Ebenezer: The Final Years of Scrooge [Paperback]

Donna Lee Howell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 29, 2008

Seventeen years ago, Ebenezer Scrooge was visited by three spirits in the middle of the night, each with the same mission: to see the old miser redeemed. Through a painstaking journey through the past, present and future, Ebenezer faced the terrifying truths of his existence, to wake up the next morning a new man, putting aside his love of money, and embracing instead
the love of mankind and charity. But what happens when people from all over London witness this change and hear that the motivation behind it was ghostly visitations? Whatever becomes of Tiny Tim?New mysteries unfold when Ebenezer must face the challenges of being daily rejected as a lunatic or revered as a spiritual leader. Tiny Tim -- not so tiny anymore -- fears he is being watched by
someone or something, and a familiar looking young boy wanders into Mr. Scrooge’s office…

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Donna Lee Howell is the aquisitions editor at Anomalos Publishing House. Ebenezer is her first published novel. She is married to James Howell and lives in Crane, Missouri.

Product Details

• Paperback: 330 pages
• Publisher: Highway (October 29, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0981509185
• ISBN-13: 978-0981509181
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #683,200 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Chance Worth Taking, November 23, 2008

By 

Derek the Poet (Oregon, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ebenezer: The Final Years of Scrooge (Paperback)

I'll admit it. When I saw that this book was tagged as a "Christian" book, I was trepidacious. While I don't have any particular dislike for Christian fiction, it's just not the first thing that would be on my reading list. BUT, my love of "A Christmas Carol" won out, and I decided to read it. I'm also not usually the guy who buys a first book from a new author without waiting at least a year to see if it's still around. While I enjoy reading to a ridiculous degree, I just never feel comfortable committing myself to someone who's authorship and staying power haven't yet been proven.
In "Ebenezer," though, I'm glad I took a chance.
While everyone is familiar with Dickens' original story, "Ebenezer" takes us on a whole new adventure. Howell does indeed answer many questions we still have from the original book, and goes on to create more. Luckily, all the answers are there by the end of the book.
She also manages to stay true to Dickens' warm feel in regard to character development and plot progression, without the sugary Disney-syndrome happiness we've all come to expect. This book is riddled with moments just dark enough to add depth to the story, without sacrificing the intergrity of the characters we've come to know and love.
Her introduction to this new chapter in Scrooge's life hooks you from the beginning, and as each page twists the plot further into the unbelievable, you can't get through each page fast enough. It's not edge-of-your-seat, action movie adrenaline that keeps you going, just a burning need to know what happens next.
Anyone who loves "A Christmas Carol" will find this book endearing and enlightening, and even if you're unappreciative of Dickens' original, pick this up and give it a shot.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good job, Donna Howell!, December 4, 2008

By 

Marie Vaughn (Eads, TN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ebenezer: The Final Years of Scrooge (Paperback)

I enjoyed this book from the beginning to the end. Donna Howell kept the personalities of the characters and expanded on their lives in a way that kept you interested all the way through. I picked up the book around noon today and read until I finished it. It was that absorbing. Good job, Donna.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Story to Read Anytime of Year!, November 20, 2008

By 

Nita Horn (Portland, OR) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Ebenezer: The Final Years of Scrooge (Paperback)

"Ebenezer; The Final Years of Scrooge" is an excellent sequel to the traditional Charles Dickens's classic tale, "A Christmas Carol." This heartwarming novel picks up 16 years later, and takes the reader into the only dimension left for this classic story to venture.

Who exactly were the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future?
From where did these spirits come?
Why did the ghosts have an interest in diverting this man from an obvious place of eternal torment that he himself had created link by miserable link?
What significant affect if any would Scrooge's conversion have on the community?

In "Ebenezer; The Final Years of Scrooge", this bright new author Donna Lee Howell takes a realistic approach to what life may have been like for Scrooge after his famous overnight conversion. For Ebenezer, these ghostly visitations are the beginning of a whole new lifestyle. A life of selflessness, kindness, and forgiveness. Is it really possible that a miserable selfish old miser, set in his ways could or would retain this historical life-changing experience?

And what ever became of `Tiny Tim'? In the original story, Dickens left us with the impression that Tim would be o.k., but what exactly was his fatal disease? Did Tiny Tim really fully recover? Was he able to marry and have a family and live out a normal life?

The author Donna Lee Howell addresses many of these questions while cleverly knitting together many of the warm familiar characters we have grown to love over the years, with a few unique and loveable new personalities along the way. I found myself instantly charmed by the lively and mysterious child named Jack.
This book is an instant classic. I thoroughly enjoyed reading every page. I know you will to!