I received this e-book from NetGalley and Viking in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: On a hot summer day some twenty years after he was famously converted to kindness, Ebenezer Scrooge still roams the streets of London, spreading Christmas cheer, much to the annoyance of his creditors, nephew, and his employee Bob Cratchit. However, when Scrooge decides to help his old friend and former partner Jacob Marley, as well as other inhabitants of the city, he will need the assistance of the very people he’s annoyed. By the time they’re done, they’ve convinced everyone to celebrate Christmas all year long by opening their wallets, arms, and hearts to those around them.
Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol has held a special place in my heart since my dad read it to me one Christmas Eve when I was six-years-old. I’ve always been curious though about what happened after that last page. Was Scrooge truly able to mend his ways? Did he keep the spirit of Christmas in his heart and continue his generosity? Hmm. The skeptic in me was a little doubtful. Well, for those of you who have also wondered, Charlie Lovett answers these questions and more.
The Further Adventures of Ebenezer Scrooge is a quick read (106 pages) much like it’s predecessor. I was able to finish it in one sitting which was perfect. I think if the story had stretched out any longer it would have lost some of it’s charm.
The story begins twenty years after the original, and Scrooge has not only only kept Christmas in his heart, but celebrates it year round. This provides many amusing moments as people in the middle of a sweltering summer actively go out of their way to avoid Mr. Scrooge and his ebullient greetings. But it’s not all words with this reformed miser. No, he continually gives money to worthy causes until he has nothing left to give. Then, during a visit with his old friend Marley who is still bearing those heavy chains for misdeeds committed when he was alive, Scrooge comes up with a brilliant plan–one will save not only his friend, but also Bob Cratchit, who has become such a workaholic that the only time his family sees him is on Christmas, and Scrooge’s nephew Freddie who ignores the suffering of those around him because he feels he can’t do anything to help them. Assisting Scrooge are his old friends the Spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. This time though, Scrooge meets them as an equal, and actually winds up as the guide. By the end of the story, something truly amazing has happened. By helping the people he cares about, Scrooge ensures that the same generosity of spirit will be passed down for generations to come.
Charlie Lovett perfectly captures the tenor and tone of Dickens. So much so that at times I had to remind myself that this wasn’t actually written by Dickens himself. As much as I enjoyed reading this on my Kindle, I think a better medium is in print, as it’s supposed to have beautiful illustrations. While I hesitate to say The Further Adventures of Ebenezer Scrooge will become a classic like its predecessor, if you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed by the stress of the season, and perhaps suffering from some Bah Humbug, this might be just the pick-me-up that you need. It’s a lovely tale to share with your family on Christmas Eve with its wonderful reminder that:
“…scores and hundreds understood the ways of wealth and money and even of philanthropy, but their hearts lacked the true wealth of love, of family, of Christmas joy, which he now saw, might have been theirs all the year round.”
By Hook Or By Book 
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