to read something that would put me in the spirit of the season: A book with a little charm, a dash of whimsy, and maybe a warm-hearted character or two who would add that extra something to this holiday tale. Sadly, I couldn't find any of these elements in this book. Two of the characters, Ellie and Tom, seemed more annoying than endearing, and even the choir boys didn't tug at my heartstrings as I think they were supposed to. I enjoy reading David Baldacci's thrillers, but I feel that he could have had a little more holly in his heart when writing this Christmas story.
Rating: 
Summary: All Aboard the Polar Express for Adults
Review: It didn't take me long to purchase The Christmas Train at an airport bookstore of all places during my end of the year travels. I purchased it because I thought maybe it might be just what Dr. Baldacci prescribes for a bad case of the holiday-rush-arounds. I was right. Baldacci knows that train travel appeals to all of us--if we had the time. He recognizes that weary travelers fantasize about relaxed travel during the holiday season;and he fashions a story that weaves the thoughts of going home for the holidays with an adventure. When your busy schedule permits, pick up a copy of "The Christmas Train" and find yourself a little nook and cranny to read it in. You will enjoy the holiday a little more.
Rating:
Summary: The Magic of Christmas and The Romance of Train Travel
Review: If you are looking for a light, feel-good read that reaffirms the magic of Christmas and the fact that sometimes long-deferred dreams do come true, this is the book for you. Author David Baldacci shows us quite clearly that it's not the destination that matters, but how you enjoy the journey. Tom Langdon sets off on a cross-country train trip at Washington, D.C. and plans to arrive in L.A. for Christmas. Having reached middle age, it is time to do some soul-searching and rethinking of life goals, and what better place than the peaceful journey a train can provide. As one of the characters so succintly tells our hero, "....most folk who ride trains could care less where they're going. For them it's the journey itself and the people they meet along the way...they're looking for some friendship, a warm body to talk to. People don't rush on a train, because that's not what trains are for." What Tom does encounter is a less than peaceful situation plus a mix of interesting characters. A Christmas Eve avalanche, an on-board wedding, people who are not who they say they are, a ghost from the past, and a lot of Amtrak trivia will keep you interested as you travel cross-country on Tom's trip of self-examination. Some may call the ending predictable, but a very clever twist took me completely by surprise and made the journey even more interesting in retrospect. This isn't great literature but it is an entertaining holiday read that makes this reader want to call Amtrak immediately to board the next train out of town. Great fun that I'm glad I found under my Christmas tree this year!
Rating:
Summary: ALL ABOARD TAKE A RIDE ON AMTRAK
Review: THIS WOULD NOT BE A BOOK I WOULD SAY TO JUDGE ALL OF MR. BALDACCI BOOKS THIS IS A VERY DIFFERENT AVENUE FROM HIS OTHER BOOKS. THIS TAKES PLACE WITH OUR MAIN CHARACTER HAVING TO TAKE A TRAIN BECAUSE OF AN INCIDENT ON A PLANE AND TO FULLFIL A FATHERS WISH.HE MEETS QUITE A CAST OF CHARACTERS AND HAS A PRETTY GOOD ADVENTURE.THIS WAS A PRETTY GOOD BOOK AND WOULD BE RECOMMENED BUT AGAIN DO NOT JUDGE BALDACCI BY THIS BOOK FOR HIS OTHER WORKS ARE QUITE DIFFERENT
Rating:
Summary: Awful!
Review: It's a good thing I got this book as a freebie through my book club because it is certainly not worth the cover price. I thought it would be a nice read for the holidays but I only made it through the first 100 pages and finally decided it was not worth the time. I've enjoyed several other of Baldacci's books but the Christmas Train was hardly worthy of an amateur.
Rating:
Summary: Light Christmas reading
Review: Where did all the "Bah Humbug" in all these other customer reviews come from? The Christmas Train is light Christmas reading that doesn't present itself to be anything other than that, and thankfully so! I've read Baldacci's other novels and enjoyed them but I certainly didn't want to read a murder mystery thriller set at Christmastime! The book cover, book flap and length of the book make it obvious that what you're going to get is a little bit of fun, feel good Christmas reading. I enjoyed the book, it even had a few good laughs in it. It did however seem an awfully similar to Jerry Jenkins Twas the Night Before.
Rating:
Summary: Bad Baldacci on a very bad day
Review: With each Baldacci book I read, I become increasing disappointed in the author's talents. His first books were fantasatic reads: Total Control probably being the best. But his Last Man Standing and, particularly this book, are just not worth the time or money. He's becoming the poor-man's John Grisham. This story was uninteresting, the characters flat and the situations unrealistic. And the writing very basic. But other than that, I have nothing to complain about. If you want a feel-good holiday book, treat yourself to last year's Skipping Christmas by Grisham. Sadly, I think I've given up on Baldacci. This one was the deciding factor.
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