Robert J. Elisberg
Auteur van A Christmas Carol 2: The Return of Scrooge
Werken van Robert J. Elisberg
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Algemene kennis
- Organisaties
- Writers Guild of America, West
- Prijzen en onderscheidingen
- Lucille Ball Award for comedy screenwriting
- Korte biografie
- Robert J. Elisberg is a two-time recipient of the Lucille Ball Award for comedy screenwriting. A member of the Writers Guild of America, his screen work includes the upcoming comedy-adventure, "The Wild Roses," and co-writing three of the "Skateboy" movies based on the international series. His fiction includes the novella, "A Christmas Carol 2: The Return of Scrooge."
Elisberg is a long-time columnist for the Huffington Post and the Writers Guild whose political writing is included in the anthology, "Clued in on Politics" (CQ Press). Among his other writing, he co-wrote a book on world travel; co-wrote the song, "Just One of the Girls," for the Showtime movie "Wharf Rat;" and wrote the book for the stage musical-comedy, "Rapunzel."
He has contributed humor and written for such publications as the Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Daily News, and Los Angeles Magazine.
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The author imagines the story of Bob Cratchit five years after A Christmas Carol. He weaves many of the characters from other Dickens books into the story. The book is quite clever and entertaining.
I received a complimentary copy of this book as a part of a book tour in exchange for a fair and honest review. i rated it 3 out of 5 stars.
A fan of the original A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, I really looked forward to reading A Christmas Carol 2: The Return of Scrooge by Robert J. Ellsberg. While Mr. Ellsberg’s story takes place roughly five years after Scrooge’s death, the writing tends to lean more towards a contemporary viewpoint than what I suspect an actual book written five years after Charles Dickens’ death would have depicted.
Mr. Ellsberg employs his knowledge of Charles Dickens, and his work, in an interesting fashion in this tale. While I don’t normally read “Introductions” in books, because most of the time they are basically more like dedications and thank you notes, I did read Mr. Ellsberg’s introduction, which I discovered to be an interesting history of how Charles Dickens wrote, why he wrote and how the original A Christmas Carol came to be. Mr. Ellsberg then begins his tale by setting up Bob Cratchit’s “current” situation and showing us the kind of businessman Bob has become without the daily leadership of Ebenezer Scrooge.
Introducing a host of characters from Charles Dickens’ other books, Mr. Ellsberg incorporates them into Bob Cratchit’s “holiday” experience. Bob meets Ebenezer Scrooge as the “ghost” of the door knocker, like Ebenezer met Bob Marley in the original, and then is visited by Ebenezer later that night. Informing his former employee, and friend, that he’ll be visited by three ghostly companions that night, Ebenezer leaves Bob in a fairly bad emotional state. Bob is then visited by the ghosts, whose purpose is to teach him what he needs to do in order to change his ways.
Mr. Ellsberg not only uses the characters from Dickens’ other books in the story, he also provides extensive footnotes for the reader in case the reader doesn’t know about the character’s origins. We learn about Fagin, Little Dorrit, Edwin Drood and even Dickens’ tie to a story about a whale (Herman Mehlville’s Moby Dick) just as examples. We also discover that not all of the ghosts assigned to Bob’s “case” are happy about having to spend their “holiday” with him.
Will the ghosts who visit Bob Cratchit be as successful with their task as the ghosts who visited Ebenezer Scrooge? Will Bob learn how to balance good business sense and charity? You’ll have to read A Christmas Carol 2: The Return of Ebenezer Scrooge to find out.… (meer)
A fan of the original A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, I really looked forward to reading A Christmas Carol 2: The Return of Scrooge by Robert J. Ellsberg. While Mr. Ellsberg’s story takes place roughly five years after Scrooge’s death, the writing tends to lean more towards a contemporary viewpoint than what I suspect an actual book written five years after Charles Dickens’ death would have depicted.
Mr. Ellsberg employs his knowledge of Charles Dickens, and his work, in an interesting fashion in this tale. While I don’t normally read “Introductions” in books, because most of the time they are basically more like dedications and thank you notes, I did read Mr. Ellsberg’s introduction, which I discovered to be an interesting history of how Charles Dickens wrote, why he wrote and how the original A Christmas Carol came to be. Mr. Ellsberg then begins his tale by setting up Bob Cratchit’s “current” situation and showing us the kind of businessman Bob has become without the daily leadership of Ebenezer Scrooge.
Introducing a host of characters from Charles Dickens’ other books, Mr. Ellsberg incorporates them into Bob Cratchit’s “holiday” experience. Bob meets Ebenezer Scrooge as the “ghost” of the door knocker, like Ebenezer met Bob Marley in the original, and then is visited by Ebenezer later that night. Informing his former employee, and friend, that he’ll be visited by three ghostly companions that night, Ebenezer leaves Bob in a fairly bad emotional state. Bob is then visited by the ghosts, whose purpose is to teach him what he needs to do in order to change his ways.
Mr. Ellsberg not only uses the characters from Dickens’ other books in the story, he also provides extensive footnotes for the reader in case the reader doesn’t know about the character’s origins. We learn about Fagin, Little Dorrit, Edwin Drood and even Dickens’ tie to a story about a whale (Herman Mehlville’s Moby Dick) just as examples. We also discover that not all of the ghosts assigned to Bob’s “case” are happy about having to spend their “holiday” with him.
Will the ghosts who visit Bob Cratchit be as successful with their task as the ghosts who visited Ebenezer Scrooge? Will Bob learn how to balance good business sense and charity? You’ll have to read A Christmas Carol 2: The Return of Ebenezer Scrooge to find out.… (meer)
With the Christmas holiday season just around the corner, I couldn't help but get a head start by reading the thoroughly entertaining novella, A Christmas Carol 2: The Return Of Scrooge by author Robert J. Elisberg. According to the author, this humorous novella is based on "the original long-lost manuscript by Charles Dickens," with some subtle wit and comedic revisions added into the mix.
The story picks up five years after Ebenezer Scrooge has passed away, and his trusted former clerk Bob Cratchit has run Scrooge and Marley into the ground with his over-benevolence in lending and charity-giving. Scrooge returns as a ghost on Christmas Eve to teach Cratchit the true meaning of money with the comedic help of some notable characters from other Dickens' novels.
The author is obviously very knowledgeable of Charles Dickens' work, as he brilliantly weaves a humorous story which includes annotated footnotes interwoven throughout the story that helps readers who are not familiar with Dickens' classic novels. The author's subtle wit provides the reader with an amusing tongue-in-cheek and laugh-out-loud funny sequel to the classic Dickens A Christmas Carol. I couldn't help but snicker as I turned the pages, the witty dialogue and humorous interactions between the characters are hilarious, what more could a reader ask for than to be entertained by a contemporary twist on a classic story that leaves a smile on their face?
A Christmas Carol 2: The Return Of Scrooge would be the perfect addition to any reader's collection of Christmas stories that are annually read during the holiday season. It is a lighthearted fun book for readers of all ages.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Pump Up Your Book! Virtual Book Publicity Tours.
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2013/10/a-christmas-carol-2-return-of-...… (meer)
The story picks up five years after Ebenezer Scrooge has passed away, and his trusted former clerk Bob Cratchit has run Scrooge and Marley into the ground with his over-benevolence in lending and charity-giving. Scrooge returns as a ghost on Christmas Eve to teach Cratchit the true meaning of money with the comedic help of some notable characters from other Dickens' novels.
The author is obviously very knowledgeable of Charles Dickens' work, as he brilliantly weaves a humorous story which includes annotated footnotes interwoven throughout the story that helps readers who are not familiar with Dickens' classic novels. The author's subtle wit provides the reader with an amusing tongue-in-cheek and laugh-out-loud funny sequel to the classic Dickens A Christmas Carol. I couldn't help but snicker as I turned the pages, the witty dialogue and humorous interactions between the characters are hilarious, what more could a reader ask for than to be entertained by a contemporary twist on a classic story that leaves a smile on their face?
A Christmas Carol 2: The Return Of Scrooge would be the perfect addition to any reader's collection of Christmas stories that are annually read during the holiday season. It is a lighthearted fun book for readers of all ages.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Pump Up Your Book! Virtual Book Publicity Tours.
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2013/10/a-christmas-carol-2-return-of-...… (meer)
Statistieken
- Werken
- 2
- Leden
- 17
- Populariteit
- #654,391
- Waardering
- 3.1
- Besprekingen
- 6
- ISBNs
- 2
Once again, readers are taken on a whirlwind tour of Christmas past, present and future, with an over abundance of character name dropping from other works by Charles Dickens. This book is a continuance of the tale, told with cheeky humor and a leaning towards ascerbic wit and sarcasm. Cratchit means well, but he is bungling and doesn't understand that his easy way with the company's assets might be doing more harm than good. And his lack of understanding sometimes makes him the mark for people who are less than honest in their dealings with him.
The ghosts have but a short time to set him back on the right path and teach him the ways of prudent business and finance.
This book was ok. It was well-written and witty. I did get a bit tired of the constant references to characters from other works by Dickens. Everyone had at least a bit-part in this melodrama -- characters ranging from Fagin to Little Dorrit made their appearances to help Cratchit learn the error of his ways. I understand that this piece was meant to be dark humor, and it managed that very well. For me, it missed the mark. Only because it wasn't what I would have chosen to read. A Christmas Carol is my favorite book, and has been for 40 years. I don't want it reduced to a farce of dim-witted, ill managment....what I wanted was a real continuation of Dickens work. That disappointment stems from my expectations, and not the actual quality of the work.
I liked it. It was ok. Just not my cup of tea. Others who enjoy quick wit and don't mind the re-working of the tale in this manner, might love this book.
Give it a whirl. Made me re-think some of my spending habits. And I did enjoy reading the footnotes about the various Dickens characters. (For those who haven't read a lot of Dickens, the character references are labeled with footnotes, where you can read the background. So don't worry....the references won't pass you by unnoticed.)
My rating: 6/10
Ages: 16 , just because of all the references that children might not understand or care about.… (meer)