Christmas Gifts, Christmas Voices: A Holiday Novel of Hope and Healing [Hardcover]

John Allen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 15, 2002

"It was a perfect life. And it was hard for Eric Sanders to imagine how things could be any better." So begins the novel Christmas Gifts, Christmas Voices.

Eric seems to have resolved all of life's major issues, but in an instant, his world falls apart. While wrapping Christmas gifts for his wife and children, a policeman knocks on the door to tell him that his family was killed in a car accident. Consumed with grief, he knows it will take a Christmas miracle to ever find peace again, let alone enjoy the holidays. His world is in ruins.

Amazingly, Eric finds that peace through the giving of the special presents he so lovingly created for his family, and from that simple gesture learns that giving to others with joy and love has a ripple effect. He discovers the true meaning of Christmas and, in the echo of the Christmas bells, realizes that death is not an ending but a transition. Love can never be extinguished.

Christmas Gifts, Christmas Voices is a heartfelt look at love and the fragility of life. This tiny treasure of a book will inspire readers to take pleasure in the wonders of everyday life and cherish each special moment - and it is sure to be this season's most talked-about holiday novel.

"Christmas Gifts, Christmas Voices has messages of love and wisdom to make your heart sing with the recognition of the miracle of life."
-Mark Victor Hansen, coauthor, Chicken Soup for the Soul series

"Christmas Gifts, Christmas Voices is a beautiful illustration of why it makes a positive difference to choose to do good and reach out, even in the face of heart-numbing challenges. I know; I've been there."
-Hyrum Smith, Founder/CEO, Franklin Covey, and best-selling author, What Matters Most

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The opening lines of this novella "It was a perfect life. And it was hard for Eric Sanders to imagine how things could be any better."speak to the fundamental problem with Allen's writing, which consistently violates the old adage about showing and not telling. The story is heartbreaking; while wrapping Christmas presents for his family, Eric answers the front door to find a policeman bringing the news that his wife and children have been killed in a car accident. On Christmas Eve, Eric distributes the gifts that he had bought for his family to other people, and then the story fast-forwards to several years later when Eric learns a lesson about how his gifts changed their recipients' lives. Although this is a sincere and well-intentioned tale of generosity, it is also saccharine, didactic and unimaginatively written. (Oct.)
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Author

I wrote Christmas Gifts, Christmas Voices in an effort to give people a sense of hope in a seemingly hopeless world. As we try to find any degree of peace and happiness, it seems that negative forces are ever present ready to knock us down. But I am convinced that we can ultimately find contenment through service and through small acts of kindness.

I wrote this book from the heart...and my hope is that readers will open their hearts to its message.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 114 pages
• Publisher: HCI (October 15, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0757300537
• ISBN-13: 978-0757300530
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,291,696 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

The companion song to "Christmas Gifts, Christmas Voices" is now available as an mp3 download on Amazon. The lyrics to the song, "The Spirit of Christmas," appear at a crucial point in the book. After the main character, Eric, hears the song, some amazing things begin to happen. There are heartwarming revelations and finally the promise of hope for the future.

In arranging and producing the song, I wanted to give it a real holiday "feel." So there are sleighbells at the beginning, a booming, oldtime chruch organ near the middle, followed by a snippet of house-to-house caroling by a childrens choir.

I hope you enjoy the song!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Betten than "Skipping Christmas", November 26, 2004

By 

Josiah B. "Josiah" (Burlingame, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Christmas Gifts, Christmas Voices: A Holiday Novel of Hope and Healing (Hardcover)

I love Grisham's legal trillers. But I've got to truthfully say tht I was disappointed with his holiday novel Skipping Christmas. A friend recommended John Allen's (an author I've never heard of, by the way) "Christmas Gifts, Christmas Voices."

I've got to say this book is the best book I've read in a long, long time. The funny parts are funny. The sad parts are overwhelmingly sad. And when you're done reading it, it sticks with you. You find you really care about the characters. And as promised on the cover, the story (without being "pie in the sky") really does give you comfort and hope.

Bottom line: Skip "Skipping Christmas" read "Christmas Gifts, Christmas Voices."

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I didn't believe...now I do, August 6, 2005

By 

JB (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Christmas Gifts, Christmas Voices: A Holiday Novel of Hope and Healing (Hardcover)

When a friend told me about "Christmas Gifts, Christmas Voices" I thought she was exaggerating. Surely no book could be as incredible as she cliamed.

But to humor her, I read the book.

Now I'm telling people how extraordinary the book is.

It is a heartbreaking book, but it contains gentle humor (I like the scene in the hardware/toy store.) And as sad as the book is, it leaves you with a good,peaceful feeling...

If you don't believe me I don't blame you. But do what I did. Read the book and find out for yourself.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The All Time Best Christmas Book I've Ever Read, January 2, 2004

By 

Egon Lundgren (Galveston, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Christmas Gifts, Christmas Voices: A Holiday Novel of Hope and Healing (Hardcover)

When you're done with this book, you look at it...it's a thin book. And you wonder, how did the author accomplish so much in so few pages.
The cover says that it is a novel of hope and comfort. This story definitely gives you hope and comfort...and a few smiles along the way. The story is also heartbreaking. (Allen draws out his characters so well, that it reads like non-fiction.)
When the story is over you feel uplifted. The heartbreak has been resolved. And you have a sense of hope.