Review by Ikaye -- Spirit of the Season by Brian Lamont
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Ikaye
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Review by Ikaye -- Spirit of the Season by Brian Lamont
[Following is a volunteer review of "Spirit of the Season" by Brian Lamont.]
There are many versions of origin stories for the old man with white beard, wearing a red cloak, who rides his sleigh to deliver gifts to children across the world. Spirit of the Season by Brian Lamont is a heartwarming and a selfless tale of a man who has a problem fitting in his village and his journey of discovering love, hope and faith by giving. It is a perfect Christmas story you want to tell your little siblings, children or grandchildren if you are asked to tell one.
The story starts describing how the candle maker had trouble fitting in their village and preferred to stay in their house with his father to learn from his trade. But it gradually changes when he found love. However, that love soon went away, and he drowned himself in darkness, grief and loneliness again like from the start. After a long time he was cooped inside his house, alone, he found the village that he lived in was not the same as it was before. When he saw what his candles did to the villager’s lives, he started a mission together with the people he met along the journey of rediscovering love, hope and faith.
The first chapter was full of lengthy sentences that aims to give a background of the main character of the book and a description of where and what kind of place he is living in with his father. It wasn’t my first time to encounter a writing style like this. I read stories that the descriptive style didn’t work well with the story but this story surprisingly brought nostalgia and a vibe where and when the story was set and I like it. I really like how each chapter has its own climax. It’s like every chapter is its own story.
I also really like how the author incorporates the traditions, the things like the mistletoe, the sleigh, the red coat, the reindeer and the other things that reminds of us of what we really imagined the old big man with long white beard and red coat would be. I also like how the author incorporates the effects of the industrial revolution to children. Child labor was very evident during the industrial revolution and it robbed the innocent children their childhood. If you tell this story with the kids of today, they will feel they are lucky enough not to be born during that time. It would help them to appreciate and be thankful for the things they already have.
What I don’t like about the story is how the author assigned the character’s names. For me, giving the character a name is very important. I like to remember one’s character with his or her unique name. I don’t know why the author chose to name them “candle maker”, “storekeeper’s daughter”, “tailor” or “Squire” but it works for the story.
Overall, I give it 4 out of 4 stars, even though I didn’t agree with the author of not giving them distinct names it was just my preference. The story was written very well. It didn’t bore me with its descriptive writing style. In fact, it has an exact opposite effect, it kept grabbing my attention. I recommend it to parents, elder sister or a brother who loves to tell bedtime stories to the little ones. It will surely make them dream of the adventures the main character had experienced in the book.
******
Spirit of the Season
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
There are many versions of origin stories for the old man with white beard, wearing a red cloak, who rides his sleigh to deliver gifts to children across the world. Spirit of the Season by Brian Lamont is a heartwarming and a selfless tale of a man who has a problem fitting in his village and his journey of discovering love, hope and faith by giving. It is a perfect Christmas story you want to tell your little siblings, children or grandchildren if you are asked to tell one.
The story starts describing how the candle maker had trouble fitting in their village and preferred to stay in their house with his father to learn from his trade. But it gradually changes when he found love. However, that love soon went away, and he drowned himself in darkness, grief and loneliness again like from the start. After a long time he was cooped inside his house, alone, he found the village that he lived in was not the same as it was before. When he saw what his candles did to the villager’s lives, he started a mission together with the people he met along the journey of rediscovering love, hope and faith.
The first chapter was full of lengthy sentences that aims to give a background of the main character of the book and a description of where and what kind of place he is living in with his father. It wasn’t my first time to encounter a writing style like this. I read stories that the descriptive style didn’t work well with the story but this story surprisingly brought nostalgia and a vibe where and when the story was set and I like it. I really like how each chapter has its own climax. It’s like every chapter is its own story.
I also really like how the author incorporates the traditions, the things like the mistletoe, the sleigh, the red coat, the reindeer and the other things that reminds of us of what we really imagined the old big man with long white beard and red coat would be. I also like how the author incorporates the effects of the industrial revolution to children. Child labor was very evident during the industrial revolution and it robbed the innocent children their childhood. If you tell this story with the kids of today, they will feel they are lucky enough not to be born during that time. It would help them to appreciate and be thankful for the things they already have.
What I don’t like about the story is how the author assigned the character’s names. For me, giving the character a name is very important. I like to remember one’s character with his or her unique name. I don’t know why the author chose to name them “candle maker”, “storekeeper’s daughter”, “tailor” or “Squire” but it works for the story.
Overall, I give it 4 out of 4 stars, even though I didn’t agree with the author of not giving them distinct names it was just my preference. The story was written very well. It didn’t bore me with its descriptive writing style. In fact, it has an exact opposite effect, it kept grabbing my attention. I recommend it to parents, elder sister or a brother who loves to tell bedtime stories to the little ones. It will surely make them dream of the adventures the main character had experienced in the book.
******
Spirit of the Season
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: We are Voulhire: Someone Else's End by Matthew Tysz
