Rating: 
Summary: Brevity is the Soul of Mitchard
Review: As far as I know, this author is noted for long novels; so this short work must be a real departure for the writer who rocketed to fame with "The Deep End of the Ocean" and other hefty narratives. My point is this: "Christmas, Present" might be to Mitchard's work what "The Old Man and the Sea" was to Hemingway's canon or what "The Long March" is to William Styron or what "Sula" is to Toni Morrison. It's a perfectly formed, incredibly concise, deeply moving short novel. This is proof positive that Artie Shaw was right when saying: "Simple is best." NOT simple-minded, but simple in the sense that the story's contours, its characters, the time-frame and the details are all so incredibly right. Yes, it's a family-oriented novel (like Mitchard's other works); and yes it bears down heavily on the intricacies of parent-child relationships and also the connective tissue between a dying wife and her traumatized husband. But the magic here is in the author's control of her material: this book can be read in one long sitting; it's a perfect stocking-stuffer. It's also a short novel that will touch your soul. What a work! Grab a copy w/a box of Kleenex.
Rating: 
Summary: --Poignant--
Review: CHRISTMAS, PRESENT begins with Elliot Banner planning a very special wedding anniversary for his wife, Laura. He surprises her with tickets to see the Cirque du Soleil. It's just two days before their December 23rd anniversary and a few days before Christmas. Laura mentions that she has a headache, and on the way home their car breaks down in a busy tunnel. While they're waiting for a wrecker, the headache that Laura has been having escalates, and she becomes severely ill.
The story continues with a shocking diagnosis for Laura and a gathering of their children, Laura's siblings and mother at the hospital.
This is a very small book and a fast read. It's well written and although the title is appropriate, this is not your usual Christmas story. I do recommend this book, but some people may prefer not to read it until after Christmas. This is a serious and mind wrenching story!
Rating:
Summary: A quick, soulful antidote for Christmas bedlam
Review: I recently lost my mother to a disease that moved only slightly less rapidly than Mitchard's central character's, but the reality was much the same. The author manages to capture the pain, urgency and humor of such a time. Those last days with a loved one are both awful and wonderful. The holiday timing only adds to the poignant nature of the book. I also respect the author for the tight prose. Its hard to write a good, short book, but Mitchard manages it while retaining her trademark,every day realism. A smart, mature take on family and life. Just the read if you need a little soulful perspective when you return home from the Christmas bedlam at the shopping mall. Bravo.
Rating:
Summary: Christmas Present......
Review: In the vein of Donna VanLiere's THE CHRISTMAS SHOES and Richard Paul Evans's THE CHRISTMAS BOX, bestselling author Jacquelyn Mitchard (THE DEEP END OF THE OCEAN, A THEORY OF RELATIVITY) has penned a slim but poignant Christmas story that captures perfectly the true spirit of the season. Dramas of familial crises and grief are Mitchard's trademark fare, and this slender novella of love, loss and letting go is no exception.CHRISTMAS, PRESENT expertly blends the sad and sentimental with the uplifting and inspiring, and somehow manages to be both heartwarming and heart wrenching at the same time. Elliott and his wife of 14 years, Laura, are on their way home from their anniversary celebration two days before Christmas when a searing pain in Laura's head forces an abrupt visit to the local hospital. The pain turns out to be far more than an ordinary migraine and they soon learn the horrible truth that Laura has a fatal, inoperable brain hemorrhage that leaves her with mere hours to live. As her family gathers around from near and far on Christmas Eve, Laura shares with them loving memories of a life well-lived and she bestows on them her blessings and hopes for the future. Her good-byes to her beloved husband and three daughters are particularly fraught with emotion. However we are saved from over-the-top sentimentality thanks to Laura's serene, reflective demeanor and Mitchard's straightforward prose. Laura's legacy to her shocked and grief-stricken family is giving them the gift and promise of the future by encouraging them to live life to the fullest in her absence. The final chapter provides an uplifting respite from the novel's weighty sadness, as we glimpse into the future and see Elliott and their daughters living out Laura's dying wish for them to visit Paris. Mitchard perfectly captures the utter heartache and devastation of losing a loved one while imparting a powerful message that we all need to be reminded of sometimes: life is best when shared with those you love, and it is these shared moments that make for a rich, satisfying existence rather than material possessions or achievements. The only real downside to the book is its brevity, which is a dramatic departure from the meatier, lengthy books Mitchard is known for. Although it's perfect for reading in one sitting during the time-crunched holidays, the subject matter packs such an emotional punch that the abbreviated format doesn't quite do it justice and the storyline isn't as fully realized as it could have been. The result is that it feels like a mere snapshot taken from a larger novel, and the resolution feels rushed and breathless, like a race to the finish line, instead of a thought-provoking and contemplative finale that provides true closure. Nonetheless, CHRISTMAS, PRESENT will touch your soul and warm your heart, and it makes a perfect little gift for yourself or someone you love. --- Reviewed by Joni Rendon
Rating:
Summary: A box of kleenex...
Review: is what you need for this book for sure! Not a good book to be reading at work! It was a short book, however I think it provoked lots of thoughts. I have never had a loved one die like that so I haven't been in that situation, but the relationships with the kids bothered me. I would have not let my girls leave me at all!
Rating:
Summary: A Must Read!!!!
Review: Once again,Jacquelyn Mitchard has written an amazingly touching and poetic book! Christmas Present is one of the most beautifully written books that I have ever had the pleasure to read.I actually read it in one evening as I could not put it down!!I highly recommend this book to anyone who appriecates a good read as well as a good cry!!Buy the book!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Wrap your Heartstrings Around this One
Review: Terribly touching without being maudlin. What makes this little novel such an attention grabber is the main character, Laura who I loved from the start. All the characters in this book are totally believable from Laura's husband Elliot to her mother, Miranda. And the three little daughters will grab your heart and twist it into a big fat knot. Lovely writing from Jacqueline Mitchard - it may be a small book, but it packs a powerful punch.
Rating:
Summary: Wrap your Heartstrings Around this One
Review: Terribly touching without being maudlin. What makes this little novel such an attention grabber is the main character, Laura who I loved from the start. All the characters in this book are totally believable from Laura's husband Elliot to her mother, Miranda. And the three little daughters will grab your heart and twist it into a big fat knot. Lovely writing from Jacqueline Mitchard - it may be a small book, but it packs a powerful punch.
Rating:
Summary: Thought provoking for all seasons
Review: This is not a book for shallow people. It is sad. But it has a beautiful message. It is not your typical cheesy christmas book please give yourself a gift and curl up with this one when the holiday rush is over. I love this one best of all the Jackie Mitchard books, and I have read them all. it's my personal fave.
Rating:
Summary: Christmas Present......
Review: This is one of the best books that I have ever read. I would highly recommend this book to any person who has ever lost a loved one and the grief that you feel.
|
