Into the Fire

Nobody loves Christmas more than me. The celebration of the birth of Jesus in all its miraculous glory never fails to bring me true joy. I love Christmas.

So perhaps someone can tell me why I don't like Christmas movies, Christmas television specials, or Christmas novels. Unfortunately, Remembering Christmas by Dan Walsh reinforced my prejudices.

Remembering Christmas shows us the wayward, successful, resentful son Rick who's obligated to come home instead of heading out for a ski weekend on the long Thanksgiving holiday because his step-father Art has collapsed on the floor of the small Book Nook Christian Bookstore that he and Rick's mother own and operate. Rick plans to be there for just a few days, but Art's condition is critical and a few days begin to stretch into a few more. Rick's discomfort about helping out at the store is eased by the part-time employee Andrea and her six year old daughter Amy. Attracted to Andrea but receiving no encouragement from her for a relationship, he's forced to realize the spiritual gap between them is a deterrent for her.

When the store is robbed, Rick immediately assumes it's the homeless man everyone calls JD who Rick has chased away from the store in spite of Art's and his mom's efforts to help the man. Andrea assures Rick it couldn't be JD, but Rick won't be persuaded until the police locate the out-of-towner who broke in and took the money and it's returned to him.

My dislike of the protagonist – and I emphasize here, Christmas novel or not, it's risky to make an unlikable character your main guy in a story – really didn't change much after some good things happened because the way those things occurred seemed too convenient. The twist near the end provided a welcome revelation and made the story interesting. Written with simple prose, a stereotypical hardened protagonist, and some stilted conversation, I'm not the target audience for this little novel. The final conclusion to the remembered part of the story seemed a bit presumptuous and easily predictable. I guess that's what Christmas movies and stories have in common.

For those who like the Christmas novel where everything goes so wrong before it goes exactly right, Remembering Christmas by Dan Walsh will suit you well. 

Father, please continue to bless Dan for his efforts to capture the homespun tales for those who love them. Please provide for all that he needs to continue to do as you ask. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.