Finalist (Holiday)
Title: Mrs. Scrooge: A Christmas Poem
Author: Carol Ann Duffy
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
ISBN-10: 1439176337
Pages: 48, Hardcover
Genre: Poetry/Young Adult
Reviewed by: Nicole Sorkin, Pacific Book Review
Book Review
Mrs. Scrooge: A Christmas Poem is about a tight fisted bitter and selfish old lady in the 19th century London. Her husband Ebenezer is now “dead”. She despises all that brings joy and comfort, has a plethora of adaptations but is best in it’s original. Mrs. Scrooge is visited on Christmas Eve by three ghosts who show her the evil of her ways and its consequences. This book is written in lively, intelligent, penetrating and witty prose.Certainly there is the very strong theme, about social injustice and poverty, which we read in such works as Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, Bleak House and Hard Times. It is also a ghost story with a beautiful blend of poetry which captures the Christmas spirit. Anyone interested in a simple and short read at Christmas time would do well to treat themselves to this delightful book. This was great fun to read and there are some very good points presented by the three Spirits that just about any of us – not just Scrooge – might be able to infuse into our lives at the Christmas time of year.
Essentially the Christmas poem revived the spirit and message of Christmas and contains a powerful social message about those members of the wealthier classes who shun responsibility for the less fortunate people in their country.
This is a very powerful poem, charming and engaging. I like how it gives a message of appreciation to the simple things in life and to not take everything for granted.
