Helpful Score: 3
From Publishers Weekly
Self-published in paperback during the Christmas season 1994, Evans's first novel quickly gained national media attention. Now the cleverly told tale, which the author reputedly wrote for his daughters and which revels in sentimentality, is available in hardcover. The story relates how a young couple, Richard (who narrates) and Keri, accept a position to care for a lonely widow, Mary Parkin, in her spacious Victorian mansion. As Christmas draws near, Mary becomes anxious about Richard's obsession with success and his failure to make time for his family. She urges him to reconsider his priorities, but he is always too busy to heed her advice. It is only when Mary is on her deathbed and her secret sorrow is revealed through the letter-laden Christmas box of the title that Richard realizes what she has been trying to tell him. The message concerns love, of course, and the strings Evans pulls to vivify it should squeeze sobs from even the stoniest of hearts. It's notable, however, that unlike many well-known Christmas tales (such as Dickens's), which carry that message in a basically nonsectarian manner, this is steeped in specific Christian imagery and belief as the author draws on the drama of Jesus as God's sacrifice for the world's sins, and of his crucifixion and resurrection.
Self-published in paperback during the Christmas season 1994, Evans's first novel quickly gained national media attention. Now the cleverly told tale, which the author reputedly wrote for his daughters and which revels in sentimentality, is available in hardcover. The story relates how a young couple, Richard (who narrates) and Keri, accept a position to care for a lonely widow, Mary Parkin, in her spacious Victorian mansion. As Christmas draws near, Mary becomes anxious about Richard's obsession with success and his failure to make time for his family. She urges him to reconsider his priorities, but he is always too busy to heed her advice. It is only when Mary is on her deathbed and her secret sorrow is revealed through the letter-laden Christmas box of the title that Richard realizes what she has been trying to tell him. The message concerns love, of course, and the strings Evans pulls to vivify it should squeeze sobs from even the stoniest of hearts. It's notable, however, that unlike many well-known Christmas tales (such as Dickens's), which carry that message in a basically nonsectarian manner, this is steeped in specific Christian imagery and belief as the author draws on the drama of Jesus as God's sacrifice for the world's sins, and of his crucifixion and resurrection.
Sherry C. (bookoverload) - , reviewed The Christmas Box (Christmas Box, Bk 1) on + 6 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Well what can I say , this is my favorite author and the Christmas box trilogy is my favorite of all his books! He has a great way with words and describing the people and places in his books.
Helpful Score: 2
Surprised it is categorized as a children's book... this is an incredible story that has inspired the creation of the Christmas Box Angel Statue. A lovely Christmas story!!
Helpful Score: 2
Rick, Keri, and their 4-year-old daughter, Jenna, respond to an advertisement written by an elderly woman who is looking for a couple to work as caretakers and companions just before the holiday season. While moving in, Rick finds an old box that he is drawn to and one evening hears music coming from the box. When he opens it, he finds old letters that stirs his curiosity. That combined with reoccurring dreams of angels and Mary questioning what the first true gift of Christmas was, lead the reader on a wonderful journey of the joys and the true meaning of Christmas. And how if we get too drawn up in our own lives, we miss out on the lives around us.
Amazon: A Christmas Gift
Amazon: A Christmas Gift
Helpful Score: 2
Emotional story about what is important in life, with a Christian tie-in though the universal message of love and the importance of spending time with one's own family reach beyond the confines of religion. Easy, simple read, nice message, if overly emotional for some people.
Veronica N. (VeronicaNagy) reviewed The Christmas Box (Christmas Box, Bk 1) on + 48 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This is a wonderful book to read to the family over the holidays. It only takes about an 1 hour to read out loud and has a wonderful story line and puts everyone into the Christmas Spirit.
Helpful Score: 1
Charming - a heart warming read.
Helpful Score: 1
A moving, feel-good story.
Helpful Score: 1
A book that reminds you what Christmas is really about. A touching story about a widow and a young family who moves in with her.
Helpful Score: 1
Heart warming. A treasure. Good for giving. Good for keeping.
Helpful Score: 1
This book was really a quick and easy read. The story is tear-jerking but beautiful...full of love, compassion and real life situations as far as raising kids, making ends meet, busy schedules and getting older. I really enjoyed it.
Ada S. (mychildrenreadbooks) reviewed The Christmas Box (Christmas Box, Bk 1) on + 6 more book reviews
This is a wonderful heartwarming story it brought me to tears.
Beautiful story.
too sentimental for my taste, but a sweet book
A modern classic - wonderful Christmas story
A touching Christmas classic that you will love!
A touching story of a widow and young family who moves in with her. Together they discover the gift of Christmas
A touching story of love and loss.
wonderful holiday story.
I love this book! I've read it several times. It never gets old or boring to me
This book is absolutely amazing! I can genuinely say that it touched my life and changed me forever. It was a nice, short easy read, too, and could certainly be enjoyed any time of the year! It's a magical story that will touch your life.
This was a good short story. I cried a little, too. Puts things back into perspective.
Beautifully written book written by a father to show his love for his 2 daughters. A great Christmas Classic! Loved the book!
Great book. Can be read at any time of the year, not just Christmas. Read for book club and has been one of our all time favorites. Spurred the others in the club to read his other books!
When Richard Paul Evans wrote The Christmas Box, he intended it as a private expression of love for his two young daughters, Jenna and Allyson. Though he often told them that he loved them, he didn't feel that they could ever really understand the depth of his feelings until they had experienced the joy of rearing their own children, and by that time their relationship would have changed forever. In writing The Christmas Box, he hoped that at some time in the future they would read the book and know of their father's love.
As Evans began to write, he was amazed at the inspiration that flowed into his mind and heart. He completed the moving story of a widow and the young family who comes to live with her in less than six weeks, and bound twenty copies to give as Christmas presents to family and friends. In the following weeks, those twenty copies were shared and passed along from family to family, from friend to friend, and what began as a tale for two little girls became a message of miracles, hope, and healing for people throughout the world.
As Evans began to write, he was amazed at the inspiration that flowed into his mind and heart. He completed the moving story of a widow and the young family who comes to live with her in less than six weeks, and bound twenty copies to give as Christmas presents to family and friends. In the following weeks, those twenty copies were shared and passed along from family to family, from friend to friend, and what began as a tale for two little girls became a message of miracles, hope, and healing for people throughout the world.
This was a great little book to read during the Christmas holidays.
Great book. Can be read at any time of the year, not just Christmas. Read for book club and has been one of our all time favorites. Spurred the others in the club to read his other books!
Konnie K. (Nightcrawler) -
Easy read. Book is about a husband, wife and 4 year old that go to rent and care for an aristocratic widow. She dies three weeks later, but not before she teaches them the meaning of life.
A very touching and inspirational story that I was able to read in a single evening.
sweet story
A great little book that I read each Christmas.
Teresa S. (christianfiction4me) -
very enjoyable holiday read.
Kimberley O. (stillMagnolia) reviewed The Christmas Box (Christmas Box, Bk 1) on + 128 more book reviews
excellent heart warming story!
I always love to read his books. this is a great read around the holidays...
I enjoyed reading this book with my book club members in the month of December. It was a heart-warming story perfect for the season. It lifted our spirits.
What a heart-warming and gentle little book! Full of Christmas spirit, of course, but with a sweet lesson about cherishing one's family that will brighten any day of the year. I really enjoyed it.
Ethel I. (RoyalCatwoman) reviewed The Christmas Box (Christmas Box, Bk 1) on + 278 more book reviews
Richard Paul Evans originally wrote The Christmas Box as an expression of love for his two daughters, never intending for it to be published. Many Christmas seasons (and a rich publishing contract) later, this touching tale relates the meaning of Christmas in a profound but simple way. Rick, Keri, and their 4-year-old daughter, Jenna, are hired as caretakers and are welcomed into the home of Mary, an ailing widow, just in time for the holidays. Before long, it becomes apparent that Mary cherishes their companionship, and this young family begins to understand that their relationship to Mary is more special than any one of them could have realized. These tender relationships, fraught with real-life struggles, are the backdrop for unraveling a mysterious secret that gently propels the reader through this short story. Unlike most generic Christmas stories, Evans manages to bypass triviality, imbedding these pages with humble truth and emotion. This tiny treasure will cause you to rejoice in the blessings of the season while stirring up a childlike vigor as old profundity is revealed anew. In a season often shrouded in selfishness and materialism, Evans reminds the reader that the only way that we can genuinely love one another is by accepting the greatest gift of love ever given--that of a Father who "so loved His children that He sent His son, that we might someday return to Him."
This book was a very quick read. More like a short story, rather than a book. You could read the entire thing in a few hours. It was a cute story.
"Whatever the reason, I find that with each passing Christmas the story of the Christmas Box is told less and needed more. So I record it now for all future generations to accept or dismiss as seems them good. As for me, I believe. And it is, after all, my story."
So begins The Christmas Box, the touching story of a widow and the young family who moves in with her. Together they discover the first gift of Christmas and learn what Christmas is really all about. The Christmas Box story unlike any other.
So begins The Christmas Box, the touching story of a widow and the young family who moves in with her. Together they discover the first gift of Christmas and learn what Christmas is really all about. The Christmas Box story unlike any other.
Bobbie A. (homeschool4me) reviewed The Christmas Box (Christmas Box, Bk 1) on + 371 more book reviews
This is one book with 6 chapters in it.
Richard Paul Evans originally wrote The Christmas Box as an expression of love for his two daughters, never intending for it to be published. Many Christmas seasons (and a rich publishing contract) later, this touching tale relates the meaning of Christmas in a profound but simple way. Rick, Keri, and their 4-year-old daughter, Jenna, are hired as caretakers and are welcomed into the home of Mary, an ailing widow, just in time for the holidays. Before long, it becomes apparent that Mary cherishes their companionship, and this young family begins to understand that their relationship to Mary is more special than any one of them could have realized. These tender relationships, fraught with real-life struggles, are the backdrop for unraveling a mysterious secret that gently propels the reader through this short story. Unlike most generic Christmas stories, Evans manages to bypass triviality, imbedding these pages with humble truth and emotion. This tiny treasure will cause you to rejoice in the blessings of the season while stirring up a childlike vigor as old profundity is revealed anew. In a season often shrouded in selfishness and materialism, Evans reminds the reader that the only way that we can genuinely love one another is by accepting the greatest gift of love ever given--that of a Father who "so loved His children that He sent His son, that we might someday return to Him."
Autographed on inside page by author
