Customer Reviews

The Golden Ring: A Christmas Story

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a sentimental family-oriented "feel good" book about Christmas in 1918. It depicts life in an earlier century. But even while set during a war period, it was a time when people looked out after one another, neighbor helped neighbor, and a family was a more stable relationship. This is a bit of fictionalized family-history but well worth the time to read. It just might make your Christmas brighter.

The Golden Ring is about the live of young Anna who lives in the Pennsylvania coal area. The ring, a cherished gift from her father, is passed on to a poor, needy family traveling through the area in search of a home and work just prior to Christmas. The real story is about love, and giving, and caring not only for family but for others as well. It is the story of a young girl living out the true meaning of Christmas--something not everyone in today's world will understand. In the end (the predictable ending) the entire family enjoys the rewards of a manger-centered Christmas rather than a worldly Santa focus.

Give this as a replacement for a Christmas card. You'll be thanked. One book that is worth the read, year after year after year.

Although I do enjoy reading Christmas tales at this time of the year, nothing can save a badly written book. The Golden Ring plays like a very rough draft of what could have been a touching Christmas story. Instead, the book ends up being annoyingly shallow and too hastily written.

We have a family who seems to know nothing but happiness. Every member of this family is too good, always trying to please others, always trying to do the good thing. One day, Anna, the youngest daughter, meets a young girl who is poor and who will not be celebrating Christmas because her parents have no money. Anna gives the girl her most prized possession: a gold ring that her parents gave to her on her ninth birthday.

Fine. It's all very sweet. But then, we get into a huge religious inner struggle as Anna searches her soul, trying to decide whether she did the right thing by parting herself from that ring. Believe me, no 10 year old is mature enough to take on such soul-searching!

The books is written without style. The sentences are short and much too easy. The book is even too simple for young children. More revision and a little more style would have been needed to make this book the special Christmas gift it wants to be. Instead, it ends up being a pale immitation of the much better, much more touching The Christmas Box.

What an absolutely heartwarming tale, all the more so because this story is true. In the winter of 1918, little Anna Beal had such marvelous dreams about Christmas with her parents and five brothers and sisters. They might not have much money. Her father's job on the B & O Railroad didn't allow them many frivolous things, but this was a very special holiday, a Christmas filled with love and giving, memories to last a lifetime. Beautifully told. What a treasure.

Although I will not dismiss anyone's opinion I do believe this review is out of touch. The book is written to be a feel good book so the family problems shouldn't be discussed. As for a 10 year old child not being able to be mature enough to soul-search is a ridiculous comment. I know some children that young that are more mature than some 40 year olds.

This book is a very quick read and will remind you what Christmas means. Another feel good book that came out recently is called "The Christmas Sweater" by Glenn Beck. If you enjoyed "The Golden Ring" you will enjoy "The Christmas Sweater."

Merry Christmas!

This book was good. It was easy to follow but not too easy. It really catches your attention
Anna got a golden ring from her father when she was little. But, when she meets a friend who needs the ring more than she does she thinks about giving it to her.
She loves that ring but she also wants to be a good friend and give it to her dad to sell for money.
I recommend this book to ages twelve and up because, it's easy to understand . I'd also recommend this book to a girl because a girl might be more interested.

It is a sweet and sentimental story ~~ very simply written and sometimes, too happy to be true. It is about a special relationship between a man and his daughter, and what the true meaning of Christmas is. Anna, the daughter, learns a priceless lesson about giving and faith and her father learns a quiet lesson of seeing what he preaches is actually being followed through.

Joseph is an engineer for the local train company and he's away a lot. Father to six children and married to a wonderful wife, Joseph counts himself blessed. He doesn't celebrate Christmas in a light-hearted way as he didn't believe in the frills of Christmas. But this year, he sees how happy his family is with picking out the tree, going sledding and having a good old time ~~ it's all picture-perfect ~~ so he thaws out a little bit and helps make Christmas festive. Anna is his daughter, a very sensitive little girl whose prized possession is her ruby ring her parents bought her for her ninth birthday. Anna meets a young girl who is homeless and sad that Santa will forget her this year ~~ Anna learns what a true sacrifice is. Joseph learns just how wonderful his little girl is. Together they discover the meaning of Christmas.

It is a very sweet book but everything's too perfect and everyone's too happy. It is almost like the movie "It's A Wonderful Life." But it does bring a reminder to the reader that Christmas is more than pretty decorations and happy family times ~~ it is sentimental in that way. It's a good read for the upcoming holiday season ~~ so kick back and sip some hot cocoa and enjoy this little novel.

11-3-06

This is an excellent story that preserves the traditions and memories of Christmas and a father's love for his children.

In the hectic shopping extravagansa of the holidays, take time to read this wonderful story of true giving to your whole family. A true story, told to the author by and about his grandmother, tells of a day long, but not-so-long ago, when times were very hard for some. Young Anna Beal is moved by a dream and human compassion to give away her most precious posession. Her father also wrestles with dreams he has and how to celebrate Christmas without losing the heart of it. True and sacrifical giving is always the best gift of Christmas.

The Golden Ring A Christmas story was just fabulous. I found it so touching and uplifting. As I read I could empathize with the joy and happiness of the Beal family members and cried when they did. It's the simple, unselfish actions of an innocent child and her fathers strong spiritual beliefs that brings us back to reality and the true sense of love, giving, and happiness especially in this day of terrorism and fear. I was so impressed with this book I have passed it on to my 13 yr. son who is now enjoying it along with the good feeling that comes with it. I hope to send it to others this Christmas to share this special Christmas spirit I now have. Thank you for sharing such a beautiful story with the rest of us.