Book Review-A Christmas Carol-The Return of Scrooge-Revised by Robert J. Elisberg | Miki's Hope

Book Review-A Christmas Carol-The Return of Scrooge-Revised by Robert J. Elisberg

Tuesday, October 8, 2013


From Pump Up Your Book-Robert J. Elisberg will be touring October 7 – 31 with his new holiday/humor novel, A Christmas Carol 2: The Return of Scrooge

I had to laugh when I read the disclaimer by the publishers at the end of this books introduction--essentially it says that their "researchers have been unable to find evidence of any claims that the author makes for the existence of the original manuscript he says Charles Dickens wrote.......We have been advised by our legal department that if it turns out we're wrong, since Mr. Dickens passed away in 1870, we're on pretty solid ground against a lawsuit." This becomes even funnier when throughout the book snippets of what Dickens went through with his publishers is revealed. Guess some things never change!

Well, whatever this is a humorous book that very well could have been written by Charles Dickens--it is short and is definitely the style Dickens wrote. Lots of characters from Dickens other books seem to appear in this one and the author is kind enough to write about each one in footnotes at the bottom of pages to remind us who they were and from which book. The ghosts of past, present and future were definitely not really into what they were supposed to be doing--but did it they did and Bob Cratchit (remember him?) learns his lesson well. This is a short book and one I recommend--

About the Book: (from Amazon)


A Christmas Carol 2: The Return of Scrooge is a continuation of the beloved Christmas tale, that quickly goes flying off in its own comic direction. It begins five years after dear old Ebenezer Scrooge has passed away and left his thriving firm to his former clerk, Bob Cratchit. However, Bob's overly-generous benevolence with lending and charity-giving has driven the company into the ground, on the verge of bankruptcy. And so the ghost of Scrooge returns one Christmas Eve to teach Cratchit the true meaning of money. Making the swirling journey through Christmases past, present, and yet-to-be all the more of a chaotic ride for Cratchit are the dozens of characters from other Dickens novels woven throughout the story, together for the first time. God bless them, most everyone.

Revised by Robert J. Elisberg
Original Long-Lost Manuscript by Charles Dickens

This Book can be purchased at Amazon


About the Author: (from Amazon)


Robert J. Elisberg has been a commentator and contributor to such publications as the Huffington Post, Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Daily News, Los Angeles Magazine, C/NET and E! Online, and he served on the editorial board for the Writers Guild of America. He has contributed political writing to the anthology, "Clued in on Politics," 3rd edition (CQ Press).

Among his other writing, Elisberg wrote the comic novella, "A Christmas Carol 2: The Return of Scrooge," which reached #2 on Amazon's Hot List for Humor/Parody. His most recent novel is the swashbuckling adventure, "The Wild Roses." He co-wrote a book on world travel. Currently, he writes a tech column for the Writers Guild of America, west. He also co-wrote the song, "Just One of the Girls" for the Showtime movie "Wharf Rat," and wrote the book for the stage musical "Rapunzel!".

Born in Chicago, he attended Northwestern University and received his MFA from UCLA, where he was twice awarded the Lucille Ball Award for comedy screenwriting. Not long afterwards, Elisberg sold his screenplay, "Harry Warren of the Mounties." He was on staff of the international animated series, "Flute Master," and and co-wrote three of the "Skateboy" films based on it. He also co-wrote the independent film, "Yard Sale." Most recently, he wrote an adventure screenplay for Callahan Filmworks.









I received a paperback edition of this book for review purposes. All opinions expressed are my own honest opinions. For more information please check my Disclosure Statement. Our giveaways are in no way sponsored or promoted by Facebook.

38 comments :

Unknown said... 1

It's intriguing to think this might really be a Dikens book but I guess we'll never know. :)

Maria said... 2

Sounds like a good read!! I love Christmas time!!

Christy Maurer said... 3

That sounds hilarious! I love Christmas stories and this sounds like it's a light, fun read!

Unknown said... 4

This really sounds funny! I laughed when I read the title too. :)

RobertElisberg said... 5

Miki, Thanks much for the very kind words. Hey, it's always good when a review starts, "I had to laugh..." (Well, at least it's good when the book is supposed to be funny...)

And thanks too to the people here leaving such encouraging comments. The next time I run into Mr. Dickens I'll pass it along.

Sarah Bailey said... 6

I love a good Christmas story around the festive season I shall have to look out for this one as it sounds like it would be a great read :) x

mystylespot said... 7

Ooh i'd love to get this and read this for christmas! Thank you so much for sharing! it sounds wonderful!

Unknown said... 8

Sounds really funny. I will have to go check it out.

Unknown said... 9

It sounds like a good book. And I guess we will never know if Dicken's wrote it or not.

Rebecca said... 10

this sounds really good

Lexie Lane said... 11

Oh my! Sounds a bit risky! Sounds like a book I now really am curious to read though! Just from the stuff about the publisher! Thanks!

Allison M said... 12

This sounds like such a fun read!

Pinx said... 13

I think I've watched the movie A Christmas Carol, if I'm not mistaken. This sounds like a very good read.

RobertElisberg said... 14

I must say I've been enjoying reading the comments here! Thanks. I'll just pass along one thought --

If people do follow though and get the book (thank you in advance...) it reads better in the paperback edition. The ebook is fine, but paperbacks do footnotes better. (I get about the same royalty either way...) That's why I tried to keep the price of the paperback low. But again, the ebook is fine.

And to anyone wary about whether the book is "a blasphemy" to Dickens, check out the rave reviews from Dickens experts on Amazon.

Again, thanks.

Tingting R. said... 15

I hate to admit it, but I do not know who Charles Dickens is. This book must be like a parody of some of the works of Dickens.

RobertElisberg said... 16

Tingting R -- My suggestion is to go on Wikipedia and get a brief summary. It's too detailed to give here. The VERY short answer is that he's considered probably the greatest author in the English language, writing about vibrant characters and social conditions in such a fresh way that they remain valid today, even though he lived in the late 19th century. Most of his novels have been made into movies.

(A Christmas Carol is the story of a miser, Ebenezer Scrooge, who is visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve, to make him re-evaluate his life.)

I tried to write the book so that it would be a good story even if you didn't know the original. But all the more fun (and funny) if you did.

Unknown said... 17

I timely read for the holidays! Will check this out.

Eat To Live said... 18

I can just picture old Scrooge returning to teach Ole Bob a lesson on money. Even though Scrooge was a changed man, old habits die hard. What a fun gift this would make for Christmas Reading.

Masshole Mommy said... 19

I absolutely LOVED the original version of this book, so now I am curious to read this one.

Amberlee said... 20

Sounds like a great book. I will have to be on the lookout for it. Thanks for sharing!

Annemarie said... 21

Sounds like an interesting book. I doubt it is Dickens but isn't there a rule that after a book has been written 50 years someone can continue the story?

Grandma Bonnie said... 22

I just love the Christmas Carol. We read it every year around the holidays as a family. I may have to look into this book it might be fun to add it to our traditions.

Unknown said... 23

yeah Dickens is pretty popular. I asked my husband who didn't grow up in the west and he definitely knew he who was... Looks like a great book

Jutta Lenihan said... 24

I mean who doesn't love the Christmas Carol, right?! This one seems to be a perfect add on to the good old original. I was looking for a great holiday book the other day ... Guess now I have found it :)

Nova said... 25

a great book to read as it has it's great mysteries

Katherine Bartlett said... 26

Sounds like a good book. Of course I'm Jewish though and don't do Christmas!

Unknown said... 27

Those sound like fantastic books! And i love when humor is added in. They would be so interesting to read.

Liz Mays said... 28

I really like when authors do this with books, so I think I HAVE to pick it up. Sounds so good!

The AnnMarie John said... 29

Sounds like a book perfect for the holidays. I remember watching the movie of scrooge and really enjoying the story. This might go on my must read for the holidays.

Melanie said... 30

Sure sounds like a great book; I love Christmas time and to sit back with a good book, so this will be on my MUST read list this year, thanks for a great review, will check it out on Amazon now.

Unknown said... 31

Haha! Sounds like a very interesting book! It would be a great read!

StacieinAtlanta said... 32

Looks like a great book. I am always on the lookout for new books to read.

HilLesha O'Nan said... 33

I'm intrigued. This makes me want to read it even more even though I'm not really into holiday books. :)

Happy Gardening, Kim said... 34

Best story ever!! I bet this one is just as good. May just read it!!! Love Christmastime.

Courtney Pies said... 35

This sounds like a very funny, entertaining book! I think I'm definitely going to have to get me a copy! :)

Tough Cookie Mommy said... 36

This story is such a classic. It's amazing after all these years that new generations are enjoying reading about Scrooge who has a change of heart and changes his miserly ways. I make my boys watch it when it comes on television every year.

Melanie Payne said... 37

Ah hard to not know the story of Scrooge, hard lessons learned before it became too late! This sounds like a good book

April @Pixie Dust Savings said... 38

I pinned this to my read it list on Pinterst! It looks like a book I would really enjoy!

 
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