Christmas Bells: A Novel

I just finished reading Christmas Bells by Jennifer Chiaverini. The books takes place in modern day Boston as well as in 1860. Sophia is music teacher at Peleg Wadsworth Elementary School and due to budget cuts, she will be out of a job at the end of the school year (why do they always cut the arts programs). Sophia is also the director of the children’s choir at St. Margaret’s Catholic Church. She is on her way to the rehearsal for their Christmas program. They are going to perform Christmas Bells in honor of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The book gives us the history of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and how he came to write Christmas Bells. It starts in December 1860 when Longfellow was happy with his family and then tragedy strikes. We get to see how he survived the hardships and came to write Christmas Bells.

In modern day Boston we get to see the same day through the eyes of different people all connected to St. Margaret’s Catholic Church. Father Ryan, Sophia, Lucas (pianist for children’s choir), Paul and Camille Barrett (got to church and benefactors), Sister Winifred, and the Moran family (Alex, Charlotte, Laurie, and Jason). At the end of the novel, it moves forward through Christmas and the children’s concert at St. Margaret’s.

Christmas Bells is a lovely novel. I enjoyed the modern day scenes better than the historical ones. The novel is well-written and very interesting. I likes how the author connected people from the past to the present. I give Christmas Bells 4 out of 5 stars.

I received a copy of Christmas Bells from First to Read (www.firsttoread.com) in exchange for points that I earned.

“I heard the bells on Christmas Day/ Their old familiar carols play/ And wild and sweet/ The words repeat/Of peace on earth, good-will to men!” This is the famous chorus of the poem/song written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The story begins in the pre-Civil War year of 1860 when we are introduced to the Longfellow family, an almost ideal family who deeply cared for each other and thoroughly enjoyed their Boston, Massachusetts environment. Harsh, then, is the extinguishing of the joyful flame when Henry’s wife, Fannie, dies in an accidental fire. Longfellow is extremely overcome at the loss of his beloved wife and the thrill of Revolutionary times is also being squelched by the decisions made by Southern states to secede from the Union. The issue of slavery and its economic realities has become the divisive factor calling for the split of a barely one hundred year old united nation. Longfellow’s family will be called to also sacrifice much during the duration of the war, perfectly summarized in Longfellow’s entire poem, “Christmas Bells.”
Travel in time another hundred years and we are watching how a devoted and talented music teacher, Sophia, is devastated with the news that her job has been eliminated because of financial budget cuts. She’s also the conductor and director of a local church choir that is preparing to perform Longfellow’s poem as part of the annual Christmas celebration. Her accompanist, Lucas, loves her but is afraid to honestly broach the subject with her.
At the same time another family suffers because they have not heard from their husband and father who is serving in the National Guard in Afghanistan. He used to call regularly but all of a sudden those calls stop. Some other conflicts arise from here, later to be challenged by a Catholic nun with remarkable intuitive powers – or are they divine?
There is so much more than can be described herein that makes this story real with all of the pain and grace-filled happiness that normal life challenges bring, even in the beloved season known as Christmas! Jennifer Chiaverini crafts stories that convey an easy style intertwined with real, harsh challenges that don’t crush the reader with the elicited tension riddling so many scenes. This reader is always delighted to read another Chiaverini novel and highly recommends this excellent work of historical fiction!!!! Perfect for any season!!!

Cambridge, just across the Charles River from Boston, is the setting for this story that connects two different eras in American history.

The first is current day, and it is Advent. Jason, a National Guard member deployed to Afghanistan, is still missing in action. His wife, Laurie, keeps telling their children that glitches in the Internet are the reason why they haven't heard from him recently. The kids sing in a choir at St. Margaret's Catholic Church, the setting for this contemporary storyline. Choir director Sophia has just learned that her teaching job will be eliminated at the end of the school year due to budget problems. She's trying to remain upbeat, but it's a real effort. The choir is practicing a much-loved old hymn, "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day," which had its beginning right there in Cambridge. The most famous American poet of the 19th century, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, wrote the poem "Christmas Bells," on which the hymn was based.

Longfellow was a longtime resident of Cambridge and a highly esteemed member of the community. His connection to the hymn is what connects the other time period, the Civil War, to the book. Longfellow wrote the poem on Christmas Day 1863 while he was still grieving the loss of his dear wife, Fanny. She had died tragically in a fire, and he was severely burned attempting to save her. His heart also ached for their five, now-motherless children. And their oldest son, Charley, recently had been wounded in battle. Longfellow had long opposed him entering the service, but eventually impulsive Charley ran away from home and joined up. The Civil War was still raging on when Longfellow took up his pen to write the poem.

Back at the church, in the 21st century, during the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, several other folks are not in a holiday mood, either. The accompanist to the children's choir is secretly in love with the choir director. The priest is having ongoing personal conflicts with his brother. A wealthy senator's widow is finding the holiday hard to deal with. Sister Winifred seems to have a handle on all that is going on; she makes discreet suggestions and tries to offer hope and cheer wherever she encounters sadness and worry.

Countless books have been written with a Christmas theme, but Jennifer Chiaverini’s CHRISTMAS BELLS takes a totally different approach. The message of Christmas appears in the last stanzas of the poem:

"And in despair I bowed my head;
'There is no peace on earth,' I said.
'For hate is strong.
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!'

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
'God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men.'”

Reviewed by Carole Turner

3.75 Stars
An inspirational holiday novel with two storylines; one set in the 1860s, and the other in contemporary times. The Civil War era timeline revolves around Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and his family after a tragedy and during the war. There's definitely some historical research that went into this part of the book. The contemporary story arc focuses on a church choir and intertwining perspectives from multiple POVs. Although there is little to connect the two storylines, other than the poem, it's a lovely story and a quick and easy read. I thoroughly enjoyed Sister Winifred's character. Recommended to Chiaverini fans and inspirational fiction readers.

Penguin First to Read Galley

The holiday season is in full swing, and for many it’s a time of joy, celebration and memory-making. For others, it’s a time of stress, heartache and painful reminders of what is missing or what could have been. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow knew this keenly as he struggled with the death of his wife, faced the uncertainty and troubles of the Civil War and worked to maintain his career and family. In 1863 he penned the now-beloved poem “Christmas Bells”, which ultimately would be set to music and sung around the world:

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

The poem goes on to recount images and sentiments of Longfellow’s life as he felt despair, fear, but ultimately faith in light of all the calamity taking place around him and throughout the divided Union in the 1860’s. The novel Christmas Bells recounts a handful of these years as historical fiction, taking facts from Longfellow’s life and shaping them into an extended narrative. We see Henry as a doting husband, tragically made a widower by the loss of his beloved Fanny. He also plays the emotionally fragile father, desperate to keep his son from joining the army to fight alongside his peers. As a professional writer, he exhibits the struggles many have in putting pen to paper, eking out quality work in an effort to not only express himself, but also provide for his family.

Christmas Bells also presents a later time period, our present day as seen in alternating chapters. Here we meet a wide cast of characters living in Longfellow’s hometown, all connected at least in part to St. Margaret’s, a historic Catholic church in Massachusetts. We meet a music teacher, her accompanist, a faithful nun, a priest, a wife of a soldier in Afghanistan and others. Their stories all intersect differently, affecting each other in minor and major ways. In a metaphorical way, their lines form the verses as paired with the refrain of Longfellow’s story in the opposite chapters.

I thoroughly enjoyed Christmas Bells. It has the feel of a classic tale with the 19th century setting, but the modern aspect of it is also warm and inviting. I found Henry’s story to be a melancholy one, seemingly beset with constant anxiety over his family’s situation. That said, it was not mood-lowering at all. Henry’s struggle to keep his son safe from the war, and then later to overcome battle-related problems was compelling for this mother to read. Although I enjoy most things related to that era, my interest in the Civil War has never extended much beyond Gone with the Wind, and even my love for that has waned over the years. While raised in the American South, I don’t side with many of the agendas that were advanced on this side of the Mason-Dixon line. The racism and ignorance that remain generations later is repellent to me, so I do not prefer to read novels that are sympathetic to the Rebel cause or any descendant of it. Thankfully, Christmas Bells is told from the Union side of the story, with allegiances for the North being more prominent. War propaganda is not the main power behind these chapters, however. The focus is on the Longfellow family, and in particular Henry Longfellow.

The metaphorical verses contained within the modern chapters took me by surprise. When beginning Christmas Bells, I thought my preference would be to remain solely within Henry’s time, as that is what drew my interest to the book initially. However, Jennifer Chiaverini constructs such an interesting piece with the many voices of her modern narrative. I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with her characters, both old and young. Their individual stories were compelling, and their corporate interactions were much the same. I was keenly impressed with how she managed to bring their voices in and out, much like a musical concert. My only complaint is that I desired more time with each one. As their individual stories concluded, I found myself wanting more. This was particularly felt in the tale of the musical director and her pianist. When their chapters ended, I was keenly disappointed that we didn’t have more details in their conclusion.

For those who adore the Christmas season and for those who anticipate it with at least a small sense of anxiety, Christmas Bells is an excellent choice for the holiday and weeks surrounding it. Moreover, it can certainly transcend the Christmas season. This is a tale of family, faith, and history. It is not so much an Advent story, but one of love in times of trial and uncertainty. I now have a greater appreciation for Longfellow’s classic poem, and will keep the verses presented in this novel in mind as I sing his lyric for years to come. In a modern world of calamity and uncertainty, we can all have the hope and confidence that God is not dead. He does not sleep. Right will prevail over wrong in the end, “with peace on earth, good-will to men.”

This book appeared on the best seller list and as it was a Christmas book I decided to check it out at my library. Not having a clue what to expect, even after reading the fly leaf, I started it and was left in some bewilderment until I realized that there were two stories running concurrently. One story was based in current times and the other story begins in 1860's Boston.

While the reader might think that each of the stories are not connected, they would be wrong. The modern day story is based around a children's choir, their Christmas Eve concert, and the many characters involved directly and indirectly with said concert. I thought as I was reading the modern segments that it was disjointed and made no sense. Wrong. The characters and their stories start to tie into each other and come together on Christmas Eve in a very heart rending ending.

The 1860 segment of the book is based on Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and his close nit and loving family just before the Civil was about to break out. Jennifer Chiaverini did herself proud in the amount of research that went into writing this book. I really knew little about Longfellow except for a few of the poems that I was familiar with and didn't realize that he had even lived through the Civil War era. There is much heartache here in telling of his life but by shear will power of the man, he manages to pull his family closer together and in doing so, salvage his own being..

The coming together of the two stories lies in the creation of the poem Christmas Bells that Longfellow penned during the strife of the Civil War through the most difficult of times for him. Bringing that poem forward to today in a song is the basis for the modern story in the book, therefore tying the two eras together. Everything meshes in an exquisite ending of Christmas faith and love. Quite good. This is not a smarmy sweet little Christmas story but has substance and factual history.

Sophia, an elementary school music teacher and director of the children’s choir at St Margaret’s Catholic Church, isn’t feeling much like Christmas. She’s just gotten the word that her teaching position will be eliminated at the end of the school year. Lucas, accompanist for the choir, is in love with Sophia, but afraid to tell her and be rejected.

Alex, a boy who sings in the children’s choir, isn’t feeling much like Christmas, either. His father, a member of the National Guard, has been deployed to Afghanistan. Alex hasn’t heard from his father in a while, and he misses him. It won’t feel like Christmas without his father.

Each story is told in a chapter from the point of view of the affected person. All fit together because of their interactions in St. Margaret’s. When the novel opens, the choir is rehearsing “Christmas Bells” a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, whose house is located not far from the church.

Longfellow was also experiencing tragedy when he wrote the beautiful poem. His story and that of his family are told in interleaving fashion with the modern stories. The novel illustrates the wonder of Christmas where hearing the bells and feeling the spirit of the holiday can ease suffering.

This is a lovely book. The Christmas theme shows the beauty of the holiday where suffering people can begin to see the light of hope. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and recommend it as a treat for the holiday.

I received this book from Dutton for this review.

This is the second novel by Jennifer Chaverini I have read and reviewed and it is a wonderful Christmas novel. She combines the tale of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s inspiration for his famed poem “Christmas Bells” with a modern day story. The children’s choir at St. Margaret’s Catholic Church is preparing for their Christmas concert, the highlight of which, is the singing of ‘I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day’ which is based on Longfellow’s poem. The choir director is losing her job, the priest and his brother are estranged and a family is missing their father who is deployed in Afghanistan and this is just a few of the dilemmas that face the congregation of the church. Ms. Chaverini’s story blends the historical fiction in with the modern day to make a delightful tale that keeps you charmed until the last page.

The author employs a very interesting writing style in this book. While the historical portion follows along chronologically, the modern day segment is principally about each of the characters and their lives as they are attending choir practice. It explains each one’s background story. Once you are familiar with how they came to be there, the book moves forward and they all interact to create a marvelous ending. Juxtapose of style keeps the reader captivated and turning pages to the end.

This is an appealing novel that can be read by both young and old. Although there is tragedy in both portions, each eventually on a happy note. Although I didn’t find the story deep or intense, it is the perfect book to curl up with on a cold winter’s night.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

There are two stories in this book. One set in present time and the other in 1863. They are tied together by Longfellow poem Christmas Bells. The book alternates chapters going back and forth between the two stories.

The main story tells the reader about Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and his family before and through the civil war. As always Jennifer Chiaverini has researched his life and bought us a wonderful story and presented a slice of history in a very enjoyable way. His love for his family and the heartbreak he suffers leaps off the pages. His wonderful poems are given new life. That new life shines in the second story.

The present day story introduces us to Sophia, a schoolteacher whose music program is being slashed by budget cuts. Something that is happening all across the United States. Sophia is also the music director at her church. She is featuring the carol “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” based on Longfellow poem for the church’s Christmas service. This story takes place in a short period of time and each chapter is told from a different person’s point of view. This story was entertaining as well. Because parts of the story overlapped there was quite a bit a repetition. I found myself skimming those parts and wish the author had found another way to present this story. The characters were very engaging and I would have liked a broader story about them.

Christmas Bells – Jennifer Chiaverini

This book was very difficult for me to get through. The author uses many characters and storylines within the book, which makes it hard to follow.

The two main storylines take place in modern day Boston and 1860’s Civil War time, with emphasis on William Wadsworth Longfellow, his family events of the time, and his writing of the poem, “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day”.

Modern time storyline covers a Senator and his wife, a military family of 4, a school teacher (choir director) and accompanist for the choir, a Priest and his family, and a Nun at the Catholic church. I found it hard to keep following all the jumping back and forth between storylines that become interwoven through a children’s choir at the church and the fact that one of the songs they sing is “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day”.

The storyline with Longfellow covered many things about the Civil War, which I really didn’t enjoy as I don’t really like to read historical novels.

I’ve read several of the author’s books and have enjoyed them, but didn’t really care for this one, other than it was a book with happy endings for the holiday.

I was so excited to be able to review “Christmas Bells” by Jennifer Chiaverini. I have always been impressed with Ms. Chiaverini’s writing because of wonderful plots, developed characters and descriptive prose. However, this book left me wanting more of that. The plot seemed disjointed because of the switch back and forth between time periods. The characters were good, but I was not sure of their connection. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” was the basis for the story woven about the lyrics and song. I got that, but I never was comfortable with the connections between now and then. Perhaps I missed something. I did enjoy reading each section almost as a stand-alone story. In that respect, I enjoyed the book. However, it seemed more of an anthology to me. I will continue to read all that Ms. Chiaverini writes and hope that this book was just a mistake.

I received a print copy of this book from NightOwlReviews.com in return for my honest review. You can find this review on my blog at http://wp.me/p2pjIt-ir. Other reviews can be found at http://imhookedonbooks.wordpress.com.

Sophia and Lucas are both volunteers at St. Margaret's Catholic Church. Lucas is playing the piano and Sophia is the choirmaster. Together they're teaching the children of their choir Christmas songs. One of them is a beautiful poem written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Alex and Charlotte are both in the choir. Their mother is worried about her husband who's stationed in Afghanistan. Camille is the widow of a politician. They loved visiting the church together and have frequently made donations. Camille loves to watch the choir. After losing her husband she finds comfort in going to St Margaret's to watch the choir. Father Ryan loves his work, but he's had problems with his brother ever since he decided to dedicate his life to the church. Sister Winifred is the one who gives them all loving advice and who knows everything about the people in her church. In the time before Christmas people are having their problems, but the choir and the church are there to bring them comfort.

It's 1860 and Henry, a famous poet, has a happy family. He's living together with his wife and children in a beautiful home and they have everything they could ever wish for. Unfortunately then tragedy strikes. It's also a somber and dangerous time for the country as it's the start of the Civil War. Henry continually worries about his family. Especially when one of his sons wants to become a soldier. Henry is afraid he will lose another person he loves dearly and he doesn't think he can handle it.

Christmas Bells is a beautiful story about Christmas in a time of war. War is a constant stress factor in Henry's life. So many terrible things are happening and when a loved one is at the front it isn't easy to keep going for those who are being left behind. Especially when not all the news they're going to get will be good news. Christmas Bells is about those who don't feel so lucky and happy in the festive season. It's also a hopeful story. Christmas can bring a lot of good when people need it the most. I liked the important message never to lose hope very much.

What I enjoyed most about Christmas Bells is the fantastic writing. The story is absolutely amazing. I don't think it's a standard festive Christmas story, but not every story has to be like that. I'm glad that I had the chance to read this book as it deeply touched me. If you're looking for a really good Christmas book you should definitely read Christmas Bells. Don't expect it to be all about fun and lightness, but be prepared to be blown away.

This tale is two stories entwined. A modern day Boston music teacher loses her school teaching job due to budget cuts at the same time she is preparing her church children's choir for the Christmas services. She is and has been unlucky in love, but the young man who is the choir piano accompanist has a secret crush on her. He just cannot get out the words. The plot alternately switches to the 1860's, to the lives of the family of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, who experiences major tragedy with the death of his wife by fire and the determination of his eldest son to enlist in the military during the Civil War years. Longfellow experiences a dry spell in his writing due to his emotional state. The poem, "Christmas Bells," is the result. We know this poem as the hymn or Christmas Carol, "I heard the bells on Christmas day." This is the song being taught by the Boston choir mistress to her charges. A most wonderful medley of the two stories. My thanks to the author and the Penguin First to Read program for a complimentary copy of this work.

I found out about this book through the library. I love to read Christmas books at Christmas, so I went to the library to find some. The Librarian found a few and this was one of them. At first, from the description, I didn't think I would like it too much. I don't know, seemed cheesy to me, I guess? As soon as I started reading it though, I was very into it. Was one of those books that is hard to put down. I loved the way she went back and forth from modern times to the past. Learning about Longfellow and his family was so interesting. There were even things about the Civil war I learned. I liked the modern story too with the different characters. Love how she told each character's individual story. Was so easy to get attached to them all. I found this book so well written. To me, it was very touching and informative. A perfect combination. I highly recommend this book to read well, anytime, but especially around Christmas.

In present day Boston, St. Margaret’s Church hosts a children’s Christmas Eve concert each year. The music teacher, Sophia, has chosen the Longfellow poem turned Christmas hymn, “Christmas Bells”, as the song for this particular service. Throughout the novel, the story jumps back in time to Boston during the Civil War era, and the events that surrounded Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s composition of the renowned poem, through family tragedies and constant fear for his eldest son fighting for the Union.

Christmas, more than any other time of year, gave her abundant opportunity to enjoy their gifts, for she truly believed that the most profoundly glorious music ever composed had been created to celebrate that holy season.

Within each present day chapter, a different character’s story is told revolving around Christmas Eve at St. Margaret’s, including promising young love, family struggles, and hope for the future through the kindness of others.

In Christmas Bells, Jennifer Chiaverini brought the Longfellow’s heartache and rejoicings to life through this narrative, while introducing Longfellow to a new generation in a way that would allow them to understand the deeper meaning behind the poem. Chiaverini created paralleling stories that united humanness, no matter the time period, and a new appreciation forged for Henry Wadsworth Longfellow through his masterpiece, “Christmas Bells.”

This book was different than any other I have read so far. The author based her book on the poem Christmas Bells by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The story revolves around the lives of Chorus members in present day and Henry Longfellow's life in the 1800s. It was such an interesting shift and somehow the poem Christmas Bells ties it all together.

There were times when I thought I was reading a history book, especially when the story shifted to the 1800s. But it was entertaining and I learned more about the heartache that the Civil War caused. It is so well written, that one can overlook the descriptiveness to the text.

I really enjoyed the story line that was based on present day. It follows the lives of a brother and sister (who sing in the choir), the music teacher, piano player, Priest, Politician's wife, Nun, and soldiers wife. It was interesting to see inside each of their lives and POVs. Their stories revolve around each other and in some instances there were repeat conversations, in different POVs.

This was heartwarming story, filled with love, perseverance, and hope.

This was my first holiday title of 2015 and perhaps the only fiction title I will read this year. That makes me happy to say that I’m extremely pleased with Chiaverini’s execution of this work. Christmas Bells was a beautiful split-timeline historical fiction which bounced among a host of characters from the modern day and a period of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s life (1860-1864). As you may have gathered, the story was inspired by and bears the name of Longefellow’s poem “Christmas Bells.” As a veteran Chiaverini reader, I have come to expect her deft handling of Civil War events and people. This skill transferred seamlessly to modern characters, as I took new delight in the cleverly interwoven story lines of this novel. The military family whose father is deployed for the holidays touched remarkably close to home (I’ll admit brought tears to my eyes on a few occasions). Moving, reverent, and hope-filled, let Christmas Bells grace your holiday reading pile this year.

This was my first holiday title of 2015 and perhaps the only fiction title I will read this year. That makes me happy to say that I’m extremely pleased with Chiaverini’s execution of this work. Christmas Bells was a beautiful split-timeline historical fiction which bounced among a host of characters from the modern day and a period of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s life (1860-1864). As you may have gathered, the story was inspired by and bears the name of Longefellow’s poem “Christmas Bells.” As a veteran Chiaverini reader, I have come to expect her deft handling of Civil War events and people. This skill transferred seamlessly to modern characters, as I took new delight in the cleverly interwoven story lines of this novel. The military family whose father is deployed for the holidays touched remarkably close to home (I’ll admit brought tears to my eyes on a few occasions). Moving, reverent, and hope-filled, let Christmas Bells grace your holiday reading pile this year.

Chiaverini can write well. I give her that. Her descriptions are good and vibrant and clear and picturesque but she missed the mark with Christmas Bells. I will admit that I got this book from the library. The cover and inside flaps looked so inviting and I thought the theme sounded interesting; the take off on Longfellows' poem, Christmas Bells. Longfellow's poem was later changed by someone else and is now a famous Christmas carol. I Heard The Bells. Chiaverini attempts to tell two stories in this book and connect the two I guess but in my opinion she does not succeed. The story is dry and bland. Had she stuck with the Longfellow story and expanded it more thoroughly I think that she could have created a stunning novel. As it is written, I just didn't care about anyone which is rare for me. I was left with the feeling, "who cares".

Christmas bells by Chiaverini, Jennifer
Have read many of the author's other quilting works. This one starts out with Sophia music program and there is no money and it's suffering from budget cuts and her underprivileged students.
She leads the choir into the practices by a 1863 poem from Longfellow.
Story goes back in time with alternating chapters from 1860 to the present as we learn the details of the time when the poem was written.
The past of Sophia comes to light also so we can understand why she didn't end up in Chicago...
Book is like having two different stories told and how they entwine with one another.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

I am a huge fan of Jennifer Chiaverini books however I was a little disappointed in this "two-story line book". The writing was a little choppy concentrating on Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, his family, and his son Charlie who served in the Civil War; but she didn't expand on his
other children and their lives. The modern story seemed a little incomplete too that left me as a reader wondering what happened to Camille was she elected to office and did Sofia get her full time teaching job back? That's why I gave this a three star rating

Two completely different stories that I found not to be connected. Just get interested in pre-civil war and it cuts back to the other story. Could not stay with this book. I love to read, have enjoyed Mrs Lincoln's Dressmaker and Rival, the Spymistress and Mrs Grant and Madame Jule, which normally do not hold my interest but because I loved Chiaverini's other books, I gave those a try. But, this one only held my interest on a few pages of the end of each story change. Where was the ending? Very disappointed; left me hanging. Would not recommend.

This was an interesting book, it was written one chapter was set in 1860 and the story of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, his life, son joining in the civil war and his writing and the next chapter was written in the present time about a teacher who was losing her job and her teaching a children's choir. One of her students had written a poem that was like Longfellows. The book continued this way back and forth between the two.

I enjoyed the insights this book offered about love, families, and the hardships of war. The characters each tell their own stories from their own perspective. They are brought together for a Christmas children's concert. The Longfellow family history added a deeper dimension. The resolution was sentimental and hopeful, just right for a Christmas tale!

I loved the alternating historical and present day narration. I especially liked the author's retelling of the same evening--brief, but effective--as part of each modern character's story. I appreciated the story of Longfellow and his family. Great Christmas read!

I liked the Civil War story, but disliked the interruption in every other chapter of the contemporary story. The contemporary story had too many undeveloped characters and repetition of sentences that should have been edited out.