A Christmas Carol Review

A Christmas Carol is a book which combines the beloved fantasy aspect of Christmas with the reality of the harsh experiences of life in a winter of the 19th century. The book varies tone from beginning to end, as the reader is lead by Dickens to experience loathing and love for the character Scrooge. Scrooge's personality progresses from the cold bitter man he is presented as at the beginning of the book, to the joyful, loved man whose generosity is admired by many. The heart- warming tale can be a difficult read for younger readers, as few may not understand the antiquated language. However, many have became aware of the beloved tale due to the numerous films presented to the public in the festive season.

Whilst reading the book, it is apparent to the reader that Dickens continues the unchanged features of the characters. He also uses emotive language so that the reader is enabled to feel empathy for characters such as Tim Cratchit and the poor beggars for charity who appeared near the beginning of the book. There is also pity in the first stave where it is apparent that Scrooge is afraid of the ghost of which beholds him, Jacob Marley's ghost. The gripping tale made me, the reader, to feel an unexpected pity for scrooge as if I were in his shoes I would dislike the candle-lite atmosphere and the threat of spirits which always remained a close ultimatum.

My personal favourite characters are: the Clerk/ Bob Crachit, Scrooge's nephew and last but not least the ghost of Christmas present. The Clerk began as one of my favourite characters from the beginning of the novella as I felt pity on him and I experienced joy for him when he left his disgruntled work place and had time to spend with his family on Christmas day. The reader is compelled to feel pity for the Clerk as he is the underdog in the workplace as experiences harsh emotions from Scrooge himself. Scrooge’s nephew continues throughout the book to feel compelled to always have an open heart for Scrooge and giving him a place to go even when others didn’t believe he could change, Scrooge’s nephew did not lose faith in Scrooge. Finally, my last favourite character is the ghost of Christmas present. He creates a jolly environment for Scrooge and creates the impression on the reader of a loving character and also reminds Scrooge of a time when he was happy.

Whilst reading the book it made me smile as Scrooge’s personality changed, it also made me smile at the start of the book as Scrooge’s character will answer to Scrooge or Marley, this shows how Marley and Scrooge were very close.

Overall the book was spectacular as Dickens ways of developing characters made the reader feel compelled to express their emotions, whether its a small smile or a long weep, Dickens successfully managed to allow the characters to grow and also made them feel real by using the conditions of the 19th century and also peoples views and characters at the time to his own advantage for the novella. Out of five I would rate the book a 4.5, as the characters develop spectacularly; However the book was slightly confusing, especially to a younger reader.

Harry Ward

12 Years a Slave

A heart wrenching , brutal story about an innocent man being kidnapped for the benefits of slavery, 12 years a slave is a moving, excellent book.

Drugged and captured wrongly by two men who offered him a job opportunity, Northup was lured into the slave trade. His free papers removed from his innocent hands, being torn away from his family and home town, Northup tells the story of a brutal, excruciatingly painful 12 years in captivity.

Having only memories of his family, he urges to stay alive and get home. Being stripped of identification documents and chained like a dog, Northup was left bare of any belongings. Experiencing violent whippings and then being transported via sea, Northup was eventually sold in Bayou to a plantation owner. It's here he spends his 12 years in captivity.

Hiding all of his talents , Northup was only seen as an everyday man, but a black man. A free man born with the wrong colour skin. Using extreme detail , Northup expresses himself using his only talent he can make visible and one that cant be taken away, writing in his diary. Expressing his feelings on paper, later turned into a book, Solomon Northup shows his story, a story of a black man dragged into slavery, extremely well. I would recommend this book to anyone. Although it contains complex language and maintains an old style of writing, 12 years a slave is a magnificent book.

Lucy Oakley

Great Expectations

In what maybe my favourite novel, great expectations tells the story of a humble orphan pip, an apprentice as a blacksmith, but dreams of becoming a gentlemen, & due to mysterious circumstances, obtains money from an unknown person of whom he has already encountered, without realising, pip becomes a rich, ambitious young man, with aspirations to marry a girl named Estella. But then quickly finds himself hiding from the law, with death and heartbreak surrounding him, he has to make significant choices in order to protect the people he holds most dear to him.

The book written in the C19 is complex and is challenging, but never have I read a book so memorable or enriching, my thoughts before reading where reluctant as it seemed old and tedious, generally people gather the idea old books are more difficult to read; even if they haven’t read it, but throughout the story the author, delineated through the immature yet amiable pip (my favourite character)  for his simple minded and kind characteristics make him relatable and a good narrator, we are presented with many challenges and numerous mysterious moments stand out, that combined with the passion and suspense gives an overall greatness to the book. Dickens’s language might seem antiquated, however, it is remarkably easy. The pace of the novel is normal, and the mystery’s that unfold are extremely gripping.

Neither was the book emotional nor funny, it was written as fiction, but written so brilliantly people would believe it was non-fiction, the plot at times difficult to follow, and a lot to take in, not the most mindless reader would enjoy this novel as again it’s a difficult read, I don’t read many dickens books myself, but I gather from this that his writing style is convincing and uplifting, for no book has made me feel more intrigued, more satisfied and less close minded.

George Pell