The "A Christmas Carol" Reading and Discussion Thread

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The "A Christmas Carol" Reading and Discussion Thread

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1JPB
Modifié : Déc 7, 2006, 5:47 am

The version of the short story we will read is the original full-length 1843 version - and not the condensed version from 1867. Much subtlety is lost in the short, latter version and it’s important to know what version you have.

A safe copy of the text we will read is located here. Click on the copper colored book cover to start reading the story. This one has a few illustrations as well. To make the reading easier on yourself, try narrowing the width of the window, and setting the text size to medium through the Internet Explorer menu command View->TextSize->Medium. (If you are using another browser, find its text size setting.)

Let’s just start reading and commenting. We all know how the story ends, so there’s no fear of spoilers. If I may suggest two starting topic points: what elements of this story do you see carried down to the current-day ghost story, fantasy, and morality tale? Also, what do you learn in the story, or feel, differently from what you learn in dramatizations of the work? But please, raise any and all topics for us to discuss.

ENJOY!

No deadline on this one, other than please read it soon.

2Tane
Déc 7, 2006, 7:36 am

Fantastic, good find JPB - and luckily the copy I have on my shelf is the 1843 version. 'Tis a quick read, as you say, and an enjoyable one. I'm looking forward to the discussions on this one.

3monicabrandywine
Déc 7, 2006, 7:40 am

I don't have time now to check myself, what about copies in the stories? Too modern?

4clamairy
Déc 7, 2006, 8:55 am

Thanks, JPB! I can't read online books. It makes me feel vaguely barfy. I own two copies of the book, though. One of them has to be the right one.... but how do I tell? One of my copies is 130 years old, and the other is at least 100 years old.

Was the earlier version a lot longer? I guess I'll have to do some googling.

5JPB
Déc 8, 2006, 3:47 pm

The 1843 is longer. Clam - the simplest way is to grab your copies and scan the number of staves, or chapters. If it matches the online one, you have the 1843 version, as if my guess is correct, it has more chapters.

6fyrefly98
Déc 8, 2006, 10:40 pm

Oooh, I listened to the one read by Jim Dale this afternoon. I think it's probably the earlier one; it had five staves, if that's the distinguishing feature. More thoughts later when I'm not about to pass out.

7Sabarade
Modifié : Déc 10, 2006, 3:24 pm

Thank you, JPB, for proposing this discussion thread and for the e-link to the book. I have seen at least a dozen different theatrical productions of this work, but had never actually read Dickens' words. It really is a lot better than the stage, since there are no physical limits to one's imagination (as both writer and reader). I especially liked the description of the child-man Ghost of Christmas Past with his "jet of light" and the cap to extinguish it. And the multitude of scenes that the Ghost of Christmas Future visits upon Scrooge is far larger than anything the stage or screen might want to use to carry that point.

This story always lifts my spirit at Christmas time, even though at the end of it Scrooge expends vast sums in a consumer-like orgy of compensation for past non-deeds. It helps me to remember that the spirit of the holidays needs to be but the capstone to each year's generous living. Needless to say, I thoroughly enjoyed my moments reading this version of "A Christmas Carol.".

Happy holidays, all!

Oops. I just re-read the original post, and realized that I did not attempt to answer the first question that was posed. Elements of a story carried down to today's stories? Brief, colorful chapters that are written to both stand-alone AND link together into a synergistic whole... The use of a main character's sole voice to interpret the plot... The power of hope and imagination...

Or maybe I missed the point of the question? My last literature course was taken nearly 30 years ago... :)