Helpful Score: 3
This is a modern day Ebenezer Scrooge story. Kiel is a very busy business man who has left his wife and son. He and his girlfriend have plans to steal away for the weekend at a quaint bed and breakfast in the mountains. He arrives early and waits...and waits...and waits. She never comes. The morning paper arrives and he sees his obituary. He supposedly died on the trip!
Comments are pouring in from all over the world about him. Comments that you don't want to read about yourself. The only nice ones? From his wife. Who he left. Who he served with divorce papers the day she had her first chemo treatment. What a jerk!
Kiel decides he wants to change things. After all, he's alive. Now he just has to convince others of that. He calls his secretary Linda and asks for a list of all the people who he's wronged in life. She returns with a list of 5 stating that these were the most affected. He sets out on a quest to right these wrongs and along the way, learns many valuable lessons.
This book was written out of an experience that the author had while still in school. His English teacher had him to write his own obituary. I have my students to do the same. It's a lesson in leaving legacies. What kind of legacy would you leave? What would you want others saying about you when you are no longer here?
I highly recommend this book. It didn't necessarily have to center around Christmas because the story could apply at any time. This book will make you consider choices you have made in this life. There is still time to make amends if you need to! Leave a legacy you'd be proud to read of in the paper!
Comments are pouring in from all over the world about him. Comments that you don't want to read about yourself. The only nice ones? From his wife. Who he left. Who he served with divorce papers the day she had her first chemo treatment. What a jerk!
Kiel decides he wants to change things. After all, he's alive. Now he just has to convince others of that. He calls his secretary Linda and asks for a list of all the people who he's wronged in life. She returns with a list of 5 stating that these were the most affected. He sets out on a quest to right these wrongs and along the way, learns many valuable lessons.
This book was written out of an experience that the author had while still in school. His English teacher had him to write his own obituary. I have my students to do the same. It's a lesson in leaving legacies. What kind of legacy would you leave? What would you want others saying about you when you are no longer here?
I highly recommend this book. It didn't necessarily have to center around Christmas because the story could apply at any time. This book will make you consider choices you have made in this life. There is still time to make amends if you need to! Leave a legacy you'd be proud to read of in the paper!
Helpful Score: 2
Richard Paul Evans does it again. Can't put the book down. Fast read.
Helpful Score: 1
Absolutely wonderful book. Another well-written tear-jerker.
Helpful Score: 1
Another good book by Evans. The story will make you stop and think about a few things. I look forward to reading more of his books in the future. I also love the way he designs his books.
Helpful Score: 1
Reading this book was like reading "A Christmas Carol" but a realistic version. It was well written and touching in several parts. I'd recommend it for someone who wants a quick Christmas Feel-Good type of read.
A modern day Christmas Carol. I finished this the day before Christmas Eve and it brought tears to my eyes. One of my favorite Christmas stories.
very nice christmas story, easy read, didn't want to put it down, like a modern day a scrooge story
One of my faves. Love story lines that resonate and make one want to be a better person.
Another feel good book by Paul Evans. Hardcore business man reads an obit that was mistakenly printed, and peoples comments cause him to go back to the caring human he used to be. Kinda corny by had good values.
Heart warming, good audiobook
Wow!!! One the most profound books I've read so far! Mr. Evans really outdid himself on this one. It is definitely a must read for everyone.
Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com
James Kier is not a nice person. He's a ruthless businessman whose son wants nothing to do with him, and his wife, Sara, divorced him. So when he finds his picture attached to a news article that announces he died in an automobile crash, no one is more surprised than he. And when he reads the comments that are posted on the newspaper's website, he's livid. He's shocked at the mean things that people are saying about him. Everyone, that is, except for Sara. For some reason, Sara defended him in the chat.
When the paper prints the obituary for the actual James Kier that had died, something propels James to travel to the memorial service. The other James Kier lived in a poor section of town. He has to park a few blocks away and is shocked at the line of people outside the house, waiting to pay their regards to the family. He can't grasp how a lowly bus driver could garner so much respect and love. He was only a bus driver!
Pondering what he encountered, he goes to his longtime secretary, Linda, and asks her, "What do you think of me?"
Fearing he'll fire her, Linda is hesitant at first. He assures her that her job is safe and insists on finding out what she truly thinks of him as a person. But deep inside, he knows the answer before she tells him. It's because Linda has worked for him for so long that he turns to her for his quest. He asks her to compile a list of the people he's hurt the most. She, of all people, is in the best position to do this task.
By Monday morning he has his list, and his journey for redemption begins. Some on the list physically assault him in their hostility towards him. Others brush it off as all in the past. Some are gone, and others are in need of much assistance. It's as James goes from each past wrongdoing that he truly changes and becomes the man that his ex-wife still believes in. Those around him are wary of the man he is becoming, but hope that this new man is here to stay.
THE CHRISTMAS LIST will hit you right in the heart. From the moment James reads the story about his supposed death, up until the final pages as he tries to rebuild what he lost with his family, Mr. Evans weaves a story of hope, forgiveness, and the grace and love of God, friends, and family.
I always think that Mr. Evans can't possibly top his previous works, but THE CHRISTMAS LIST proves that, once again, I was wrong.
James Kier is not a nice person. He's a ruthless businessman whose son wants nothing to do with him, and his wife, Sara, divorced him. So when he finds his picture attached to a news article that announces he died in an automobile crash, no one is more surprised than he. And when he reads the comments that are posted on the newspaper's website, he's livid. He's shocked at the mean things that people are saying about him. Everyone, that is, except for Sara. For some reason, Sara defended him in the chat.
When the paper prints the obituary for the actual James Kier that had died, something propels James to travel to the memorial service. The other James Kier lived in a poor section of town. He has to park a few blocks away and is shocked at the line of people outside the house, waiting to pay their regards to the family. He can't grasp how a lowly bus driver could garner so much respect and love. He was only a bus driver!
Pondering what he encountered, he goes to his longtime secretary, Linda, and asks her, "What do you think of me?"
Fearing he'll fire her, Linda is hesitant at first. He assures her that her job is safe and insists on finding out what she truly thinks of him as a person. But deep inside, he knows the answer before she tells him. It's because Linda has worked for him for so long that he turns to her for his quest. He asks her to compile a list of the people he's hurt the most. She, of all people, is in the best position to do this task.
By Monday morning he has his list, and his journey for redemption begins. Some on the list physically assault him in their hostility towards him. Others brush it off as all in the past. Some are gone, and others are in need of much assistance. It's as James goes from each past wrongdoing that he truly changes and becomes the man that his ex-wife still believes in. Those around him are wary of the man he is becoming, but hope that this new man is here to stay.
THE CHRISTMAS LIST will hit you right in the heart. From the moment James reads the story about his supposed death, up until the final pages as he tries to rebuild what he lost with his family, Mr. Evans weaves a story of hope, forgiveness, and the grace and love of God, friends, and family.
I always think that Mr. Evans can't possibly top his previous works, but THE CHRISTMAS LIST proves that, once again, I was wrong.
Richard Paul Evans' book, The Christmas List, is a modern version of the Christmas Carol minus the angels. It is about one man remembering core human values and attempting restitution after life events had twisted those values into near oblivion. It's also about unexpected loyalty from those who never forgot who he used to be and continued hopeful of a turn-around. Uplifting and fun. Might be worth rereading once a year.
