Tim Cratchit's Christmas Carol...Review

About the book:
In A Christmas Carol, evil Scrooge was shown the error of his ways by three helpful ghosts and vowed to become a better person. Bob Cratchit and his family benefited most from Scrooge’s change of tune—but what happened after the goose was given, and Scrooge resolved to turn over a new leaf?

Tim Cratchit's Christmas Carol shows us Tiny Tim as an adult. Having recovered from his childhood ailment, he began his career helping the poor but has since taken up practice as a doctor to London’s wealthy elite. Though Tim leads a very successful life, he comes home at night to an empty house. But this holiday season, he’s determined to fill his house with holiday cheer—and maybe even a wife.

When a single, determined young mother lands on Tim’s doorstep with her ailing son, Tim is faced with a choice: stay ensconced in his comfortable life and secure doctor’s practice, or take a leap of faith and reignite the fire lit under him by his mentor, Scrooge, that fateful Christmas so many years ago.

I think one must be very brave to write a sequel to a celebrated classic, especially when that celebrated classic is a Dicken's story. Jim Piecuch does a fantastic job of taking us back to the Cratchit family. Tim is all grown up and now a successful doctor. As Christmas approaches, he begins to realize that his life is rather empty. It's become all about work and even then, he's not helping the poor in need. Instead, his practice is wrapped up in wealthy, gluttonous hypochondriacs and his partner is selfish and money oriented rather than patient oriented.

Tim knows he wants more from his life. When a young woman with a dying son comes to him one evening, Tim knows he can't turn her away. As he begins to research her son's condition and possible cures, he remembers how much he loved truly helping those in need. As Tim goes about helping others, there is one person who still has an influence on his life, even from beyond the grave.

I loved that this author doesn't try to be Charles Dickens. He doesn't recreate the setting or story of A Christmas Carol. Rather, he takes these wonderful characters and gives them new life. The ghosts of Christmas past, present and future are not here, but the influence and presence of Ebeneezer Scrooge and Bob Cratchit are, and it's beautiful.

The Cratchit family makes a reappearance and new people come into Tim's life and others leave it. The story is at once poignant and engaging with characters you love. There is a sweetness and tenderness, but humor and at the end a smile because of the magic that is Christmas.

Thanks to Simon and Schuster and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book. You can learn more about Jim Piecuch here. You can purchase your own copy here.

Read 11/14

* * * * *
5/5 Stars

Comments

  1. Would love to catch up with Tiny Tim! Adding this to my list!

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