Customer Reviews

The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree: The History and Lore of the World's Most Famous Evergreen

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

 

 

I love this little book! I originally bought a copy for my friend who watches the lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree on TV every year without fail, but I just had to buy one for myself, too, because this book is a must-have!

The pictures are gorgeous, from black and white images of the earliest Rockefeller Christmas Tree to full color photos of recent, dazzling Christmas displays, every single page is absolutely stunning. The book chronicles every tree that has ever graced Rockefeller Center at Christmastime (it was so interesting to read the story of the tree that towered over the plaza the year that I was born, and I especially loved reading about the Rockefeller Tree traditions during wartime). The book is thorough but captivating, historical but timely.

This little book is perfect for those who travel to NYC every year to watch the tree lit or even for those who have never heard of the Rockefeller Christmas Tree -- From the first page, you feel like you're a part of the Rockefeller Christmas Tree tradition!

This is the PERFECT stocking stuffer - it's a wonderful, heart-warming holiday gift filled with history, heart, and holiday spirit!

A look back on memories from when I was young. I liked the history of it all. A must read if you love the season!!!!!

I received this book as a Christmas Gift and it brought back memories of when I was a child and my family visited Rockefeller Christmas Tree in New York City. This book is the complete history of the world's most famous evergreen from how each years tree is selected to the years of enjoyment the tree has brought to travelers form far and wide. The book jacket sparkles and shimmers as you are looking at the tree. I am going to buy copies of this book to many family members and friends so they can experience the same joy that I experienced.

I love this book! It's a fun, easy read and a great gift for the holidays. The historical information is thorough and accurate - it's clear that this book was well-researched! I loved reading the stories about these celebrated trees, some of which were quite amazing! (My personal favorites are the stories about the daring few who tried to climb them!)

Visually stunning photos, wonderful stories, great quality - I'm buying this book for everyone I know in time for Christmas! I recommend this book to all!!

I'm glad I bought this book only after the holiday during a 50% off sale. There are some interesting stories scattered about, but it seems like a rushed production where too much was spent on a glittery dust jacket and too little on making sure the story was well told.

This book, while well researched and documented, seems too much like a first draft in need of an editor. The text is extremely repetitive: the same anecdotes are told and re-told in different sections, and the author stumbles to come up with something new to say and reuses phrases (describing tree after tree as "beautiful," mentioning yet again the same reason families cite for giving their tree). The repetition comes in part from the choice to start each section with a longer piece, and then to repeat much of that information in the chronologically-told tales of each tree. It seems like no one could figure out how to organize the book and decided to use multiple approaches.

A few times the author squanders her scholarship by implying how those seeing the tree felt when no documentation is available. She leaves out quotations from key players and families when they would have greatly aided what becomes an increasingly bland story.

There are some nice photos, but too few overall and too few in color so you need to imagine how the trees differed over time instead of being shown. As each tree's tale is similar, more photos and less text would have made for a better book.