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cerilouisereads's review against another edition
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Death
Minor: Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment
chriscole's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
myadventurewithbooks's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
callum_mclaughlin's review against another edition
4.0
Jacob Marley plays a key role in Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. The chain-clad ghost – once Scrooge’s business partner – is doomed to wander the Earth, lamenting the shame of a life fuelled by greed. In this prequel, Vanessa Lafaye explores the events that led Marley to this tragic state, told from the perspective of his sister, Clara.
The Dickensian setting is evoked well, with the handling of previously established characters in keeping with what readers experienced in A Christmas Carol. By framing this particular story through the eyes of a new character, however, Lafaye is able to pay homage to the original text without ‘trespassing’ – which she explained was her fear in the author’s note.
Important themes from the original are built upon, including the trappings of poverty, the struggle to transcend class, and the battle between fate and freewill. Clara’s viewpoint allows for commentary on female agency at the time, and there’s a real poignancy to watching Marley do all the wrong things for all the right reasons; hardening his heart in order to protect his beloved sister, blind to the harm he himself is causing her.
The best kind of tie-in novel, Miss Marley successfully toes the line between reverence for its predecessor, and innovation within the context of an iconic story’s existing lore.
The Dickensian setting is evoked well, with the handling of previously established characters in keeping with what readers experienced in A Christmas Carol. By framing this particular story through the eyes of a new character, however, Lafaye is able to pay homage to the original text without ‘trespassing’ – which she explained was her fear in the author’s note.
Important themes from the original are built upon, including the trappings of poverty, the struggle to transcend class, and the battle between fate and freewill. Clara’s viewpoint allows for commentary on female agency at the time, and there’s a real poignancy to watching Marley do all the wrong things for all the right reasons; hardening his heart in order to protect his beloved sister, blind to the harm he himself is causing her.
The best kind of tie-in novel, Miss Marley successfully toes the line between reverence for its predecessor, and innovation within the context of an iconic story’s existing lore.
silverliningsandpages's review against another edition
5.0
R E V I E W
🎄
Thank you to @hqstories for inviting me to take part in the book tour today for Miss Marley, which was published this week.
🎄
Miss Marley, by Vanessa Lafaye, is a prequel to A Christmas Carol, published 175 years after the original.
🎄
Clara and Jacob Marley have had a happy and privileged lifestyle until they suddenly find themselves orphaned and sent to the workhouse. They escape the harsh institution and are forced to scavenge on the dangerous streets. Each night the protective Jacob promises his sister that “tomorrow will be better”, so when an opportunity to escape destitution, he grasps it despite the dreadful price.
🎄
The siblings’ situation improves when they establish a money-lending business, the brainchild of Clara. And so Jacob is on a trajectory that leads to his infamous partnership with Ebenezer Scrooge. As he builds his wealthy empire and shuts out compassion, only Clara can save him from the terrible fate that lies ahead if he rejects love and kindness.
🎄
I loved this enchanting and festive novella, which is bursting with Dickensian sights and smells, and told through a perfect cast of characters and ghosts. The use of an intelligent and bold female protagonist is important, giving voice to the unfeatured stories of women in the classic. I was particularly moved to read that author Vanessa Lafaye tragically died from cancer earlier in the year, and the story was lovingly finished by her friend Rebecca Mascull. The point where one author left off (chapter 9) and the other picks up is completely seamless. This personal aspect to the book embodies all of Miss Marley’s bittersweet themes of love, hope and charity. It is “rich with the spiced and woodland scents of Christmas, past, present and yet to come”. I thoroughly recommend this book - it would make a perfect gift for the festive season.
Rating: 4.5 🌟
🎄
Thanks to Joe Thompson and @hqstories for the review copy and inviting me on the book tour.
🎄
🎄
Thank you to @hqstories for inviting me to take part in the book tour today for Miss Marley, which was published this week.
🎄
Miss Marley, by Vanessa Lafaye, is a prequel to A Christmas Carol, published 175 years after the original.
🎄
Clara and Jacob Marley have had a happy and privileged lifestyle until they suddenly find themselves orphaned and sent to the workhouse. They escape the harsh institution and are forced to scavenge on the dangerous streets. Each night the protective Jacob promises his sister that “tomorrow will be better”, so when an opportunity to escape destitution, he grasps it despite the dreadful price.
🎄
The siblings’ situation improves when they establish a money-lending business, the brainchild of Clara. And so Jacob is on a trajectory that leads to his infamous partnership with Ebenezer Scrooge. As he builds his wealthy empire and shuts out compassion, only Clara can save him from the terrible fate that lies ahead if he rejects love and kindness.
🎄
I loved this enchanting and festive novella, which is bursting with Dickensian sights and smells, and told through a perfect cast of characters and ghosts. The use of an intelligent and bold female protagonist is important, giving voice to the unfeatured stories of women in the classic. I was particularly moved to read that author Vanessa Lafaye tragically died from cancer earlier in the year, and the story was lovingly finished by her friend Rebecca Mascull. The point where one author left off (chapter 9) and the other picks up is completely seamless. This personal aspect to the book embodies all of Miss Marley’s bittersweet themes of love, hope and charity. It is “rich with the spiced and woodland scents of Christmas, past, present and yet to come”. I thoroughly recommend this book - it would make a perfect gift for the festive season.
Rating: 4.5 🌟
🎄
Thanks to Joe Thompson and @hqstories for the review copy and inviting me on the book tour.
🎄
bookishreadsandme's review against another edition
4.0
I am always a bit sceptical about stories based around a Dickens book. Especially when it is one of my favourite stories. But when the lovely @booksknits recommended Miss Marley I thought I would give it a go as we tend to like similar books.
Unfortunately there is quite a sad backstory to this captivating book. The author sadly passed away whilst writing it so one of her friends; Rebecca Mascull finished writing the last few chapters. I could not tell when there was a change in the author as the writing style was exactly the same throughout. Rebecca has done a remarkable job of completing this brilliant, spellbinding tale.
The story follows Jacob Marley’s sister Clara, who can I just say is a fantastic character! Also of course it tells you how Jacob came to his unhappy fate as seen in A Christmas Carol. The book is very imaginative and clever and fitted perfectly into the world of Dickens. It was such a joy to read and I was so sad it was such a short story at just over 150 pages. I could have kept reading more and more.
This book has so many strong messages that makes you think about what is important in life and how there is always hope and kindness out there in this very strange world. It really made me smile and also feel tearful at times.
I will definitely read this again next Christmas alongside A Christmas Carol. I am sure the majority of Dicken’s fans would love this book to read during the festive period.
Unfortunately there is quite a sad backstory to this captivating book. The author sadly passed away whilst writing it so one of her friends; Rebecca Mascull finished writing the last few chapters. I could not tell when there was a change in the author as the writing style was exactly the same throughout. Rebecca has done a remarkable job of completing this brilliant, spellbinding tale.
The story follows Jacob Marley’s sister Clara, who can I just say is a fantastic character! Also of course it tells you how Jacob came to his unhappy fate as seen in A Christmas Carol. The book is very imaginative and clever and fitted perfectly into the world of Dickens. It was such a joy to read and I was so sad it was such a short story at just over 150 pages. I could have kept reading more and more.
This book has so many strong messages that makes you think about what is important in life and how there is always hope and kindness out there in this very strange world. It really made me smile and also feel tearful at times.
I will definitely read this again next Christmas alongside A Christmas Carol. I am sure the majority of Dicken’s fans would love this book to read during the festive period.
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
3.0
A short quick read in which we learn the back story to Jacob Marley. Basically a twist of bad luck left Jacob and his sister poor and orphaned. By dint of their own hard work they rose up and he ultimately formed a business partnership with Ebenezer Scrooge. While their experience with poverty made Clara Marley sympathetic it made Jacob hard and judgmental. Ultimately her fiancé and later her die. As a ghost she visits her brother and tries to show him the error of his ways but to no avail. This wasn’t a bad read, but it isn’t one that will leave any lasting impression on me either.
armorcats's review against another edition
5.0
What a joy it was to enter this very familiar story at an earlier time. It felt so right on the money as a prequel to one of the most beloved stories ever. Rebecca Mascull finished the story started by Vanessa Lafaye seamlessly. There was so much joy in this book, it was hard to remember its unavoidable ending. But Jacob Marley’s earlier life explained exactly the character we meet so briefly in Dickens’ novel. Just as the end of A Christmas Carol leaves me in tears every year, so did Miss Marley. This was a story that needed to be told.
nickimags's review against another edition
5.0
I’ve been listening to the audio version of Dickens famous story every Christmas for a number of years now, so was thrilled to be sent a proof of Miss Marley to review.
As soon as I started reading this I was transported to Victorian London and fell completely into the childhood world of Jacob and Clara Marley. I could see everything happening as I was reading and felt like I was surviving on the streets with these poor orphans.
I loved this story, and how cleverly Vanessa Lefaye created Clara Marley to tell the story of how her brother Jacob became that first terrifying ghost that visits Ebeneezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol. I could tell that the author knew Dickens work by the references to scenes in Miss Marley, the threat of debtors prison, Fezziwig Jacob Marley’s employer, the child with the crutch gazing into the toyshop window, the wonderful descriptions of the Christmas food and the way both Marley and Scrooge complain about the poor as if they are blight on society.
The Afterword by Rebecca Mascull, who seamlessly completed the final few chapters, is so poignant and a wonderful tribute to her friend, who sadly passed away before the book was finished.
I thoroughly enjoyed this and will be reading it every Christmas alongside A Christmas Carol.
Thanks so much to Joe at HQ Stories for my gorgeous proof copy.
As soon as I started reading this I was transported to Victorian London and fell completely into the childhood world of Jacob and Clara Marley. I could see everything happening as I was reading and felt like I was surviving on the streets with these poor orphans.
I loved this story, and how cleverly Vanessa Lefaye created Clara Marley to tell the story of how her brother Jacob became that first terrifying ghost that visits Ebeneezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol. I could tell that the author knew Dickens work by the references to scenes in Miss Marley, the threat of debtors prison, Fezziwig Jacob Marley’s employer, the child with the crutch gazing into the toyshop window, the wonderful descriptions of the Christmas food and the way both Marley and Scrooge complain about the poor as if they are blight on society.
The Afterword by Rebecca Mascull, who seamlessly completed the final few chapters, is so poignant and a wonderful tribute to her friend, who sadly passed away before the book was finished.
I thoroughly enjoyed this and will be reading it every Christmas alongside A Christmas Carol.
Thanks so much to Joe at HQ Stories for my gorgeous proof copy.
ahobbitsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Oh, this story was an absolute delight and I read it in one sitting!
Miss Marley tells the formerly untold story of the siblings Clara and Jacob Marley, the latter who would later on become the business partner of the feared and infamous Mr. Ebenezer Scrooge. The book is divided into three parts that tell the story of Clara and Jacob – firstly as orphaned children fighting for their survival on the streets of London, then as teenagers running a money-lending business and ultimately, as adults, telling a tale of love and tragedy.
I hope that Miss Marley will become a little modern classic. It keeps the Dickensian spirit alive by adding another layer and extra depth to the beloved story of Mr. Scrooge and the spirits of Christmas past, present and future and focusing on some of its minor characters. It is a perfect tale for a cosy December evening and will enchant children and adults alike.
Miss Marley tells the formerly untold story of the siblings Clara and Jacob Marley, the latter who would later on become the business partner of the feared and infamous Mr. Ebenezer Scrooge. The book is divided into three parts that tell the story of Clara and Jacob – firstly as orphaned children fighting for their survival on the streets of London, then as teenagers running a money-lending business and ultimately, as adults, telling a tale of love and tragedy.
I hope that Miss Marley will become a little modern classic. It keeps the Dickensian spirit alive by adding another layer and extra depth to the beloved story of Mr. Scrooge and the spirits of Christmas past, present and future and focusing on some of its minor characters. It is a perfect tale for a cosy December evening and will enchant children and adults alike.