One Imperfect Christmas

By: Myra Johnson

Narrated by: Amy Rubinate

Length: 7 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

Graphic designer Natalie Pearce faces the most difficult Christmas of her life. For almost a year, her mother has lain in a nursing home, the victim of a massive stroke, and Natalie blames herself for not being there when it happened. Worse, she’s allowed the monstrous load of guilt to drive a wedge between her and everyone she loves - most of all her husband, Daniel. Her marriage is on the verge of dissolving, her prayer life is suffering, and she’s one Christmas away from hitting rock bottom.

Junior-high basketball coach Daniel Pearce is at his wit’s end. Nothing he’s done has been able to break through the wall Natalie has erected between them. And their daughter Lissa’s adolescent rebellion isn’t helping matters. As Daniel’s hope reaches its lowest ebb, he wonders if this Christmas will spell the end of his marriage and the loss of everything he holds dear.

©2009 Myra Johnson (P)2015 Audible, Inc.

Good story, but ..

I enjoyed this story, but I almost quit it early on.
The narrator is the reason. Half the time I thought it was a computer reading it. The rest of the time the whiny tone combined with the nasal quality of her voice was hard to listen to. I decided to concentrate on the story and did my best to ignore the voice delivering it.
I'm glad I listened to the story all the way through, but I probably won't listen to it again.

Must Read. My Favorite Audible Book Thus Far

The true meaning of Christmas shines through disaster, heart break, love, emotions, family, forgiveness, life and even death. you will laugh, smile, feel, think, and even tear up. Highly recommend.

EEEK!!

I so very much enjoyed the storyline a bit too religious for my liking but I guess that my fault as this is in the genre of religious,,,oops.

I almost turned it off after the 3 chapter because the narrator was so SO HORRIBLE!!
It was the whining sound to her voice, it grated on me the entire book. I get enough from my kids I definitely don’t want it during my ‘me time’.
I would recommend the book NOT the audio book though to spare my friends from the disaster that is the narrator.

Great Narration

Overall this audio was great but the Narrator is truly what kept the story alive for me. The main character Natalie was really annoying in her immaturity and self pity but maybe thats more true to real life than the typical story. The moments, hardships and people’s reactions were more realistic than the typical novel but the whole time I’m thinking... would y’all just be open and honest?! Lol. Maybe thats the marks of a real life story.

God's Blessings

Loved this story, very moving, soul touching, heartfelt memories, Complete showing of God's grace, mercy and faith. Would recommend that anyone looking for an awesome book, this is it! God Bless, Happy Birthday Jesus and Merry Christmas to all! 🙏🙌💖💘

More depressing than I want in a Christmas story

I almost gave up on this book multiple times. The main female character just annoyed me so much for most of the story with her false sense of guilt and self pity. I felt really bad for her husband, trying to help and deal with everything as the family struggled with the health issues of her mom. Yes, being the sucker I am I did cry at the end, and it had a good redemptive message of forgiveness, but most of the story was so depressing and just not fun to listen to. Not the uplifting kind of story I want to listen to at Christmas. I'm glad it was an Audible plus catalog book and I didn't spend a credit on it.

Too many emotions

Be prepared for laughter, frustration, and tears. It's a rollercoaster of emotions and an honest view of personal and Spiritual relationships. Wait for it...the ending is worth it.

Well written

An excellent story of faith, but, being an emotional person, I cried throughout even as I couldn’t stop listening.

"It's Like hearing a Hallmark Hall of Fame story"

I read and reviewed this book on Amazon when it first came out in paperback. Then I read it again on my Kindle some years later. And now I have just listened to it as an Audible book.

Listening to the book creates a very different experience. While listening you can close your eyes and just let the story wash over you. There is no reading effort. The job of interpreting the emotional context of each scene is in the hands of the narrator. There is still the 'theater of the mind' creative experience but it is far different than it is when reading. I enjoyed this book most as an Audible book listening experience. But then I had read the book twice before.

I give the narrator very high marks for this Audible version because of her use of multiple voices. With an Audible book it is very important for the voices of the major characters to be different and to sound like the sex they are. Male voices have to sound like males and females, females. The narrator also needs to get the emotions correct. As such the narrator must perform the book, not just read the words. This book is excellently performed and I give the narrator my highest marks.

That said, I'm going to post some of my print review as it is quite detailed and the book is worthy of serious commentary.

Simply telling what "One Imperfect Christmas" is about does not do the novel justice. It would be like saying that "Tom Sawyer" is simply a story about 19th Century boys growing up in the Midwest. "One Imperfect Christmas" is a serious book and warrants a serious review.

In good novels the characters change in significant ways as the story unfolds. In serious works, like "One Imperfect Christmas", not only do the fictional characters change but the reader changes as well. This potential for growth in the reader's consciousness is what gives great literature its universality and its timelessness.

Serious literature has the potential to impart experiences, knowledge, and sometimes even wisdom. More importantly, literature can enlighten the reader in a way which might not be possible in any other fashion.

Here's what I mean:

Have you ever lamented: `If I only knew then what I know now'?

I think this lament is common to all mankind. The desire to learn from our mistakes, before we make them, is so prevalent that some have even said that `youth is wasted on the young'.

This is because young people usually lack the life experiences necessary to view life `now' as they will eventually view it in the future when they are older (and hopefully wiser).

Why mention all this in regard to "One Imperfect Christmas"? Because reading this book reminded me, in a most forceful way, that there is a way to bring the future into the present. This can be achieved via the vicarious experiences provided by serious literature.

"One Imperfect Christmas" is serious literature. The situations covered in the story span three generations. Therefore the reader `sees' and `feels' the story from three distinct perspectives.

When reading "One Imperfect Christmas" the reader will experience what it is like to be a middle aged mother overwhelmed by the guilt and anger she feels towards her incapacitated mother while at the same time having to deal with her wayward teenage daughter.

The reader will feel what it's like to be a husband who is trying to do everything within his power to save his marriage and help his beloved wife. And the reader will suffer his anguish when nothing he does works and when, time after time, he is rejected by the one he loves most.

The reader will also experience what it feels like to be the teenage daughter who has no idea of the depth of her parent's problems. The reader will watch helplessly as this loving daughter tries simple and naive solutions to the complex problems facing her family. The reader will feel the good daughter's sorrow when her `foolproof' plans come to naught.

Life often does not provide simple solutions to complex problems. The reader will also experience what it is like being a helpless parent in her sixties seeing how her problems are causing serious discord to the ones she loves most. Indeed, the reader will feel the angst of being powerless to do anything about problems that seem self-induced.

"One Imperfect Christmas" is a drama that calls for faith. It is a faith based story that is full of hope and challenge. The story features a beautiful fifty-year romance and what might yet, with God's help, become a second fifty-year romance. While the story has `Christmas' in the title, the action spans the period between two Christmases a year apart. It is a timeless story that can be read at any time of the year.

The story shows that sometimes the stresses of life can be too much. Given enough stress, a personal crisis may cause even a well disciplined life to spin out of control. Since this loss of control can be hidden from everyone else, at least for a little while, the victim is likely to suffer without any support. Others may even think the suffering victim is causing his or her own problems.

"One Imperfect Christmas" is not always easy reading but it is always worthwhile reading that is both rewarding and heartwarming. It's not easy because it is so true to life. It's not easy to watch and experience the obviously self-destructive behavior of the mother who is trying her best to get professional help but who is too fragile to find traction. It's not easy reading but it is always enjoyable reading. I loved every minute reading "One Imperfect Christmas" from the first page until the last.

"One Imperfect Christmas" is serious literature. After reading the book I felt wonderful. I felt I had seen God's hands in action. I also felt like I had done something good for myself: that I had learned things that will make me a more understanding and sympathetic person in the future. Reading "One Imperfect Christmas" was like watching a memorable Hallmark Hall of Fame movie. I believe most readers of "One Imperfect Christmas" will feel the same way.

I not only give "One Imperfect Christmas" my highest Recommendation - I consider it the Required Reading for One's Christian Heart.

"One Imperfect Christmas" Will Make A Keepsake Christmas Gift!

storyline moves a little slow

story moves a little slow found myself wanting it to move along faster. characters are well developed