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A review by booknerd_therapist
The Christmas Blessing by Donna VanLiere
2.0
If you like characters with depth, riveting plots, and original storytelling -- this book is not for you.
If you like flat characters, a predictable plot, and Lifetime original movies, then you'll love this book.
I have not read "The Christmas Shoes" (and after reading this book, I will not). However, I have heard Newsong's recording of the song dozens of times, and I know the gist of the story. "The Christmas Blessing" picks up where "The Christmas Shoes" left off, except now Nathan is a grown adult who is deciding whether or not to continue his path in medicine.
This story was very formulaic, so it doesn't surprise me that it's gotten high ratings and been on the best-seller list. First off, it's not a chick flick unless everyone is beautiful, right? That's just the way it is. Every single character in the book is physically attractive, even when they are about to die (or already dead). I guess some people can't fall in love with average-looking people. Secondly, everyone falls in love in exactly the same way. Love sneaks up, sweeps people off their feet, and they fall passionately in love in a very short time -- and then stay in love and never have any problems. The third ingredient in a successful chick flick is at least one character who cries constantly. I was beginning to wish Allison was a real person so I could slap her and say "SNAP OUT OF IT!" Of course, by the last 1/3 of the book, everyone was crying all the time anyway, so I guess to be fair, I'd have to slap them all.
Part of the problem with this book is its predictability. You know from the first couple of chapters who's going to die -- it's just a matter of when it's going to happen. I honestly wasn't surprised by anything that I read, including the overly sappy ending (complete with more crying from Allison).
The biggest problem, to me, was the complete lack of character development. I didn't care about any of them. The only one who undergoes any type of transformation at all is Nathan, and even he gets irritating. The rest of the characters are just stock characters. You have the wise grandmother, the brave little boy with a terminal illness, the perfect/beautiful/sweet love interest, the woman who cries at everything -- it's all there. They are the same on page 212 as they are on page 1. No real changes (except for the ones that die).
Anyway, I rated this two stars because I actually made it to the end. The writing style is easy and accessible, and for that it can get a second star.
If you like flat characters, a predictable plot, and Lifetime original movies, then you'll love this book.
I have not read "The Christmas Shoes" (and after reading this book, I will not). However, I have heard Newsong's recording of the song dozens of times, and I know the gist of the story. "The Christmas Blessing" picks up where "The Christmas Shoes" left off, except now Nathan is a grown adult who is deciding whether or not to continue his path in medicine.
This story was very formulaic, so it doesn't surprise me that it's gotten high ratings and been on the best-seller list. First off, it's not a chick flick unless everyone is beautiful, right? That's just the way it is. Every single character in the book is physically attractive, even when they are about to die (or already dead). I guess some people can't fall in love with average-looking people. Secondly, everyone falls in love in exactly the same way. Love sneaks up, sweeps people off their feet, and they fall passionately in love in a very short time -- and then stay in love and never have any problems. The third ingredient in a successful chick flick is at least one character who cries constantly. I was beginning to wish Allison was a real person so I could slap her and say "SNAP OUT OF IT!" Of course, by the last 1/3 of the book, everyone was crying all the time anyway, so I guess to be fair, I'd have to slap them all.
Part of the problem with this book is its predictability. You know from the first couple of chapters who's going to die -- it's just a matter of when it's going to happen. I honestly wasn't surprised by anything that I read, including the overly sappy ending (complete with more crying from Allison).
The biggest problem, to me, was the complete lack of character development. I didn't care about any of them. The only one who undergoes any type of transformation at all is Nathan, and even he gets irritating. The rest of the characters are just stock characters. You have the wise grandmother, the brave little boy with a terminal illness, the perfect/beautiful/sweet love interest, the woman who cries at everything -- it's all there. They are the same on page 212 as they are on page 1. No real changes (except for the ones that die).
Anyway, I rated this two stars because I actually made it to the end. The writing style is easy and accessible, and for that it can get a second star.