A Christmas Carol

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mjs9153

Peripherally known member..
Nov 21, 2014
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Agree with the others on the Alastair Sim version.He did such a great job with the range of emotions for Scrooge,not only the meanness and miserliness,but also the fear,and the despondency in the middle..and at the end,the joy,humor,and goodness he regained..will always be favorite!
 

Patricia A

ReMember
Jul 10, 2006
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Puget Sound
I read three Dickens books in the last year. I still haven't read A Christmas Carol, but plan to. I saw 'Scrooged' the other night and, while enjoyable, I found it quite dated. I'd have to say the Alistair Sim one is my fave as that was what was force-fed to us during the holidays in my one-horse, one-channel hometown. It eventually became likeable for me.
One of my Christmas traditions is to read A Christmas Carol every Christmas. Dickens is awesome in the truest sense of the word. I love his writing, it speaks to me nearly 200 years after being written.
 

blunthead

Well-Known Member
Aug 2, 2006
80,755
195,461
Atlanta GA
One of my Christmas traditions is to read A Christmas Carol every Christmas. Dickens is awesome in the truest sense of the word. I love his writing, it speaks to me nearly 200 years after being written.
The only Dickens I've read is Christmas Carol. It's great and to be highly recommended, especially for those who like shorter books. I try to watch the Sim movie version every Christmastime.
 

Patricia A

ReMember
Jul 10, 2006
12,887
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63
Puget Sound
The only Dickens I've read is Christmas Carol. It's great and to be highly recommended, especially for those who like shorter books. I try to watch the Sim movie version every Christmastime.
A Christmas Carol was the first Dickens I ever read. I read it a long time ago and cried my eyes out, other books moved me but not like that. That was the book that made me realize how powerful the written word is.
 

skimom2

Just moseyin' through...
Oct 9, 2013
15,683
92,168
USA
If I ever become a good reader I'll read Dickens.
Dickens isn't difficult to read at all. He's chatty! Expect some repetition (as many of the books were originally printed as serials and there was a bit of repetition so people would remember what happened in past chapters), but other than that the stories are smooth sailing. If you could keep track of characters and storylines in books like UtD, The Stand, Swan Song (name your favorite long book with a big cast), you can read Dickens with no problem :)
 

blunthead

Well-Known Member
Aug 2, 2006
80,755
195,461
Atlanta GA
Dickens isn't difficult to read at all. He's chatty! Expect some repetition (as many of the books were originally printed as serials and there was a bit of repetition so people would remember what happened in past chapters), but other than that the stories are smooth sailing. If you could keep track of characters and storylines in books like UtD, The Stand, Swan Song (name your favorite long book with a big cast), you can read Dickens with no problem :)
I'm a creature of bad habit. I tend to live in comfort zone ruts. Instead of reading I watch TV. Instead of doing chores I don't.
 

Owenk

Well-Known Member
Nov 13, 2014
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......But last night, they had the Patrick Stewart version. It's our favorite (even over the Mr. Magoo animated story of my youth). He's such a consummate actor, and he plays the role to the hilt and in fine fashion.

I think Patrick Stewart is a very very very fine actor. we have seen him in a few things including the David Tennant HAmlet at Stratford.

But, I have him on talking book reading A Christmas Carol and whilst I enjoy it, I don't love it. I'm not sure what it is, I wonder if he is a bit too busy for me maybe? It could also be that my Grandfather (who lived with us) read this to me every Christmas until I was about 13, so maybe for me there is no other voice to read it than Grampy Priest.
 

Grandpa

Well-Known Member
Mar 2, 2014
9,724
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Colorado
I think Patrick Stewart is a very very very fine actor. we have seen him in a few things including the David Tennant HAmlet at Stratford.

But, I have him on talking book reading A Christmas Carol and whilst I enjoy it, I don't love it. I'm not sure what it is, I wonder if he is a bit too busy for me maybe? It could also be that my Grandfather (who lived with us) read this to me every Christmas until I was about 13, so maybe for me there is no other voice to read it than Grampy Priest.

Patrick Stewart has a fine, rich voice (he's done commercials too), but he's best watched and listened to. In the show that I started the thread with, we were captivated by his performance all the way through - and when he struggled to get out his merriment for the first time, it was a bravura moment.

Another display of his acting prowess was in the TNT (I think) remake of Moby Dick, in which the late Gregory Peck had a charming cameo. And sorry to be a sacrilegious heathen, but I thought Stewart did a better job as Ahab. Yeah, I'm a fan, but it's because he deserves it.