Christmas Bells: A Novel

I would re-read this story again and again at the holiday. Historical in some parts about Longfellow, and a reminder you don't always know people's struggles in life. Emotionally. Financially or Physically. Good read

I liked the approach of telling stories from the present and from 1960 to 1864, the Civil War period, that are linked somewhat loosely by the Longfellow poem and later song "Christmas Bells." The history was more interesting to me, but the present time story with its various twists centered around a catholic church in Cambridge, MA and love story were fine. The writing is solid and the characters are fairly well drawn and kept my interest.It is a Christmas story and was right up my alley,.

I really enjoyed reading Christmas Bell, in fact it was hard to put down. I liked how the author was able to develop a book around Henry Wadsworth Longfellow poem “ Christmas Bells”.

This was a nice book to read around Christmastime but I just didn't find the modern story and historical story to jive. I could have done without the whole church choir and their members' problems. The characters didn't grab my attention and with multiple points of view, no one story seemed compelling or even necessary. A book just about Henry Wadsworth Longfellow would have been excellent as his story was one I had never heard and would have liked to learn more about. I wonder why Jennifer decided to switch back and forth from character to character and time period to time period. It took a lot away from Henry's story.

We got this to listen to on our Christmas road trip. It was so good. A mixture of history and current times, a little bit of clean love story. We found it very engaging in giving lots of mini-stories about many characters in the overall book. This made 10 hours of driving fly by.

Not as good as Resistance Women, but a good history lesson all the same. I learned some new info about Longfellow and must take a trip to Boston. The link between past and present was poetic in itself. I heard the Bells has a much deeper meaning for me

A beautiful rendering of the background of Longfellow’s poem “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day “. I learned about Longfellow, his family, and some of the realities of the Civil War. All with the parallel of a modern tale of a developing romance between the choir director and pianist for a Christmas play performed by children who are also impacted by the war In Afghanistan. I enjoyed it.

I am listening on CD's for the 3rd time. I have gifted this book to friends and received grateful thanks. It is designed like Longfellow's "Tales of the Wayside Inn". One chapter covers a period in Longfellow's life; the next the story of one of the people present for a children's Christmas concert practice featuring the hymn "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" based on Longfellow's poem. The characters ring true and the reasons they are all present are interesting. The part of Longfellow's life covers the Civil War years so it is educational as well. A truly uplifting book.

Pour le lire

Anything written by Jennifer Chiaverini is excellent in my books. I have thoroughly enjoyed every one of her books. A very talented writer.

Another great read from Jennifer Chiaverini.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the woven interface between past and present. Jennifer Chiaverini is a good storyteller.