The Golden Ring : A Christmas Story

Rating:
Summary: A Christmas Nightmare
Review: Although I do enjoy reading Christmas tales at this time of the year, nothing can save a badly written book. The Golden Ring plays like a very rough draft of what could have been a touching Christmas story. Instead, the book ends up being annoyingly shallow and too hastily written.

We have a family who seems to know nothing but happiness. Every member of this family is too good, always trying to please others, always trying to do the good thing. One day, Anna, the youngest daughter, meets a young girl who is poor and who will not be celebrating Christmas because her parents have no money. Anna gives the girl her most prized possession: a gold ring that her parents gave to her on her ninth birthday.

Fine. It's all very sweet. But then, we get into a huge religious inner struggle as Anna searches her soul, trying to decide whether she did the right thing by parting herself from that ring. Believe me, no 10 year old is mature enough to take on such soul-searching!

The books is written without style. The sentences are short and much too easy. The book is even too simple for young children. More revision and a little more style would have been needed to make this book the special Christmas gift it wants to be. Instead, it ends up being a pale immitation of the much better, much more touching The Christmas Box.

Rating:
Summary: A Christmas Read-Aloud for the whole family
Review: In the hectic shopping extravagansa of the holidays, take time to read this wonderful story of true giving to your whole family. A true story, told to the author by and about his grandmother, tells of a day long, but not-so-long ago, when times were very hard for some. Young Anna Beal is moved by a dream and human compassion to give away her most precious posession. Her father also wrestles with dreams he has and how to celebrate Christmas without losing the heart of it. True and sacrifical giving is always the best gift of Christmas.

Rating:
Summary: The Power of love
Review: The Golden Ring A Christmas story was just fabulous. I found it so touching and uplifting. As I read I could empathize with the joy and happiness of the Beal family members and cried when they did. It's the simple, unselfish actions of an innocent child and her fathers strong spiritual beliefs that brings us back to reality and the true sense of love, giving, and happiness especially in this day of terrorism and fear. I was so impressed with this book I have passed it on to my 13 yr. son who is now enjoying it along with the good feeling that comes with it. I hope to send it to others this Christmas to share this special Christmas spirit I now have. Thank you for sharing such a beautiful story with the rest of us.

Rating:
Summary: The Power of love
Review: The Golden Ring A Christmas story was just fabulous. I found it so touching and uplifting. As I read I could empathize with the joy and happiness of the Beal family members and cried when they did. It's the simple, unselfish actions of an innocent child and her fathers strong spiritual beliefs that brings us back to reality and the true sense of love, giving, and happiness especially in this day of terrorism and fear. I was so impressed with this book I have passed it on to my 13 yr. son who is now enjoying it along with the good feeling that comes with it. I hope to send it to others this Christmas to share this special Christmas spirit I now have. Thank you for sharing such a beautiful story with the rest of us.

Rating:
Summary: The Golden Ring
Review: This is an excellent story that preserves the traditions and memories of Christmas and a father's love for his children.