Been waiting on Mr. Dickens and His Carol by Samantha Silva for my holiday read this year. It finally arrived at my library, so I picked it up on Wednesday, then stayed up Wednesday night to finish it.
About Mr. Dickens and His Carol:
Charles Dickens is not feeling the Christmas spirit. His newest book is an utter flop, the critics have turned against him, relatives near and far hound him for money. While his wife plans a lavish holiday party for their ever-expanding family and circle of friends, Dickens has visions of the poor house. But when his publishers try to blackmail him into writing a Christmas book to save them all from financial ruin, he refuses. And a serious bout of writer’s block sets in.
Frazzled and filled with self-doubt, Dickens seeks solace in his great palace of thinking, the city of London itself. On one of his long night walks, in a once-beloved square, he meets the mysterious Eleanor Lovejoy, who might be just the muse he needs. As Dickens’ deadlines close in, Eleanor propels him on a Scrooge-like journey that tests everything he believes about generosity, friendship, ambition, and love. The story he writes will change Christmas forever.
My Thoughts:
The novel looks back at Charles Dickens, pre-A Christmas Carol, under pressure to come up with a Christmas novel or run the risk of financial ruin. With the deadline looming, he channels his energy into recreating his original writing days, with the assistance of old and new friends, while trying to figure out what a Christmas novel should look like.
As mentioned, the novel was a one night read for me, because I could not put it down. I’ve always loved A Christmas Carol, so the plot worked perfectly for me, letting me step into the fictional Dickens’ mind as he created the story. Highly recommended!
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