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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Orphans Clara and Jacob Marley live by their wits, scavenging for scraps in the poorest alleyways of London, in the shadow of the workhouse. Every night, Jake promises his little sister ‘tomorrow will be better’ and when the chance to escape poverty comes their way, he seizes it, despite the terrible price. Jacob goes into business with Ebenezer Scrooge, and earns his fortune as a hard headed businessman, but a dreadful fate awaits him, and Clara is the only one who can warn him about it...
Miss Marley offers the reader a prequel to A Christmas Carol, and stems from Vanessa Lafaye's curiosity about Jacob Marley. Very little is revealed about him in Dickens' novella, as he died before the action begins. His only appearance is as a ghost who visits Scrooge on Christmas Eve, to herald the visits of the Ghosts of Christmas past, present and future.
But what had shaped Marley's life? What had he done to merit the punishment of carrying for all eternity that burdensome chain, forged by his actions when alive? What does he regret so much about his life that he is impelled to return from beyond the grave to warn his business partner Scrooge?
Well here we find out, with a novella dedicated to a plausible backstory for Marley, featuring an invented character, his sister, Clara, who is depicted as a strong woman, surviving hardship and misfortune, whilst retaining kindness and humanity.
This seasonal story vividly evokes Victorian London, captures the essence of A Christmas Carol and stays faithful to Dickens' moral and meaning within it: that the pursuit of money will not make a person happy; the joy that is found in
family and friends; the importance of giving to those in need; that people have a duty to take care of one another, and the need for compassion, forgiveness, and humanity in all things.
An enjoyable read on a dark December afternoon.
As a side note the author, Vanessa Lafaye, died before she could complete the novel, and it was finished by Rebecca Maskull, but the transition is completely invisible. A remarkable achievement.
Miss Marley offers the reader a prequel to A Christmas Carol, and stems from Vanessa Lafaye's curiosity about Jacob Marley. Very little is revealed about him in Dickens' novella, as he died before the action begins. His only appearance is as a ghost who visits Scrooge on Christmas Eve, to herald the visits of the Ghosts of Christmas past, present and future.
But what had shaped Marley's life? What had he done to merit the punishment of carrying for all eternity that burdensome chain, forged by his actions when alive? What does he regret so much about his life that he is impelled to return from beyond the grave to warn his business partner Scrooge?
Well here we find out, with a novella dedicated to a plausible backstory for Marley, featuring an invented character, his sister, Clara, who is depicted as a strong woman, surviving hardship and misfortune, whilst retaining kindness and humanity.
This seasonal story vividly evokes Victorian London, captures the essence of A Christmas Carol and stays faithful to Dickens' moral and meaning within it: that the pursuit of money will not make a person happy; the joy that is found in
family and friends; the importance of giving to those in need; that people have a duty to take care of one another, and the need for compassion, forgiveness, and humanity in all things.
An enjoyable read on a dark December afternoon.
As a side note the author, Vanessa Lafaye, died before she could complete the novel, and it was finished by Rebecca Maskull, but the transition is completely invisible. A remarkable achievement.
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Set in a Dickensian setting, we join the young Marley’s down on their luck and fighting for survival. They’re poor, sick and in desperate need of a good turn in their lives.
It’s a spin on the typical Scrooge story and it was very easy to get into. It was brilliantly written and a really fantastic story (if a little depressing but I suppose that is the point!). There was a couple of plot twists I definitely wasn’t expecting and I was truly immersed and was eager to find out what was going to happen.
With Clara and Jacob building up their fortunes, built on the miseries of others, Christmas looms but goodwill is not felt by Jacob. Clara continues to sicken and just when I thought I had the story pegged, I hadn’t! The audiobook I had was well narrated so added to the sense of easing listening and wasn’t too long either. It was a perfect one for December, but I felt a little … meh after reading this but I perhaps felt in the need for a more uplifting story!
It’s a spin on the typical Scrooge story and it was very easy to get into. It was brilliantly written and a really fantastic story (if a little depressing but I suppose that is the point!). There was a couple of plot twists I definitely wasn’t expecting and I was truly immersed and was eager to find out what was going to happen.
With Clara and Jacob building up their fortunes, built on the miseries of others, Christmas looms but goodwill is not felt by Jacob. Clara continues to sicken and just when I thought I had the story pegged, I hadn’t! The audiobook I had was well narrated so added to the sense of easing listening and wasn’t too long either. It was a perfect one for December, but I felt a little … meh after reading this but I perhaps felt in the need for a more uplifting story!
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It's an interesting twist on a Christmas classic. This is meant to be like a prequel to Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. It is the story of Jacob Marley and his sister, Clara, and their life from childhood into adulthood. It is written in three parts, The Beginning, The Middle, and The End. Mostly from Clara's pov. Just keep in mind that Jacob Marley is the one who haunted Scrooge. Be sure to read the author's note.
emotional
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes