The Christmas Box

by Richard Paul Evans

Paperback, 1993

Status

Check shelf

Call number

SC Ev

Publication

Steinway Publishing Company

Description

"Whatever the reason, I find that with each passing Christmas the story of the Christmas box is told less and needed more. So I record it now for all future generations to accept or dismiss, as seems them good. As for me, I believe. And it is, after all, my story." So begins The Christmas Box, the touching story of a widow and the young family who moves in with her. Together they discover the first gift of Christmas and learn what Christmas is really about.

Local notes

0000-0475-7566

User reviews

LibraryThing member atimco
The moral of this story — treasure the people you love, especially your children, because you never know when they will be taken away — is not a new or unique one. Countless novels, movies, and songs exhort us to do this. But if it is such a basic lesson, why are there so many reminders of it
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in our success-obsessed culture? Why is this a story we keep telling?

The story, narrated by a young father and husband, tells of his family's decision to move in with an elderly widow who advertised for a family to maintain the grounds and do some light housework. Though he loves his wife and daughter, the narrator finds himself becoming deeply involved with his new business venture, to the point of it cutting into his family time. Mary, the widow the family lives with, sees this happening and seeks to show him his mistake through the letters in her Christmas Box.

It would be easy to write off this little novella as an overly sentimental tearjerker and let it go at that. And in some ways I can. Technically speaking it's nothing brilliant: the dialogue is stilted, the relationships a bit too sanitized, and the story itself somewhat predictable. But the message, clichéd as it is, is still meaningful. I'm not usually one for sentimental novels, but I'm glad I read this one. Christmas and all our family traditions surrounding it become so much more profound when we remember what the occasion cost the Lord of Christmas.
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LibraryThing member jjameli
The Christmas Box is about a man who learns what is truly important from a older lady Mary. He learns that family, and loved shared is what life is about. I really didn't understand the whole concept of the Christmas box, but I understood what the author was trying to convey.

The book was very
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short, 128 pages, but to be honest any longer I might have started to get bored. At times it was a little to Hallmark for me, but I did tear up at the end when Mary's story is revealed.

Any book that immediately gives me the urge to hug my children, and give them kisses all over their faces gets a passing grade from me.
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LibraryThing member Carmenere
"The sacred contents of that box are a parent's pure love for a child, manifested first by a Father's love for all His children, as He sacrificed that which He loved most and sent His son to earth on that Christmas day so long ago. And as long as the earth lives, and longer, that message will never
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die."
That is what this book is about. Either the readers beliefs will be reaffirmed, rekindled or renounced. Perhaps a little sappy, a tad corny and maybe a bit righteous but, none the less, at times it simply gave me goosebumps and acts as a reminder that our lives with our families are ephimerel and to hold them oh so close.
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LibraryThing member jjmcgaffey
Sweet little story, a real tearjerker. No miracles - well, OK, music to lead him to mysteries - but most of the story is in their perceptions. MaryAnne's perceptions, and Richard's, as he comes to understand what she means. There is one oddity, where he "understands" the answer to her question
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twice - but it doesn't detract much. I'm glad I read it (finally), but I don't think I need to reread it.
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LibraryThing member tjsjohanna
The sentiment of the book is a good one, but the story is long on "tell" and a little short on "show". However, at Christmas time a bit of sentimentality and a reminder of the true meaning of Christmas can never go wrong.
LibraryThing member caroren
Charming story about a young family who move in with a wealthy widow and discover the true meaning of Christmas.
LibraryThing member ShellSingle
Very Good Sequal to the Christmas Shoes.
LibraryThing member bookworm12
A family moves in with an elderly woman and she helps teach them the true meaning of Christmas. A sweet story that is predictable and a bit cheesy, but that's to be expected. It's perfect for a quick holiday read.
LibraryThing member librisissimo
A heart-warming story of friendship and memories.
LibraryThing member thornton37814
As a young couple with a four year old daughter and an entrepreneurial business, Evans and his wife move in with an older woman who needs companionship. As they begin to store their own furniture in the attic, they discover a Christmas box there. This box becomes important as it along with the
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woman begin to remind Evans of the true meaning and spirit of Christmas and of the importance of spending time with the family.
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LibraryThing member JudithDCollins
A short powerful book which demonstrates the importance of life and putting priorities in place—love the ones close to you as you never know when they will be taken away. The novel involves love, pain, and death and family commitment. We all as busy adults get busy and forgot our children and
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skip much needed time with them. This young couple and daughter rented an apartment from this lady in a huge house, which turns out is dying and has lessons to be taught to this sweet family. As usual Evans does not disappoint – a short nice Christmas story.
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LibraryThing member HopingforChange
Richard Paul Evans undoubtedly has a knack for the sappy and the sentimental. That being sad, this is a lovely story. I think we really feel the contrast between youth and age and the way that love can eliminate that difference, as it does so many others, including (for the religious) that between
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sinners and God. This is a touching read--good for every season, not just Christmas!
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LibraryThing member nancynova
Tearjerker that I know I read years ago. Widow Mary Ann invites a young family to move in with her. They accept and before her death, she tries to teach the workaholic father what is really important in live.
LibraryThing member CarmenMilligan
At around 100 pages, this one didn't take much time at all to read, but I found the story to be flat, uninspirational and very over-the-top. Rick, the narrator, lack depth and dimension, and caused me to feel no sympathy for him in the least. The book was too short to provide enough background to
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make me invested in him as a husband, father, or businessman. The rest of the characters were, again, too hastily written to seem real. The music playing in the attic, the dreams, and the pointed questions from the widow were odd speedbumps on what should have been a lovely journey through hills, dales, valleys and mountains. Instead, it was a jerky start-and-stop.

Not recommended, especially since there are so many other wonderful and inspirational Christmas books out there.
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LibraryThing member jbarr5
The Christmas box by Richard Paul Evans
The ad is from an elderly woman who wants someone to move in, tend to a few things and live in the house.
Sounds too good to be true...Terry and Harry and their young child have outgrown their apartment.
Parken home is described in detail-sounds like a well kept
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house and roomy. Trial for a bit of time to make sure all are comfortable with one another.
The old woman is a collector of bibles and they have quite the discussion about them. She likes the company and wants to go with them to recitals and other events.
First gift is about giving. Love this story.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
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LibraryThing member GretchenLynn
A quick, easy read with what is meant to be a heartfelt and meaningful story. The message is definitely there; life is short, spend time with your loved ones. However I couldn't quite connect with the dramatic tone of the book.
LibraryThing member meyben
The touching story of a widow and the young family who moves in with her. Together they discover the first gift of Christmas and learn what Christmas is really all about.
LibraryThing member snapplechick
A beautiful Christmas story that brings the real meaning of Christmas, so easily forgotten, back.
When a new family, with a tight budget, moves in to keep an old lady company during the holidays, they get more than just a place to live. They become good friends with her and find out what Christmas
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is all about.
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LibraryThing member Maydacat
This bittersweet, heartwarming tale packs a powerful message in its simplistic prose. It’s rather sad for Christmastime, but the tale still manages to be inspirational.

Language

Original language

English

Original publication date

1993

ISBN

1566840287 / 9781566840286
Page: 0.4255 seconds