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2024 Bookish Books Reading Challenge (Hosted by Yours Truly)

My Progress:


30 / 30 books. 100% done!

2024 Literary Escapes Challenge

- Alabama (1)
- Alaska (1)
- Arizona (1)
- Arkansas (1)
- California (11)
- Colorado (1)
- Connecticut (2)
- Delaware (1)
- Florida (3)
- Georgia (4)
- Hawaii (1)
- Idaho (2)
- Illinois (4)
- Indiana (4)
- Iowa (1)
- Kansas (1)
- Kentucky (2)
- Louisiana (1)
- Maine (1)
- Maryland (1)
- Massachusetts (4)
- Michigan (1)
- Minnesota (2)
- Mississippi (1)
- Missouri (1)
- Montana (1)
- Nebraska (1)
- Nevada (2)
- New Hampshire (1)
- New Jersey (1)
- New Mexico (1)
- New York (10)
- North Carolina (4)
- North Dakota (1)
- Ohio (3)
- Oklahoma (2)
- Oregon (2)
- Pennsylvania (2)
- Rhode Island (1)
- South Carolina (1)
- South Dakota (1)
- Tennessee (1)
- Texas (4)
- Utah (4)
- Vermont (2)
- Virginia (2)
- Washington (3)
- West Virginia (1)
- Wisconsin (1)
- Wyoming (2)
- Washington, D.C.* (2)

International:
- Argentina (1)
- Australia (6)
- Austria (1)
- Bolivia (1)
- Canada (4)
- China (2)
- England (27)
- France (2)
- Ghana (1)
- India (1)
- Indonesia (1)
- Ireland (4)
- Italy (1)
- Poland (2)
- Russia (2)
- Scotland (3)
- The Netherlands (1)

My Progress:


51 / 51 states. 100% done!

2024 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

My Progress:


52 / 50 books. 104% done!

2024 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge


36 / 50 books. 72% done!

Booklist Queen's 2024 Reading Challenge

My Progress:


52 / 52 books. 100% done!

2024 52 Club Reading Challenge

My Progress:


51 / 52 books. 98% done!

2024 Build Your Library Reading Challenge

My Progress:


37 / 40 books. 93% done!

2024 Pioneer Book Reading Challenge


18 / 40 books. 45% done!

2024 Craving for Cozies Reading Challenge

My Progress:


25 / 25 cozies. 100% done!

2024 Medical Examiner's Mystery Reading Challenge

2024 Mystery Marathon Reading Challenge

My Progress


5 / 26.2 miles (4th lap). 19% done!

Mount TBR Reading Challenge

My Progress


51 / 100 books. 51% done!

2024 Pick Your Poison Reading Challenge

My Progress:


98 / 109 books. 90% done!

Around the Year in 52 Books Reading Challenge

My Progress


52 / 52 books. 100% done!

Disney Animated Movies Reading Challenge

My Progress


139 / 165 books. 84% done!

The 100 Most Common Last Names in the U.S. Reading Challenge

My Progress:


88 / 100 names. 88% done!

The Life Skills Reading Challenge

My Progress:


40 / 80 skills. 50% done!
Sunday, December 25, 2011

Have Yourself A Classic Little Christmas

(Image from Barnes & Noble)

If you're LDS, you probably watched this year's First Presidency Christmas devotional. If you're a book lover (and why else would you be here?), you probably perked up when you heard the topic of the address given by Thomas S. Monson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. If you're not LDS, you probably have no idea what I'm talking about. No matter. You should still watch or read President Monson's talk, in which he discusses the two books he re-reads every Christmas. It's a warm, touching holiday message that will help bring the spirit of the season into your book-loving soul.

I bring it up because, while listening to President Monson fondly recall scenes from Charles Dickens' classic A Christmas Carol, I came to a startling conclusion: I had never actually read the book. When I think of the story, the scene that comes most vividly to mind (embarrassingly enough) is that of Scrooge McDuck caressing his many stacks of coins. Unforgivable for a woman who calls herself a bibliophile. So, I made a vow, then and there, to read the well-loved story. I began by buying a beautiful, hardcover copy of the book, one that was illustrated by the talented P.J. Lynch and published by Candlewick Press in 2006. Reading the familiar story in Dickens' original words truly was a magical, heartwarming experience. I believe I'll be following President Monson's example and re-experiencing it every Christmas.

You know the story as well as I do, so I won't summarize it here. I'll just add my praise to all that has already been heaped upon this magnificent tale. The movie versions don't do it justice. Only by actually reading A Christmas Carol can you truly experience its charm and timeless message. Do it. At least once a year.

On this merriest of days, I offer all of my friends and readers a heartfelt thank you for making this a wonderful year in book blogger-land. I wish you a joyous Christmas. And, in the immortal words of Tiny Tim, I say:

God bless us, everyone.

5 comments:

  1. Merry Christmas!!

    We just read this exact version this year as well, LOL!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I have read it and totally enjoyed it, but it's not something I read every year. I think it would be a great tradition. I need a few in my family to take to heart the message of this little book! Merry Christmas!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Merry Christmas, dear Susan!!! (And I'm embarrassed to admit I have never read A Christmas Carol before either! Must change that . . .)

    Did you sign up for Storymakers yet? ;-)

    ReplyDelete

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