A Christian's Carol: A Modern Retelling of Dickens' Classic Tale

By: Wayne Thomas Batson

Narrated by: Dave Cruse

Length: 4 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

Ebenezer Krow is a relentless man who charges through life, holding himself and everyone else to the letter of the law. Krow’s nephew, his employees, his business associates - even mankind in general - all feel the castigating burn of Krow’s glare. One night, on Christmas Eve, Krow is visited by his long-dead business partner, Marley Chastain. The ghost warns Krow that three spirits, one of them a devil, will assail him throughout the night. But will the harrowing experience be enough to tear the scab from his sin-scarred soul? Or will the lessons of Christmas and Krow himself be lost forever?

In this faithful but modern retelling of Dickens’ classic tale, Batson offers listeners a thought-provoking “ghost of an idea” to haunt our homes and churches pleasantly for many years to come.

©2018 Wayne Thomas Batson (P)2018 Wayne Thomas Batson

Great adaptation

Batson did a good job of bringing the story into the present by including information about social media and technology. Also he touched on many of the prominent sins of today’s society and how we need to love the sinners while hating the sins.
The reading of the story was very well done with the reader giving many intonations where needed. I would recommend this adaptation of the classic Christmas story.

A fun and meaningful update to the Dickens story!!

While Dickens' story is timeless, I thoroughly enjoyed this update! It sticks to the model but lovingly incorporates some of today's obstacles to love - unselfish Agape love - and the pain we bear when we refuse our Lord's relentless invitations. I happily give it 5 stars! The joy of REDEMPTION is timeless!!!

Fantastic Spin on a Classic Story

A Christian's Carol is an insightful, engaging, and important read. This book challenges Christians about what loving others and being Christ to others really means. Batson is daring in how he presents much of our legalistic tendencies, but he doesn't leave us without the solution of living a Christ-like life.
I highly recommend this title to add to every Christmas reading list!

A reminder that Christians aren't perfect

Ebenezer Crow in A Christian's Carol is painted out to be the most miserable, despicable, judgmental and hateful Christian that you can imagine. That said, I can easily think of people that I know behaving the same way.
But being a Christian isn't always easy. Christians easily appear hypocritical or actually are hypocritical. That's because they are trying to better themselves and since it's so obvious to them about the sin in their lives, they can easily see (and point out) what the Bible calls sin in other people's lives.
But that's not what Christians are supposed to do. They're supposed to love other people no matter what. That's where Ebenezer Crow fails immensely.
Crow is stingy like Ebenezer Scrooge, but he's also blunt and openly judgmental of other people in the book.
In today's world there is rampant sin around, according to what the Bible call sin. These issues are open and blatant in A Christian's Carol and Ebenezer Crow deals with them. It was hard to swallow when I first turned the audiobook on. My family and I were listening when we stumbled upon the first major sin that Crow is judgmental about. I quickly turned the book off. However I still listened to it on my own time.
I think there are many that will not want to deal with the issues that Ebenezer Crow deals with. However the author, Wayne Thomas Batson, paints a good picture of what can happen in today's Christian lifestyle.
In true Christmas Carol form, Ebenezer is shown the faults in his ways and turns out to become one of the most loving people you can imagine.
A Christians Carol is a reminder that Christians aren't perfect. No man is, except our savior. However we are called to be like Him and, in that, there's much still to learn!
P.s. The audiobook performance is fantastic! The narrator is excellent at his many voices and tells the story well.

a much needed update to a timeless classic

The classic A Christmas Carol is a wonderful message about Goodwill and being a better person but it does lack one thing, Christ.

In A Christian's Carol WTB corrects this oversight. He brings it he story forward to our modern day and adds to the miserly Ebeneezer Crow a heavy does of legalism. Appropriate since Crow is a lawyer.

I heartily enjoyed this retelling. It has a huge twist at the end the distinguishes it from it's predecessor and it has a more spiritual message than just, "be nice and give to charity."

I feel like anything else I might say would ruin the experience so I'll just add, if you are a fan of the original Dickens classic then I'm sure you will find this update not only as good as the original but better.

This audiobook edition narrated by Dave Cruse is amazing by the way. Cruse reads with an English accent that adds the perfect amount of nostalgia to this Dickens follow up. He also uses unique voices for each character, making this sound just like a multi cast production.

if you are looking to change up your Christmas this year, I recommend listening to, or reading, A Christian's Carol. It's the perfect blend of Christmases past, present, and many more to come.

*I received a free code for a copy of this book. The above review is my own honest evaluation of the provided work.*

A beautiful retelling of Dickens classic tale.

It is a beautiful story that has you crying laughing and pausing to think about what Crow is learning. It has values and lessons that have you evaluating your own actions around Christmas time and throughout the year. It is a book I would listen to year round and I would recommend it to anyone Christian, or not.

A Classic Retelling in its Own Right

A Christmas Carol is one of my favorite books and movie stories with the George C. Scott TV movie version being my favorite screen adaptation, and Scrooged being my favorite contemporary movie retelling.
WTB does justice to Dickens and the best movies with this plot.
I got a bit nervous with Batson’s version of Fred as I assume many Christians, especially conservative ones will. Be patient! His arc exemplifies the book’s truth and grace theme. This audiobook is excellent in both narration and story itself.
I took off one star on the narration because of the British accent for a New England setting. While the narrator is superb and gives the story a classic feel, it pulled me a bit out of the setting where I had to remind myself the characters are in the U.S.

A Classic Retold Well

Mr. Batson is a talented writer with a lot of heart, and a knack for telling a good ghost story (see his excellent novel Ghost as a further example).
I was somewhat skeptical of this book, as A Christmas Carol is a near-perfect story. But Mr. Batson does an admirable job of reworking this tale into something of a reminder for our time, and tackles some sensitive Christian issues in the process.
The narrator for the audio book does a great job, and makes me want to listen to more of his performances.

LOVE THIS BOOK!

I love this book!! You can tell how much the author loves Charles Dickinson. the way he writes this book makes me relive my childhood and reading Charles Dickinson A Christmas Carol or watching the movies based off the book by Charles Dickinson. but the twist to this is a Christian Carol. And it really makes you think. this book will Enlighten you and challenge you at the same time! If I had my way every home would have this book to enjoy year after year. the way that the author writes the characters, they just jump off the page and right into the room you are reading in. If I could give more stars I would! Download this book today and enjoy!

Joy, Sadness, Outrage, Gratitude, Hope

This retelling of a classic has revived my love for the Christmas holiday. It loses none of the Dickensian style, feel, and prose, while simultaneously infusing contemporary, society, setting, and stereotypes. I have rarely, if ever felt such a range of emotion while taking in a story. I was led through anticipation, outrage, shame, joy, and hope as the author weaves in a new light, the masterful transformation and reanimation of old Ebenezer. The reading of this book will be no less a tradition in my family, than the reading of Dickens' original! Readers or listeners prepare to have your perspective shifted and your horizons broadened.