Book Review: The Forgotten Carols

First of All:  Merry late Christmas!  I'd been meaning to get another post up sooner than this, but the holidays kind of got in the way, and taking time away from family and the festivities to write on a blog was a bit hard, so I didn't get around to it until now.  For those of you who don't practice Christmas, I hope you had a happy time celebrating whatever holiday you enjoy, or if you just outright don't practice anything during December, then I hope you just had a great month.

This time, I'm tackling one of my family's long-time Christmas traditions: Michael McLean's book-and-audio tag team, The Forgotten Carols.  It's a short book, with--if I remember right--less than a hundred pages, which are half-pages in many editions, so that clues you in to the short duration of the story.  Along with the story, McLean wrote music to go along with the different parts of the story, which make for a powerful combination of text and audio.  If you go looking for this book, make sure to pick up one with an included CD of the tracks to listen to at the designated parts of the story; it's so much better that way.

Second of All: The Forgotten Carols follows a relatively young nurse named Constance Louise Chamberlain, who is as stern as her first name infers.  A structured, controlled life has lead her to work at a hospital, which receives a strange request from a rather wealthy family.  The family, it seems, is going on a vacation to Europe, and is leaving behind their strange old uncle, who needs someone to tend him while they're gone.  Constance reluctantly agrees to go take care of the old man, who turns out to be nothing like she expected.  Uncle John, as he is named, leads Constance through a heart-changing experience punctuated by several forgotten Christmas carols that revolve around some unique Christmas tree ornaments.

Third of All: The review!
There's a reason that reading this book and listening to the accompanying audio has been a long-standing Christmas tradition in my family.  The story is powerful, with dynamic characters who are easy to fall in love with, more than a couple plot twists, and a tender ending which will leave you with a smile on your face.  As the designated story reader, it's my job to keep a level head while performing, but there's several points at which I tear up every single time.

Along with the story, the music is gorgeous, well-suited to the story, and deeply powerful.  I'd venture to say that nearly everyone can find one of these songs that fits them in a special way.

Overall, this book-and-audio combo is a wonderful, powerful, and tender experience that could easily find a home in any family's Christmas traditions.  I give it a Six out of Six Nerd Stars.

Movie Review: A Muppet Christmas Carol

First of All: I love this movie.  Ever since I can remember, my family has watched this movie around Christmas time, and since my sister-in-law hadn't ever seen it (which blew my mind), we popped it in during my weekly visit home and basked in the goodness that is The Muppet Christmas Carol.

Second of All: For those of you who don't know of this movie, it's the Muppet adaptation of the classic Christmas Carol written by the Victorian-era author Charles Dickens.  The premise is that Ebenezer Scrooge (played by the fantastically talented Michael Caine), who is a grumpy and jaded money lender who worries more about his money than whether or not people have homes, is haunted by the ghost of his former business associate Jacob Marley, who tells him to change his ways or be subjected to the same torment that he himself is suffering.  Later that night, Scrooge is haunted by the Spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, who open his eyes to the wonders of Christmas and humanity in general, leaving Scrooge a changed man.

Third of All: The review!
A while ago, I read the actual Christmas Carol, and I have to say, it had a pretty grim tone the whole time.  What is fantastic about the Muppet rendition is that it keeps the severity of the topic of the story while adding the classic humor and satiric jabs that made the Muppets famous.  For example, the original story treats heavily with the living conditions of the poor at the time Dickens wrote it by depicting Bob Cratchit and his family, as well as others the characters pass on the streets who live in poor conditions.  The Muppets, while adding humor and goofy antics, still keep this as a very strong theme of the story, and even accentuate it with placing some of the most adorable Muppets into characters who live in heart-wrenching poverty.  As you see Scrooge's transformation and later determination to help the poor whenever possible, you can see hope return to each of these characters, thus accentuating the point of Dickens's novel with artistic mastery.

As with all Muppet adaptations, they throw in a multitude of musical numbers, which some people may frown upon, seeing as how A Christmas Carol is a classic, and shouldn't be tampered with, etc. etc.   I don't have that problem.  The music in this movie is very well thought-out, and reflects not only the theme of the book, but also the nature of the characters.  Every time that Bob Cratchit (played by the immortal Kermit the Frog) sings, you can see the dogged hope and cheer that pervades his character.

My one miff with this movie is the absolutely horrendous song that Beth (Scrooge's former girlfriend) sings during Scrooge's trip down memory lane.  Granted, it does articulate the fact that she's leaving him because money is more important to him than she is.  The execution, however, is dreadful.  The actress's voice is mediocre at best, and she makes some pretty wonky faces while singing.  And though it only lasts for around four minutes, it seems like ages.  The plot is served just as well by her saying "You did love me once," and then walking away.  If you ever watch it, choose the Theatrical Version, since it cuts this song out completely.

All in all, I love this movie.  It's a beautiful, funny, touching and ultimately glorious story about redemption and the fact that the true spirit of Christmas isn't in presents, it's in the love that we find for those around us.  I give it a five and a half out of six Nerd Stars.