Slow, Soft Christmas -- No Holly Jolly Cheer
593049
I debated how to rate this album for awhile while listening...

As a fan as Chenoweth's voice since her days as Sally in You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, I figured anything with her singing would be 5-star material.  And her voice in every song here is certainly 5-star quality.  She's not on par with Bing or Roger, but she's sitting on the step below them and looking down on most of the rest of the contemporary field putting out Christmas albums.

What I don't like is the vast majority of the songs are the soft, gentle, background of Christmas Day style of ballad.  I like a few of those at certain times, but mostly I like my Christmas songs to trumpet out the seasonal joy, or at least feature that sparkle more often than not.  And with what we know Kristin's voice is capable of, I thought for sure it would be used to that effect quite often here.  It isn't.

She showcases her vocal talents in a softer way.  And that's what further led to a dilemma on how to rate the album...for that style of music they were going for, it is a four star effort.

But the rating is my own personal enjoyment, which is a two or three star listening.  It's Kristin, so I went with three.  That doesn't tell the whole story, but that's why we get to write reviews and not just click on stars.

(And does anyone else think she would make a great country star after listening through this album?)

(To save money (when the album is normal price), just buy the last track.  "What a Wonderful World" is one of those songs that generally should be sung slow and Kristen does it very nicely.  If you're a big fan on "Do You Hear What I Hear?", you can get that one next...I like the song with more festive pep usually, but this is a nice softer version to put in the shuffle.)
2108533
These ladies have beautiful voices, but I am disappointed by this album.  The song selections are trite and the album isn't much of a value at less than 45 minutes long. I prefer the song selection and arrangements of their 1999 Christmas release- it's a unique addition to my Christmas music collection that gets played frequently during the season.
2229649
I enjoyed the book for light reading. . .nothing deep. I neither laughed nor cried; but an easy simple enjoyable Christmas story. More than likely men would not care for it. I don't expect to read the other 4 books, unless they turn up free somewhere, as this one did.
4328560
I love Christmas movies and buy new ones every year, but this one left me disappointed. It's not that it was bad, and I really liked most of the characters and actors (not the male lead actor), but I had moral issues with the female lead's character. She held a grudge for way too long over something that should have been upsetting but not life-changing. Later, when she thinks she gets what she wants, she's happy. When there's a chance she might not, she throws a fit until the guy makes an unnecessary (and stupid) choice just to make her happy. I really like the actress, but her character could have been so much better. Aside from all that, I can see where a lot of people would enjoy this story. It had plenty of small town charm.
1280221
I would like to start out saying that I'm a huge Sarah McLachlan fan.  My wife bought this for me for Christmas as a surprise.  I wanted to love the album but I just couldn't.  As beautiful as Sarah's voice is, and as much as I love her style of singing, it just didn't work for me with Christmas songs.  Most of the tracks sound the same and are delivered in such a somber tone that it just doesn't feel like Christmas music.  In my opinion this just doesn't live up to the quality of her work.  I would borrow the CD from your local library to preview it before buying it just to make sure it is your cup of tea.
544477
This short Christmas novel was ok...but, not really my thing. Every so often a book blurb catches my eye, despite its contemporary setting (which I really don't care for), and I decide to read it anyway.

Well...God Bless Us Everyone was pretty much as I expected...and everything I hoped it wasn't. Somehow, today's lingo and themes just aren't as charming to me as a historical setting. It's hard for me to feel warm and cozy with the mention of iPhones, pumpkin lattes, and (very) present-day artists belting out redone Christmas classics on the radio.

May not be my thing...but it might be yours!

I also thought the relationship between Charlie and Dustin moved too quickly. I mean, I know Charlie had been attracted to Dustin in high school, but on one page they were being reacquainted and by seemingly the next page, they were dating and smooching. Ok?! I just never felt the build-up of any romantic feelings (I know it was a short book, but still...).

So, if you enjoy reading short, Christmas themed stories during the holiday season, you'll probably like this one. I however, prefer jingle-bell-decked horses, pulling red sleighs full of warm, muffler-clad people.

*I received a free e-copy in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given, and all thoughts are 100% mine.*
1819479
Maudlin, and trite.  It is manipulative in it's emotionalism and it to wrap it in the guise of a Christmas song is inappropriate and in one sense cruel.  Christmas is a time of birth and new beginnings.
4253305
This is a rather uneven Christmas album.  The standout track is the great, funny "Merry Christmas From the Family" by Jill Sobule.  There are some other good performances here, but nothing great.  The lowlight is the seemingly endless 8 minute long jazz saxophone version of "White Christmas" by James Carter.  This CD is almost worth getting just for the Jill Sobule song.
3190861
This is another gentle Christmas story that centers around giving, not receiving.  Like Christmas in the Country, it is placed in a quieter time and in a quiet country setting.  If I could choose only 10 Christmas books, this would make the cut; if I could choose only one, I would choose The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey.
3242288
I got this as a gift, and had never heard Casting Crowns before.  It's a genere that I don't really like.  It sounds like a slow mashup of folk, country, wanna-be Glee harmonies, with a touch of Texas Renassaince Festival.  It's just not my thing.
My kids wanted to listen to Christmas music, but this is just too far from the cheerful "Jingle Bells" type of music that they like.  We couldn't make it past the third song before we had to turn this off.
2867826
<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/The-Christmas-Spirit/dp/B00GZ8P9B6/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">The Christmas Spirit</a>&nbsp;tells of the influence of a good, kind temporary bake shop manager and is one of many attempts to capture the spirit of giving, kindness, and good cheer that form part of the secular meaning of Christmas. For readers who love cozy, down-to-earth, moderately realistic stories about ordinary people, this short book might earn more stars than I have given it. For my taste, the plot is a little too ordinary and quite a bit too close to the myriad of books already in this genre. The author didn't capture my interest via either the characters or events. The writing style is pretty ordinary, too. As I read along, instead of being inspired, I found myself feeling increasingly Scrooge-y, which is not my usual level of Christmas Spirit. I got bogged down by the slow pace and lack of enticing mysteries, and gave up about half way through. I do feel extra Scrooge-y for writing a 2 star review of a Christmas novella. Such are the tribulations of a reviewer, especially around Christmas. If your reading tastes are similar to mine, I hope you will find other books (or-- dare I say it in a book review?-- movies and music) to warm your holidays! Feel free to share some of your favorites in the comments on this review...
1859198
At one point or another, most all family friendly television programs air some sort of holiday special. Just one special you say? Well smurf that! How about two?! Taken from their TV show, that ran for nine seasons, we are offered two Christmas (not Holiday) specials starring those tiny blue...whatever they are. The animation quality signifies that one special comes from the earliest seasons, while the other come from somewhere later in the nine year run.

The simply titled The Smurfs Christmas Special is the older offering. It is a tale of two lost children whom the Smurfs attempt to save from a mysterious, magical stranger. Meanwhile, Gargamel uses a spell from this same stranger to try and destroy the Smurf village once and for all. The tale is simple and once again, love is used to conquer all (expressed in song).

The second episode on this DVD, 'Tis the Season to be Smurfy features a little more madcap hijinx as a couple of pursuits break out while some of the Smurfs try to learn the true meaning of Christmas (now there's an original theme for you) after befriending an elderly couple. Of course, the Smurfs burst into song frequently to raise spirits.

In both films the Smurfs are mistaken for elves, and in one case Papa Smurf is thought to be Santa Claus. This helps to make their adventures have a more Christmas feel. Otherwise, these would just be regular episodes of the Smurfs, in snow.

read more at [..]
4328260
Not really liking this is much as I thought I would. It's not as traditional as I like Christmas music to be
3259876
This was a relatively faithful adaptation of the Charles Dicken's Christmas classic with a few seemingly added-just-for-3D visual sequences that were both annoying and slightly nauseating when watched in the non-3D Blu-Ray version.

My problem with the movie is that the last thing we need is another faithful movie rendition of "A Christmas Carol," perhaps the most filmed story of all time. I was expecting a Disney twist and, I admit, a bit of kid-friendly magic, a la Robert Zemeckis' endlessly charming "Polar Express," and instead got Dicksonian-prose (baffling to most children and many adults) and the occasional uninspired 3D shot, clearly done just for the wow-look-at-that effect. (The shrinking to mouse-size scene was nonsensical, never explained, and clearly done solely to add in some more 3D moments.)

My son was bored and occasionally frightened and I didn't see any point in using name-above-the-title star Jim Carrey, whom I usually despise, but here just found totally generic. (Again, unlike Tom Hanks, who inhabited every role he portrayed in "Polar Express.") There may have been much Carrey-esque scene munching and physical angst during the motion capture shoot that created this movie, but little of it comes through in the final onscreen product, which I found dull and not even touching, the very thing the original story excels so well at and why it's been a relevant tale for close to two hundred years.

Tiny Tim is barely introduced, and only fleetingly referred to, so our feeling for his disappearance in Christmas future is limited--thus missing the heart and soul of Dicken's story--and Scrooge's redemption is rushed and not at all believable. He seems not a changed man, but rather a still-bitter man now frightened into acts of kindness by an impending demise that never before occurred to him, apparently, despite his wildly advanced age.

Taken solely as an animated adaption of Dicken's tale, the movie is so-so, with a fairly faithful plot line, but with little to appeal to children outside the high-tech computer animation. As a Disney movie, the entire effort falls flat and even the much dated, far lower budget, "Mickey's Christmas Carol" does a much better job of introducing the story and entertaining younger children. This Carol just wasn't very special, and definitely not deserving of the Disney name. A big miss for me and my family.
1623328
too quick, not really enjoyable....but I guess I am just spoiled by the awesome other "Christmas Carols".....
4132135
Nothing about Christmas here, just ongoing bickering, swearing, annoying characters, and strife. The only thing Christmas related was the town name, Noel. If you're looking for a heart warming Christmas tale, avoid this one entirely.
1068775
OK, I don't see the spot where authors can comment on their books anymore - or maybe I missed it, so I shall review us instead!  First of all, the stories are all different, all fun, some touching, & mine (Here Comes Santa Claus) inspired because I was in a grumpy holiday mood. Not everyone is perky at Christmas - I'd been shopping & fighting in line for Pokemon Yellow.  So my story tells the tale of two rebel elves who get booted from the North Pole for annoying Santa, and who when pitched together must at last face their feelings for each other. Unfortunately, this results in a planned ambush of the Father of Christmas. (which is pretty much what I planned to do to the Mall Santa myself)