The Christmas Hirelings
Ratings18
Average rating3.8
This was so predictable and naive, yet captivating and marvellous.
One more book to add to kids' TBR.
A Christmas classic available via audible for free! So I had to grab this one. I listened to it all in one go while doing inventory at work.
An old man plans on spending Christmas with his friend and niece. They suggest to him that Christmas isn't the same without children and that they should hire some. He agrees, almost dismissively, but when they arrive he is immediately taken by the little girl, changing how he feels about everything. During their stay, the young girl falls deathly ill, and he is heartbroken, sparing no expense to get her better. What Sir John didn't realize, was that the little girl wasn't actually hired, she was the daughter of his own estranged daughter. Thus bringing her back into the fold of his life. Making him feel love again.
This on the surface was a nice holiday read that had the feel of A Christmas Carol in the sense that it's bringing warmth back into a cold heart. The thing that wasn't that great, was because it is a classic, the daughter was estranged for literally marrying for love, regardless of the husband's lack of money. Being of poor breed, as they'd say. But it is a product of their time, and the message in positive.
Personally a 3/5*.
A 3.7. It was a heart warming “read” (via Audible and read by Richard Armitage) about a rich, grumpy old man whose best friend hires children to liven up his mansion at Christmas. Did get me to tear up at the end. A good Victorian Christmas tale that would make you sympathise with the girls born in that time.
Despite the fact that the book was published likely in the 19th or early 20th century, the prose is quite accessible and entertaining. More tell than show as was typical of writers then but the author's descriptions were smart and sophisticated.
The pacing can be a bit ponderous and one wonders at a four year old who speaks and behaves much better than teens in most cases (OK that's perhaps not an apt comparison!), but it's a charming Christmas tale with a solid emotional core. And for a Christmas story, thats really what you look for.
Ugh...I'm glad this was free. Usually, the Audible annual Christmas gift book is a delight. And, judging by the overwhelming majority of positive reviews I must be the exception here. That being said I don't have to like this story.
I thought it was entirely predictable. Boring and mercifully short. I read older stories like this often. So my issue had nothing at all to do with the language or anachronistic setting.
The one thing deserving of praise was the way the author depicted the thing I can't talk about for fear of spoilers. But it actually succeeded in making me sad. That was nice hahaha.