Review of Mr Dickens and His Carol by Samantha Silva

Hello Readers,

Christmas is basically here and I am happy to share my review of Mr. Dickens and Carol by Samantha Silva. This year I was very intentional about reading festive books. I have read a few in the past, but never as many as I did this year. I loved how reading festive books made the season feel extra magical. Mr. Dickens and His Carol was a delightfully slow and steady book. I listened to it on audio and enjoyed that so much. The narrator made Silva's words come alive and I literally felt like I was walking through London with Charles Dickens. 

This book is a work a fiction and not an actual account of how Dickens came to write his famous work A Christmas Carol, but honestly, I am just going to believe in the magic of this book and have decided that this is definitely how the story came about. Christmas is all about magic right? I love that the premise of this book is that Dickens has zero Christmas spirit and he is overwhelmed by money problems because his most recent work was not received well and is not producing lucrative sales. In addition to all of these concerns Dickens wife has just had another baby and is planning her annual elaborate Christmas party. At his wit's end, Dickens pursues his old haunts in the streets of London in an attempt to gain inspiration for a new novel he must write by Christmas.

On his long walks through London Dickens meets a woman who will challenge his views on life, friendship, and Christmas. His journey through London will set into motion his inspiration for his new Christmas inspired novel. I loved the description of London and since I have been there I loved comparing old time London with my memories of present-day London. It was vivid and filled with lively characters. 

I know Christmas is just a few days away and you might not have time to squeeze in one more book, but if you want a quiet walk through London with a beloved author then this book would be the one to read. As I was reading this novel I kept thinking it had a similar vibe to Lillian Boxfish takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney. Long walks tend to bring back ghosts and memories of things past and present. 

Overall Rating - 3/5 Stars

Thank you to Flatiron Books for generously supplying me with a review copy of Mr Dickens and Carol by Samantha Silva. I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Mr Dickens and Carol by Samantha Silva

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Released on: October 31, 2017
• Publisher: Flatiron Books; First edition 
• ISBN-10: 1250154049

Happy Reading,

Rachael