Title: Christmas Bells
Author: Jennifer Chiaverini
Published: October 27, 2015 by Dutton
The copy I read was paperback and included 336 pages.
This book will appeal to many groups of people: those who enjoy history, literature buffs, music lovers, and those who enjoy romantic, perfect endings. I am all of those. I got a little bogged down with the historical sections. I felt the pace dragged a bit through there, but it was interesting in retrospect. This novel included so many things. The Civil War, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and his family, the war in Aphganistan and families at home dealing with deployment of their loved ones, the priesthood and how it affects a family, a Senator's influence and his wife's responsibility serving alongside him. So much, yet it worked. I loved how Ms. Chiaverini wrapped everything up and tied it with a big bow! That's my kind of Christmas tale! I will never hear or sing or play "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" the same again.
I gave it 5 stars - I thought about giving it 4 stars because the historical parts were kind of long, but in the end it was a wonderful Christmas story.
I came across this really interesting reading challenge: the Family Tree Reading Challenge hosted by Becky's Book Reviews. You choose members of your family and read a book that was published in the year of their birth. I am the youngest child in my family, so I chose my youngest daughter who was born in 1991, myself 1954, my father who was also the youngest in his family 1917, my great aunt who was the youngest in her family 1909, my grandfather also the youngest 1894, and the two youngest siblings - twins - of my great grandmother 1860. I looked up the bestsellers for those years and found some interesting choices:
1991 Loves Music, Loves to Dance by Mary Higgins Clark
1954 Mary Anne by Daphne du Maurier
1917 His Family by Ernest Poole
1909 The Trail of the Lonesome Pine by John Fox, Jr.
1894 Trilby by George du Maurier
1860 The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot
That's my list! You can sign up here.
If you love your library as I do, this challenge is right up your alley. The goal is to read at least 12 books from the library this year. Of course, you can read more if you want.
I'm going to start with 12, but hopefully, I will read more.
It's hosted by Angels Guilty Pleasures and you can sign up here.
There's also a giveaway at the end that you can read about at the same link.
Good luck!
It's January - time to start the #Winter's Respite Readathon! I love an excuse to just read, read, read.
If you want to join, just click on the picture at the top of this page and it will take you to the post.
I'm starting out continuing one of my Christmas reads: "Christmas Bells" by Jennifer Chiaverini. It is part historical and part contemporary. I'm really enjoying it. I have a couple of other Christmas books that I need to finish as well.
Christmas Day brought me three new books - one is a children's book in Spanish, the others are "The Other Alcott" by Elise Hooper which I am reviewing for our book club this year, and "My Brilliant Friend" by Elena Ferrante. You may see those on my booklist, too.
I also have some books on my Kindle that I could read: "Geekerella" by Ashley Poston which my daughter says is really good, and the next Poldark book!
I'm so glad to have some time to just sit and read this January! Get a cup of tea and cozy up with your book!
